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Date:         Sat, 8 Jul 2006 08:44:33 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Just how far in over my head am I? (long)
In-Reply-To:  <20060707075757.41806.qmail@web30010.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

> So what's the bottom line - will I ever be able to > truly relax and have miles of trouble and worry free > driving, or is something always gong to need fixing? >

Well...I'd say what happens eventually is you get to a point where it's a little of both. In the beginning, pretty much everyone gets a little panicked by all the money they end up throwing down the rathole just to turn a typical (ab)used into a trustworthy vehicle. I dumped 7 or 8 thousand in parts alone into mine within the first year (most of that was the Boston Bob engine). I may have gone a little overboard, but I figured since I was saving so much money doing all the labor myself... Anyway, it sounds like you've got most of the major showstoppers taken care. I know I haven't spent more than maybe fifty bucks on NECESSARY repairs since I got it on the road last Ocober, and I drove it all the way to Utah and back (including through the Mojave desert in 105degF heat) last month without a single incident. True, I worried all the way, but that's largely just my nature. I would have no problem driving it anywhere now. But then again, there does always seem to be One More Thing. Last week I came out to find a small puddle of brake fluid under my right rear tire. The brake cylinder is leaking. It's only like a $12 part, being the same as used on every late model beetle and bus, but still it's One More Thing.

Of course it's always easier to not worry when you've got dull, dependable car to fall back on when the Vanagon needs something. I have a 94 Honda Civic. I hate it because its a noisy, uncomfortable, soulless roller skate, but it never needs any repair and it get 30mpg.

-- John Bange '90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"


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