I hear you loud and clear Don. First, I considered a Honda Element. I like them but I think the reason I like them is that they are really the closest thing (that I know of) to having the versatility of a Vanagon (and they don't do it as well). As for all the gadgets and automatic this and that. Well, I have thought the same thing. That is just one more thing to quit working. Sure those are nice conveniences to have but aren't necessary in my opinion.
On 12/20/06, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote: > > I've recently returned to VW ownership, first with an old Beetle ('72) > and now an older Vanagon. Makes me wonder about 'stuff'. > When driving either of my 'new' vehicles I often look around at the > other stuff on the road and think things like...'Hey, lookit that Honda > Element, is it ten times the vehicle that my $3k vanagon is?" Or.."how > about that_____,(mmm, I can't even think of a car that compares to a > Beetle...but) do I want one of those? Could I fix that in the middle of > Nevada with a screwdriver and some pliers?" > After 33 years of Automotive Evolution, I figure my Vw Vanagon is right > up there with the best new stuff available. Is that just me? > > I watched a lady get into her Chrysler mini-van the other evening. She > walked up thumbing her key fob till the lights blinked and the horn > beeped...Up went the rear door, automatically..(Good thing my van wasn't > parked behind her, or my pickup with the light bar..) She stuck her kid > into the toddler seat, after dis abling the automatic seat belt function, > then went round and got in, again thumbing the key fob...More blinking > lights and horn then the door slid shut, automatically and down the hatch > came, automatically.Seat belts wrapped her up and away she went. Wonder > how all those Gizmos will be working in 35 years? The doors didn't even > have handles...Wonder if that POS was worth $20k+ to her?..musta been.. > Dunno, ya gotta wonder about a culture that finds people buying Hummers > for daily drivers and who find pushing a key fob more desirable than pushing > a mechanical door latch... > Don Hanson >
-- Thanks, Jeff 90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work) 86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90') 85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future) |
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