Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:16:58 -0700
Reply-To: dan kapeller <dkapeller@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: dan kapeller <dkapeller@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: More? New? Better? nah! (editorial content)
In-Reply-To: <001501c72448$3e3a4580$a5b2d8d1@dhanson>
Content-Type: text/html; format=flowed
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE>
<P>Don,</P>
<P>I'm guessing that the reason this list is so active and full of die-hard vanagon fans is because there is NO vehicle on the planet that does what our vans do. We shopped for a new car for over two years and found nothing even close to the Vanagon. Here's a short and incomplete list:</P>
<P>1. it's a rolling living room. My family likes to move around while on long trips. My wife is 5'1" and can almost walk around standing up straight. This was really handy when our kids were small and need constant attention. Maybe my family suffers mild claustrophobia (sp?) but I get nervous when I'm trapped into a modern vehicle that doesn't allow you to get up and stroll around inside now and then. </P>
<P>2. it's a rolling locker room. We like to X-country ski, and mountain bike. We throw all our stuff into the van, and drive to the mountains. Once there, we all "suit-up" in the van (we have removed the middle bench). Four people, all putting on ski boots, gaiters, coats, mittens, all inside the van. In the summer, we return from the mountain bike trails and pile into the vanagon and change back into regular clothes without flashing our private parts to other people. Try that in a 4Runner. And... all of our skis and poles fit nicely inside! (We pull a trailer with our mountain bikes)</P>
<P>3. it's a Pick-up truck. We completed a major remodel and basement finishing project that lasted 3 years. During that time we hauled over 50 sheets of drywall, 20 sheets of plywood, hundreds of 2x4's all inside our GL. There is no better feeling than pulling up to the loading zone at the local lumber yard and watching everyone else try to strap a sheet of drywall into the silly back of a late model pick-up truck, or fit it inside a SUV. It just doesn't work. With the middle bench in the GL and the headrests removed, you can stack 4x8 sheet goods all day long. <BR><BR>4. it's a camper. Enough said. However, even our GL has the rear bench that folds into a queen sized bed. My wife and I prefer it to most hotel matresses. It's huge and oh, so comfy.</P>
<P>5. it's the most comfortable vehicle that I've ever driven! As we test drove everything on the planet, we often crawled out of the Honda, Subaru or whatever and said, "Crappy seats!, lousy position for the driver!" My shortish wife found that every other car made her feel like she couldn't see the road as well as in the Vanagon. She didn't feel like she could safely drive an Outback. Other cars just don't feel the same.</P>
<P>Sorry for the long rant, but your post hit a nerve with me because just last week, we purchased a 4Runner. We have never been so disappointed in a purchase. Yes it's new, and dependable, and servicable, and it has power. But, we can't haul plywood inside, we can't change clothes, we can't sleep inside, we can't change seats in flight, and our skis must go on a rack on top. So, we paid through the nose for a vehicle that we don't really "love and cherish". Isn't that sad?</P>
<P>So, why did we buy a 4Runner? Mainly because VW quit making vans! We needed a dependable vehicle with less than 150,000 miles on it. I love my Vanagon and I will keep it as long as I can. But with children, getting stranded in Smalltown, USA and trying to find service or parts gets frustrating. I still believe that most of our Vanagons problems stem from the age and miles, and not from poor design. </P>
<P>IF Volkswagon made vanagons today, We'd be driving a 2007 Vanagon right now and grinning from ear to ear! Could you imagine it???? Vanagon body, VR6 engine IN THE BACK!, 16" wheels, airbags, ABS. I'd be in heaven!!! OK, enough dreaming. It is Christmas, so I just made my wish.</P>
<P>Happy Holidays and safe travel to all the list members. Thanks for all the support this year. Our GL is running great, thanks to the combined wisdom and Karma that this list provides.</P>
<P>Dan Kapeller</P>
<P>'90 GL</P>
<P>'93 Weekender</P>
<P> </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #a0c6e5 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-FAMILY: tahoma,sans-serif">
<HR color=#a0c6e5 SIZE=1>
<DIV></DIV>From: <I>Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET></I><BR>Reply-To: <I>Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET></I><BR>To: <I>vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM</I><BR>Subject: <I>More? New? Better? nah! (editorial content)</I><BR>Date: <I>Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:05:08 -0800</I><BR>I've recently returned to VW ownership, first with an old Beetle ('72) and now an older Vanagon. Makes me wonder about 'stuff'.<BR> 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?"<BR> 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?<BR><BR> 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..<BR> 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...<BR> Don Hanson<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2755??PS=47575" target="_top">Get free, personalized online radio with MSN Radio powered by Pandora</a> </html>
| 
