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Date:         Thu, 5 Jul 2007 12:58:54 -0700
Reply-To:     VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The three classes of Vanagons..(long)
In-Reply-To:  <001901c7bf38$d61b36d0$6401a8c0@youro0kwkw9jwc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I'm currently a class 1 and class 3 owner, soon to add a class 2 to the mix.

Class 1: An '84 GL... the "shop" van that is used and abused but still runs like a top. Last washed in 2005.

Class 3: An '86 ex-military doka. Nice and clean, but not pampered. Soon to be sold.

And soon to return to the fold:

Class 2: My '89 Tristar Doka. Should be returning from the paint shop next week with a shiny new coat of Tornado Red paint. After that: all new window rubber, new alloys, new suspension, and a rebuilt TD engine. The interior was already cherry, so no need to redo that.

For a short while, I'll be a Vanagon classes triple threat.

Cheers,

Jeff

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Sam Conant Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 12:15 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: The three classes of Vanagons..(long)

My brown westy is clearly a class 3. I believe that something on it waves before I even see the cousin cruising toward us ... SamC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Old Volks Home" <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 2:29 PM Subject: Re: The three classes of Vanagons..(long)

> My 84 Westy is definitely the 3rd type, considering I've been full-time > living in it for over 8 years now. It's only "wow-factor" accessory is > the > SA Grille and the engine is upgraded to 2.1 with the 2.1 Digijet ECU. > Other > than that, it's a bone stock automatic with around 170k. > > My 84 GL is a combination of the 1st & 3rd type, as it has the requisite > dents and dings in the rear corners, scratches & dings throughout the rest > of the body (yes, it's the lovely "turd brown & beige"), but the interior > and mechanicals are in excellent shape. > > Here in Ventura, CA (and up the coast from Ventura), you can't help but > trip > over Vanagons, Westys, Eurobagos (EVC) and Rialtas, especially this time > of > year. Most regular passenger Vanagons, Westys and Eurobagos here fit into > the 3rd type with an assorted several definitely of the first type. > -- > Jim Thompson > 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria" > 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt" > 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise" > 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug" > oldvolkshome@gmail.com > http://www.oldvolkshome.com > *********************************** > On 7/5/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote: >> >> So... >> Since I've owned my 84 low top semi-westie, I have come to recognize >> three >> major types of Vanagon as I travel around or do my daily thing. >> The most numerous of 'My' 3 types, at least in my home area of eastern >> Wa. and Or. is the "POS, but it does the job". This type van (and owner) >> usually has dents in the back corners, rust on the surface, faded paint, >> etc. The owners usually are distracted and never wave, though they >> sometimes look around when I wave, perhaps wondering what that other nut >> is >> referring to with his headlight blink or hand in the air. I think they >> probably don't even realize that they are driving the same vehicle as the >> one I am in...These owners and drivers would probably much rather be in >> some >> other vehicle...a new minivan, a bigger SUV, a Cadillac...but they "got >> the >> van already" so they just drive it and don't think much about it, except >> to >> rail against how slow it is, or how "old" is it..... >> Second type is the Collector...These are the Lifted, buffed, alloy >> wheeled, subie powered Syncros and the totally restored Westphalia's >> that >> gleam with ten recent coats of wax and usually have all kinds of Zoot, >> Bling-Bling gear and toys on racks hanging on top. I see lots of these >> in >> Hood River, Oregon on weekends, festooned with bicycles and >> sailboards..These types often don't wave at me Perhaps they think I am a >> "POS but does the job" guy and I won't wave back, or that my old >> turd-brown >> is 'beneath them" or something. This type, the few owners I have talked >> to, >> seem to be more into how exclusive their vans are than what they are good >> for... Some of these ones I very much covet. >> Then the third type are those I see being used as I travel about. I see >> plenty here in the Columbia River Gorge during summer. This type van, >> they >> usually aren't totally buffed out. But you see many that have been >> improved >> with bigger wheels and SA light kits..This type, the owners know they >> have >> a pretty special vehicle, but one that should be used. Most look like >> the >> may get washed now and again, but they also look capable of going down a >> forest road without the owners worrying about a scratch, or perhaps a >> rock >> chip to one of the displayed toys hung on the outside..I put myself into >> the >> third type, I guess. These 'guys' usually wave at other vanagons.. >> If I had extra cash and fewer other hobbies, I would love to have a >> fancy >> tricked-out Syncro to drive only on Sundays to Starbucks, too. Or a >> collector's edition Westie, maybe. But I would probably "trash out" that >> type vehicle by using it and it'd soon no longer be a collectors >> item...And >> I seem to be always out in my semi-crummy turd brown camper van doing >> something else,... >> Don Hanson


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