Date:         Fri, 9 Nov 2007 22:53:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Kyle Davis <davis_family_46168@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kyle Davis <davis_family_46168@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Is it too late for Friday SVC?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hey all,

     I'm not putting in my mileage figures.  I figure,
since it's not working, it gets infinity miles to the
gallon, or 0 miles to the gallon.  Either way, it
would throw off everybody else's stats.

     Enjoyed the article about the Diesel Beetle.  Was
intrigued to discover that the stock VW air-cooling
system was adequate enough to keep a diesel powerplant
cool.

     Everybody else beat me to answering the question,
whither westfalia works?  I could have sworn that the
very same person who told me about it was the same
person who asked in the list...  But then again, it's
quarter till 2 on Saturday a.m., and I am kind of
tired...

     Somebody PMailed me about the stuff I used to
bring back the shiny-ness of the stock paint.  If
anybody else is interested, I'll post that to the
list, otherwise, I'll just reply back to that guy in
pmail form.

     I physically cringed to learn of people throwing
away working (if in shabby state) vanagon engines.  I
know if I had one of these I'd be so much happier
right now.

     Still haven't received the sliding door bits or
the one cylinder head from eBay.

     The main mode of transportation (Kia Sedona
minivan) is about ready to give up the ghost.  It
needs a new front wheel bearing, and the coolant lines
need replaced between the front of the care and the
back auxilliary heater.  Whilst I was waiting in Midas
to have it's brakes done, I read an article by either
Car&Driver, Road&Track, or Automobile which regarded a
"long term test" of a Kia Sedona EX.

     Needless to say, I don't believe 29K miles
constitutes a long term test.  It's all still covered
under their warranty.  Now, talk to me after about 60K
miles when you are the second owner, that's when the
fun really starts:

alternator ($200)
1st catalytic converter ($1500)
2nd ""        ""         ""
3rd ""        ""         $300

Add to that now,

wheel bearing            $200
radiator coolant lines   $800?

When we picked out a name for the Kia, we should just
have called it the money pit.

Anyhow, I believe they (the magazine folks) are so
disconnected from normal, every day Joes, that the
only really truly long-term test that they'd be
persuaded to do would be in those flashy sports cars
that always adorn their covers.

You could see how this Kia has left little money for
me to do much else with our Vanagon, and add to that
the $1700 that we have to come up with to replace our
Ford Taurus' engine.

bummer.

Kyle


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