Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:42:02 -0800
Reply-To: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Subject: Re: Want to talk me out of buying diesel Vanagon?-No but here's
my .02 worth (long)
In-Reply-To: <d51.1f578d4d.34c396b7@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Pretty funny... as long it's happening to someone else.
Good luck with the other van.
mike
On 1/19/08 10:08 AM, "David Clarkson" <Dvdclarksn@AOL.COM> wrote:
> Okay, I'm not here to talk you out of a vanagon diesel; only to speak from
> experience. Let's start with the facts. 67 BHP off the showroom floor. Top
> speed from my 82 diesel Westfalia (or Westfailure as my better half referred
> to
> it) was 67 mph. I rebuilt a Quantum engine and the turbo and the injector
> pump
> for transplantation to cure this. Take that Vanagon! Transplant rejected.
> Lesson learned: buying your grandmother a pair of running shoes does not mean
> that she will then be able to run a 4 minute mile. Am I a bit jaded? Maybe.
> Do I miss my diesel Westy? Yes. Do I love my wife for bringing home a 90
> Westy and saying, "I'll buy this for you if you'll sell that damned diesel."?
> Yes. She is the glue that bonds me to reality. I had a bumper sticker on my
> 82
> diesel Westy that said, "0-50 in 11 minutes". That was of course a joke. It
> would only reach that speed in 11 minutes downhill with a tail wind. What are
> the upsides of owning a diesel vanagon? I averaged 28 MPG. I got to pull up
> and fuel up alongside the Big Rigs. That's a big 10-4 good buddy! I had the
> option to run on bio diesel and have everyone following in my fume trail
> reminisce about their last visit to a fast McFood establishment. I learned how
> to
> sniff out diesel refueling points anywhere on the planet. Diesel may become
> the
> way for us all if we decide to divorce OPEC. We can make it out of bamboo,
> switchgrass and other sources that are readily apparent to the open minded
> fuel
> consumer. It is the original flex-fuel. Yes, used french fry oil will burn
> in your diesel but you'll need to strain the burned fries out so they don't
> clog your injectors and heat it to a non-gelling temperature so it flows
> freely
> through the fuel system. I've done the homework here and eventually sold my
> 82 diesel Westy to an open minded Hippy Chick (the old Deadhead uses that
> term with great affection here BTW) who vowed to give it life eternal on bio
> diesel. My 82 diesel and I had many wonderful times together. Some spent on
> the
> side of the road waiting for a wrecker. What kept me motivated and spending
> the megabucks on it were the stories of other VW diesel enthusiasts that said
> once you get them running properly they'll go for 300,000-400, 000 miles. I
> don't doubt that. Mine was just a lemon and I couldn't make lemonade despite
> my best intentions. I really tried! I threw money at it from all directions
> and still maintain a 200-300 page file documenting my efforts and intentions.
> My mechanic told me in so many words by referring to it as the space
> shuttle-"You can spend 500 million dollars on it and it still won't get off
> the
> ground!". His kid's can afford to go to college now thanks to my generous
> financial endowment. Buy what you like. Follow your bliss and fare thee well.
> I hope
> you get a real gem. Just know going into the journey what to expect. If a
> Vanagon diesel is in your future you should not be in a rush to get anywhere
> quickly. You need to be patient and understanding that 67 horses don't move
> 3850
> lbs. anywhere to quickly. Probably the worst hp./weight ratio of any vehicle
> on the planet. There is a certain charm and mystique to these contraptions
> though. Enough said. I now don my flameproof underwear and await your
> responses listees. As always YMMV and this post is all in good humor with no
> intent
> to offend anyone that is going to prove to be oversensitive about their dear
> vehicle. I am the foremost expert on my opinion. I'm talking about my
> experience with my vehicle not your kids,your wife,your mother or your dog.
> Let's
> keep it fun, informative and real. I love this list.
>
> In Vanagon We trust,
>
> David Clarkson
> 90 Westy (246k) and former owner of an 82 Westy (AKA the "dearly departed")
>
>
>
> **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.
> http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
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