Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:44:33 -0700
Reply-To: Neil2 <vidublu@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Neil2 <vidublu@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Living the Compleat Vanagon Experience.
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90808131450w1108fcfch3c730b7d20584d14@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Oh my. Let's everyone trip over ourselves so as to not offend the great VW
god.
IMHO, and with no intention to offend but not afraid to either, my '82 Westy
and '86 Vanagon possess some of the worst design flaws I've seen. I know
I'm only two thirds the age of some here and have only been driving for 29
years but I've had a few makes and models, of US manufacture and otherwise,
including as old as '63 and as new as '99.
Do I enjoy owning VWs? Yep. Do I hate owning VWs? Yep. Tel est la vie!
On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 2:50 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> Good to know and I agree. No, they're not paper mache.
>
> --- :^)
>
> And to be clear to all concerned.
>
> I expressed it in my response to Greg, but will reiterate that I was
> suggesting (with empathy in mind) that any vehicle can have stuff go
> wrong with it. Even new ones. But....
>
> ..... and please people I'm not slagging Vanagons.....
>
> In my case, I have a 27 YO Westy with likely much more than 370K km's
> on it. (odo was broken) It's been in two significant accidents that I
> can see, and has more rust than I originally thought. True I've
> replaced lots of stuff, and rust can be staved off to some degree (for
> a DIY'er anyway) but it *seems* harder and harder to keep abreast of
> the problems.
>
> So......
>
> I considered it "brave" for *me* (a natural worry wart) to designate
> my Westy as a DD. Wasn't saying it was a "brave" move for anyone else.
>
> I'm in love with my Westy. No doubt. And with Jeff L's sentiment in
> mind, I don't want to see the day arrive that keeps me from using my
> Westy.
>
> It just wouldn't be right! --- :^)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Neil.
>
> 2008/8/13 Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com>:
> > Neil,
> >
> > My '85 Vanagon Westy Wolfsburg was my daily driver from 2000 to 2004 with
> > 85,000 miles logged in that time. It was much more reliable than the
> > previous family ride, a 93 Ford Aerostar.
> >
> > Vanagons might be getting old, but they are not paper mache. :-)
> >
> > Chris.
> >
> > 2008/8/13 neil N <musomuso@gmail.com>
> >>
> >> Wiper arms slipping?
> >>
> >> Horn honking by itself?
> >>
> >> Defrost/heat fan motor dying?
> >>
> >> --- ;^)
> >>
> >> It's something I've considered doing too. Making my Westy a DD. Can't
> >> imagine. Even with a "more reliable" engine installed, it would be a
> >> brave move.
> >>
> >> Look at it this way: tires can blow out on any vehicle, brakes wear on
> >> any vehicle, and a tranny can blow out on a near new car (factory
> >> flaw). But for sure, with the age of these vehicles, the problems can
> >> gang up on ya.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >>
> >> Neil. (who needs to do HIS rear shoes ..... again AND has a newly
> >> cracked exhaust! ---:^)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 12:36 PM, Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca>
> wrote:
> >> > Hi Volks,
> >> >
> >> > OK, I have been on this list for about 4 years now; and although I
> have
> >> > had vanagons in my family for almost a decade, it's only been since
> >> > April that I have owned and operated one as a daily driver.
> >> >
> >> > In the past 7,00 miles I have managed to experience *most* of the
> major
> >> > issues...
> >> >
> >> > 2 weeks in, I blew two tires, and had to source a set of 185R14s.
> >> > While replacing the tires, I wound up doing the rear brakes.
> >> > Not long after that, it started popping out of 4th gear. Sigh.
> >> > Then about a month ago I blew the headlight switch.
> >> > Yesterday the odometer/trip meter seized up. I think I have a spare
> >> > available from a 1988 vanagon I parted out a couple years ago.
> >> >
> >> > Other than dripping cylinder heads, is there anything I've missed?
> >> >
> >> > Happy Trails,
> >> >
> >> > Greg Potts
> >> > 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> >> > 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
> >> > www.busesofthecorn.com
> >> > www.pottsfamily.ca
> >> >
>
--
Neil2
'82 Diesel Westfalia (Fwd Puke Qualified)
'86 Vanagon/Westfalia Wannabe (Savannah)
Nunquam Pendite Divendium
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