Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:19:36 -0400
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Living the Compleat Vanagon Experience.
In-Reply-To: <5ebe10a0808141104x7d165aby68627124115f7b6@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I like to say, "If the car's older than you, it might have problems and like
any grumpy old miser, it will think it's way is the only way. It's hard to
teach an old dog new tricks, but you can tame them..."
I'm starting to learn from the wisdom of the older vehicle, and we get along
well.
-Craig
'85Westy
Younger than his bus.....
On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
> Good point, David.
>
> If I knew 20 years ago what I know now, I would have bought a VW Vanagon a
> lot sooner.
>
> Heck, I would have bought a few split-window buses too.
>
> Chris S.
>
> On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 1:25 PM, David Kao <dtkao0205@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > The radiator of my friend's 1998 Toyota Sienna exploded a few weeks
> > ago. It cost him $3k to repair all the damages to the engine. The
> > Sienna was only 120k miles old. My friend was ready to give up the
> > Sienna. It was I who convinced him to get it fixed. It is fixed now
> > and we plan to go to Yosemite on it next week.
> >
> > I should have told my friend that it was just the beginning of it and
> > there will be more to come... He might have given it to me. Ha, ha, ha.
> >
> > Ben should have told everyone about this when we picked up our new
> > Vanagons 20+ years ago. We would have appreciated his kind advice.
> > Perhaps it was supposed to be a pmail to Craig (which Craig?).
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> > --- Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Ben,
> > >
> > > I am not complaining, really. OK, maybe a little, but please don't
> > > think I'm bitter. I knew when I drove it away from the lot in VA that
> > > I was buying a used vanagon and it would come with surprises.
> > >
> > > Unless you're well into the range of a 5-figure price tags, you've
> > > gotta expect some issues. I didn't pay much more than a third of that,
> > > so i fully expected to invest some sweat equity into my purchase
> > > during the first year of ownership. And the van has not really
> > > surprised me that much, except in just how typical the problems have
> > > been as compared to my experience on the list.
> > >
> > > I have owned a few aircooled buses as daily drivers; they are fine if
> > > you are willing to put up with no heat in the winter. But the job I
> > > have now is paying me a car allowance and expects a vehicle that is a
> > > lot less...ummm... noticeable.. than a baywindow.
> > >
> > > This 87 wolfsburg 7-passenger is a nice comfortable driver, far and
> > > away the nicest and most useful used car I've ever had. I expect to be
> > > maintaining it and driving it regularly for a good many years to come.
> > >
> > > See you down the road,
> > >
> > > Greg
> > >
> > >
> > > But not Quoting Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>:
> > >
> > > > Ha ha ha..... poor Craig, you should stick to your trusted bus!
> > > > And that is just the beginning Craig.
> > > >
> > > > cheers, Ben
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:36:51 -0400, 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
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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