Some years ago, when I was first on the road and Matilda was constantly breaking down, I seriously considered selling her and continuing my travels in my Prius, with a tent. I posted to this list, and the replies were probably evenly split on the options. I'm not a mechanic, so having a van that broke down all the time was definitely a big hassle. I didn't sell Matilda (why does that sound as if I were thinking of selling my first-born into slavery or something???). The community on the vanagon list was one of the big reasons why not. Later on in my travels I met a fellow traveling in some US-maker van converted to a camper. In many ways it was much more convenient than a Westy, didn't break down all the time, etc. But when I told him about the vanagon community he was so envious! I think the people are worth the hassles.
Joy and Matilda, who's really glad she didn't get sold down the river...
On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 11:33 PM, Mark Hineline <hineline@helix.ucsd.edu>wrote: > In a month or so I'm going to sell my 2001 VW GTI (1.8 liter) so that > I can buy one of two vehicles. The heart wants a hardtop Vanagon (it > actually wants a Syncro Westfalia, but the heart isn't writing the > check). The head says no, get a mid- to late-80s van produced by a > Japanese automaker. First syllable rhymes with "boy." Second and third > syllables rhyme with "quota." > > The head argues: good heat and air conditioning. An engine that will > last hundreds of thousands of miles. More power in proportion to mass. > Same relationship between the driver and the sheet metal in front of > the vehicle. Radiator and engine are in the same county. Fabulous > turning radius. No real need for the added interior volume. > > Heart says: yeah, but you'll still want a Vanagon. > > Anyone have any arguments that the head will listen to? > > Mark Hineline > |
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