Date:         Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:53:22 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Heart vs. Head
In-Reply-To:  <c803c1a70911191919v5c385a91tc3a9923436cdeef5@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

You need both.
  I'm currently looking at Previas for a work van and for long distance
travel and for a back-up to my Vanagon.  I have done lots of research on
them and they are not problematic.  Most I see listed on Craig's List or
wherever all seem to be high mileage without problems.  The driveshaft that
Scott speaks of drives all the extra crap that modern vehicles come
with..Except in the Toyotas, it seems to keep working...according to all the
listings I see..
  They are available in 5sp (rare) and with all wheel drive, get 20-25mpg in
the 4x4 edition (all trac)  The auto tranny has an electric overdrive and is
as effective as a standard shift..  They are said to be underpowered so
Toyota stopped making them around 95 and switched over to a  big motor like
all the other mini vans.."Underpowered" is relative...I think the normally
aspirated ones have around 140hp and the
supercharged ones(most after 92) are said to be pretty snappy.
  The motor is mid mounted and they are RWD, which makes for supposed great
handling.  I have friends who love them for their great highway and snow
driving abilities.
   I'd like to have one for a winter work vehicle...room for all my
carpentry tools in a dependable and fast all wheel drive rig..I hate messing
up my camper with muddy tools and having to worry about snow days...I don't
care to spend big bucks on a Syncro and then having to maintain all the 4x4
stuff all summer plus get less than stellar mpg when you can find a Toyota
Previa for around $1200 that is ready to roll off another 100k miles without
much worry..
  So I'll get me one of them and make my van back into a 'special use'
vehicle again..
  Don Hanson


On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 7:19 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:

> >
> > ...and we have Jeff Lincoln, too!
> >
> >
> > Pete
> > '79 Westy "Aardvark"
> > '87 Westy "Joe's Van"
> > WWW.Busesbythebeach.com <http://www.busesbythebeach.com/> <
> http://www.busesbythebeach.com/>
> >
> >
>
> Awe shucks Pete
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '90 Carat (Grover)
> '86 (We call this one Parts)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>