Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:17:45 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon !Si! (good features) little long
In-Reply-To: <5ebe10a0911231601k473c4492n171bb7509a08d282@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Rocky, there was no original post other than that first one. No
"assignment" I did that whole thing on my own.
There are lots of 'whining' or at least 'less than totally positive posts
concerning the Vanagon..and there are plenty of the other ones saying "oooh,
my vanagon is sooo wonderful, I just love being a Vanagon person..I don't
care what I have to spend or put up with...vanagons are so with-it.., but
nobody ever tries to say just why that is..
I got to thinking, on a couple of long drives up to a remote job I was
doing, exactly what kinda vehicle could I get that would work like my
vanagon was doing..and I realized...they just don't make any vehicle that
has all those qualities I outlined in my post.
Yeah, there are some quirks, but those well known on our list. I
acknowledge the quirks but not many have mentioned how well the whole
'Package' seems to work and why they think so..So I did. Any one got any
more good stuff to add?
Don Hanson
On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 4:01 PM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
> Don,
>
> I agree on all counts. They are not better on many individual counts
> than a modern vehicle, but the sum of its parts is certainly greater
> than the whole.
>
> I think the heater/vent controls are a good example. They are logical
> and provide a control no other vehicle matches. The four levers
> overwhelm many and the owners manual attempts to help by providing use
> patterns, but if understand their individual function and think a
> little the manual becomes superfluous. It's a case of following the
> Karma, Luke, as it is for the rest of the vehicle. If you don't get
> it, there's an automated, sanitizided and sterilized SUV out there
> with your name on it.
>
> 2009/11/23, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>:
> > After a few years owning my 84 van with a westie interior I've come to
> > appreciate it's uniqueness. Vanagons are special.
> >
> > Here's a few of my 'plusses', reasons why I'm glad to have my Vanagon,
> why
> > I wouldn't trade it for another vehicle: In no particular order
> >
> > 1/ Size and shape. Vanagons are short-ish in length, fit into most
> > garages, are car-width and you can 'walk around inside' if you stay bent
> > over. The cargo area is at a convenient height to load things into or to
> > step into, even with something in your arms. The rear 'deck' inside the
> > hatch is a good height for luggage and tools.
> >
> > 2/ They are remarkably agile and have good ground clearance. The
> turning
> > radius is better than many small cars, certainly better than most other
> vans
> > or trucks. You can see out of them easily, parallel park, even. Dirt
> roads
> > aren't cause for special care...if other vehicles have made it, a
> vanagon
> > should get through also. They are relativly light so soft ground is
> > negotiable (within reason) Rear wheel drive is a big plus for me. Front
> > drive vehicles aren't fun downhill in low traction situations. I'm
> simply
> > more at home with RWD vehicles handling behavior..especially a vehicle
> > without fancy computer traction control.
> >
> > 3/ They are sturdy. Look how many are still on the roads. Blasting down
> a
> > washboard road to the tip of Baja or commuting daily doesn't seem to send
> > them to the scrap yard very quickly. Hanging a rack on the roof or
> jacking
> > up one corner of my van I often notice it's 'substance'..Not "tinny or
> > Plastic".
> >
> > 4/ They are assembled so that they can be 'worked on' fairly easily.
> Things
> > in Vanagons can be removed and replaced, repaired and restored without
> tons
> > of special tools, without complex factory diagnostic consoles, etc etc
> > .
> > 5/ There is a good support system for the Vanagon. This list, our own
> > specialty 'suppliers', many enthusiasts who'll give knowledgable advice.
> > Most known 'issues' have surfaced and the best "fixes" have long been
> > worked-out.
> >
> > 6/ Reasonably economical. For a larger vehicle they have reasonable fuel
> > consumption. The Westies do well compared to other campmobiles and the
> > regular hardtop vans compare favorably to bigger vans and even come close
> to
> > the low passenger mini-vans.. Maintence, once caught up, isn't a
> problem
> > for most.
> >
> > 7/...Special Features of my particular Vanagon: I looked for the
> simplest
> > van I could get without "Power anything". I have no options, no extra
> > anything and I love that simplicity. No AC, cruise control, power
> windows,
> > auto tranny..etc etc. Not a lot of "stuff", extra stuff that I need to
> keep
> > operating in order to have my van working right. I hate having stuff
> that
> > doesn't work...so if I had air conditioning and it broke...I would have
> to
> > fix it or it would bug me! I don't have it, so I just lean across when I
> > get hot driving down the road and roll down the passenger window...
> > I also like my inline gas 1.8liter rabbit/golf/jetta motor. Simpler
> than
> > a WBX or a Subaru motor and gets better gas mileage with decent power.
> > Seems very dependable and low maintence in the ~40k miles I have on it
> since
> > I got the van.
> >
> > So there is my positive post about what is fine about Vanagons...anyone
> > else?
> > Don Hanson
> >
>
>
> --
> Chris S.
> Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"
>
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