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Date:         Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:01:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon !Si! (good features) little long
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <6bc66ccf0911231004s66ad2465n6b69dea74e9a91e0@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

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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