Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:14:32 -0800
Reply-To: Zolly <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zolly <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Vanagon, my love ...
In-Reply-To: <6bc66ccf0911231004s66ad2465n6b69dea74e9a91e0@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Well Don, in a nutshell that's it. Those are some of the main reason why we
keep on owning them. They are lovable for those reasons. They serve you
very well. It is not a fancy vehicle, not something what a woman would like
to park front of her house to brag with. It is a practical vehicle with
it's multi pupose use, giving you all the options to enjoy life with. My
father always said; "son you must have a vehicle where you can sit down, you
can put your foot up, you can open a full size newspaper, have a fridge with
all the drink and food you need, you can keep a change of clothes, etc". I
never found out what from him what the "etc" was, but later I did when I
owned my Westy and had different girlfriends travel with me.
This is the vehicle that serves all aspects of your life. And if you care
to learn how it works, you can fix it yourself, unlike any other vehicles
that come on the market lately. This community will be around forever with
new, young members filling in the spots that Boston Bob and the other greats
left open. And they will be the old ones later for those new young ones
that will follow them.
We are blessed to be owners of these much loved vehicles. Your writing
shows the love and respect for it.
At the time of its design, the Germans were still in the mode of designing
something that is practical, long lasting, repairable, cheap to run. Two
years ago there was a great party in Europe for the 60th year of the VW Van.
In Germany they call it "Bully" also.
Some Germans are importing them back from here, because they can't find any
more rust free ones there.
And for us, the constant puzzle of solving of the electrical system, the
leaking heads and all the other stuff, is something that keeps us busy
fighting demons.
Let's have a drink for the 62nd year of the VW Van. I think, it is about
this time when the anyversary supposed to be.
Best regards from Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 10:04 AM
Subject: Vanagon !Si! (good features) little long
> 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.425 / Virus Database: 270.14.77/2520 - Release Date: 11/22/09
19:40:00
| 
