Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:21:13 -0400
Reply-To: greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Potts new Vanagon(s)
In-Reply-To: <201008260937.AA15532504@mail.interslice.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
Hi Paul,
Dunno if I am becoming less of a bus guy really, but I certainly am
becoming more of a Vanagon guy. Which is awkward to admit since there's a
current thread on another list that is debating the use of the term "bus"
to describe a Vanagon.
I now have logged 50,000 miles of daily driving on my 87 Wolfsburg since I
bought it in April 2008. Camping trips, groceries, hauling lumber and
firewood, beach trips and sign equipment service work year round in
downtown Toronto, Kingston, Windsor, London, and Barrie.
Pretty much ALL of the typical component failures that are common to
vanagons have occurred to my 87 since I bought it... Odometer, headlight
switch, transmission, tires, shift linkage, fuel injection, exhaust
issues, leaky heads, thermostat housing failure... I could go on but you
get the picture. Getting on top of these things sometimes seems like a
never-ending process but eventually the frequency does fall. There are
still about 2-3 little details to take care of on the 87 (horn, reverse
lights, alternator swap) but none of them are critical at the moment so I
will get to them in a while.
It's a durable and versatile platform that's a good fit for my lifestyle.
The baywindow? Well, I still enjoy it; it's also quite versatile and
durable. After driving the vanagon I tend to notice that the bay is a good
bit smaller and the suspension is a bit more primitive. I also miss the
heater come fall/winter. Colleen has been commuting with it for the past
month or so; I drove it 800 miles to High Country Bus Festival back in
July. Eventually I plan to convert it to watercooled inline 4 in order to
make a bit more reliable power to attack the hills with, but for the time
being the 1.7L 411 motor I have in it seems to be doing OK.
Happy Trails,
Greg Potts
www.pottsfamily.ca
WWW.BUSESOFTHECORN.CA <--- NEW .CA DOMAIN!!!
1988 Wolfsburg Weekender hardtop Vanagon
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender hardtop Vanagon
1973 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> Hey Gregg, it looks like you are becoming less of a bus guy and more of a
> Vanagon guy...how does it feel??
>
> It's ok to share your feelings...
>
> I used to be a bus guy...now I kinda hate driving busses...even though I
> still think they look cooler...
>
> :)
>
| 
