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Date:         Fri, 4 Feb 2011 14:05:31 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Friday: Is it a Van or what?
Comments: To: Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTim1Bs+Zp3usDV5PYCp2iyRvjZR_TChUtHsB0Oup@mail.gmail.c om>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Dear Roland,

My opinion - At 01:13 PM 2/4/2011, Roland wrote: >What is the generic label? I've heard our vehicles called...... > >Van

Quick and dirty yes.

>Bus

Sorta-kinda but that's mostly reserved for the T2s I think.

>Camper

Some of them. But we hardly ever use the word, I think.

>Truck

In many ways it is - VW carefully tread the line of US regulations at least, of calling it a car for some purposes and a truck for others.

>Rig

I never would, but I'm not sure I'd call anything except a radio a rig.

>Kombi

Isn't that a VW name for a specific configuration of German T3?

>Bulli

That's German too, someone here will know about it.

>The original SUV

Pleh.

>Others?

I often call it a beast. Usually in a good way.

>Every pickup truck I see is clearly a pickup truck.

Huh. Ever see an Escalade pickup? Or a Torino?

>So what are we? The ultimate utility vehicle, can do anything, adapts >to any mission, a chameleon. Are we in a class by ourselves? What is >our category and label?

Well, for a start we're in at least two classes, regular and Syncro. Or maybe a class and a superclass. One of the things I always thought about my '84 Westy, even when it was having troubles, was *willing.* Chameleon I don't like. We're always sturdy, unprepossessing, capable, adaptable, useful. Probably brave, clean and reverent as well. But if we weren't in a class by ourselves, why would we put up with us? I'm not a Microbus guy, although I admired them when they were what was available. I'm certainly not a VW guy. I'm not a T4 guy and although I've never seen a T5 I doubt if I'm one of them either. I might be a Sprinter guy if I had a chance to be, dunno. Ditto LT, UniMog, various other things. But I'm definitely a Vanagon guy. What is love? I don't know.* What does my beloved look like? I don't know.

*Well, I sorta kinda think I do, but not in this context. It's a continuing act of will, something else entirely.

Yours, David


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