Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 12:33:28 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: friday question(s)
In-Reply-To: <009701cbf06f$a77f1230$f67d3690$@alfons-haar.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Bought my first Vanagon in 1990. I needed a new vehicle because my
daughter had T-boned my '85 Jeep Wagoneer LTD into another vehicle. Not
her fault, but required of me to replace it to have transportion. I knew
nothing about them at all. Had a choice between a Vanagon based
aircooled Westfalia and a 1985 GL. The aircooled Westy had an engine
that sounded as if it was about to come apart, and it stunk like old
fish inside. Somebody was using it in Alaska as their fishing vehicle.
Then there was the '85 GL. Clean, looked good, sounded good, but had a
serious power steering leak and everybody was afraid of it. There were
no other Vanagons on the Kenai Peninsula at the time and no one
understood the vehicle. I had an inside track with EERO VW, a dealership
in Anchorage, did a little inquiring of a mechanic friend there, and
decided on the '85 GL. I was never sorry. That was the beginning of my
Vanagon relationship. When I sold my 85 GL, it had 205,000 miles on it,
and the only thing I ever had to do to it besides replace that leaking
power steering rack and regular tune-ups was replace the water pump at
195,000 miles.
After selling the 85GL I picked up a Burgundy colored '88GL off a used
car lot. It looked good, sounded good, drove good, tanny shifted good -
but it was lemon. I drove it for a couple of thousand miles and the
tranny failed. Had to be rebuilt. Then at 10,000 miles of ownership, the
engine burned a hole in a piston. The damage was so extensive I replaced
the engine with one from a local rebuilder. I'm approaching 150,000 on
it and it's still running strong. Over time I have replaced, rebuilt,
repaired so very many items on it. At this point in time "it's the devil
I know versus the devil I don't". I know this vehicle from one end to
the other, inside and out. I trust it because I have been through it. In
the process of going through all this experience I have come to the
conclusion there is not another vehicle on the market today - new or
used - that can even come close to the performance and utility this
machine offers it's owners. I can carry 1500 lbs of plaster inside, or a
12 ft step ladder inside, or 2x6x12 lumber - inside. I can haul 4x8
sheets of plywood and gypsum board - inside. When I want to go camping,
I just through in the hibatchi, the bedding, the coolers, the chairs,
EZ-up tent, and go for it. Alternatively, I drop the back seat down into
a bed and sleep there. In bug season with portable netting I can open it
up as much as I want for ventilation. The possibilities with it are
endless. When traveling, I have the comfort of a nice sufficiently wide
pair of captains seats up front with adjustable arm-rests and seat
backs. With the power steering the driving is easy, and the wide
panoramic view through that big curved glass windshield cannot be
beaten. I have really come to appreciate this van. It's not too big, not
to small, well configured for my needs, easy to work on, and though the
engines are getting old, there are plenty of good engines of modern
technology that are available for conversion. I have the very best
support network behind me by way of the Vanagon List. That is really
difficult to beat.
I have settled on the Vanagon being the last vehicle type I will buy in
my lifetime. I now own three - two '88GL's and a 1991 Carat. The first
one - my first '88GL - I still own and is my daily driver. I have always
referred to it as the Red Brick, because of the color. The other '88GL
is Metallic Dove Blue and the '91 Carat is a Dark blue. These latter two
run, but are not roadable. There is still some work to be done when I
get time. The plan is to keep the Red Brick as the daily driver. The
Dove Blue is to become my art show vehicle. It will always be loaded
with my show setup and pottery stock for shows, ready to go on a moments
notice. The '91 Carat is to be my touring vehicle. It is very plush, has
the fold out table, rear seat that folds into a bed, two rear facing
jump seats, cup holders all around, privacy curtains, fluorescent
lighting. Just a very plush, nice all around vehicle for travel.
Additional comfort is an automatic transmission.
So there you have it. Where I am with my machines. Don't ever expect to
own anything else. They meet my needs, what more can I ask.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 4/1/2011 8:21 AM, Joe Luther wrote:
> Obviously, the members of the list really like Vanagons and go to great
> lengths to keep them running, improve them, modify them, etc etc.
>
> Why exactly a Vanagon, what is it about them that inspires everyone? I am
> on my first Vanagon, it arrived in pieces, so I haven't been able to drive
> it yet. I assume it will be sorta like my other air cooled buses, but
> slower.
>
> Having been a VW owner since my first 1967 bug in 1976 I'm well aware of the
> equal parts pain and pleasure involved with owning anything VW makes but I
> have always overlooked the Vanagon. I thought they were cool in a funky way
> but never thought about owning one until I found the one I just bought. I
> got it because it was rust free, low miles, had lots of spares, my main
> considerations for any VW/car purchase.
>
> Not an April Fools post, seriously, what is it about the Vanagon that
> attracts everybody to them? Just wondering and wanted to know the stories,
> I've seen some cool camping stories on here but I assume not everyone has
> the camper.
>
> On a related note, the only other make I've seen named by such a large
> percentage of owners is early Volvos. I've never named a vehicle before
> other than $%#!!!!*, which was my pet name for my 00 Passat before I lit it
> on fire (kidding about the fire, not about the name). I feel peer pressure
> to name the Vanagon, hopefully not $%#!!!!*.
>
> Joe
>
>
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