Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 15:51:40 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: friday question(s)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
hot dog.
why I have more time I will list the numerous reasons I consider 'the
vanagon' a world class car actually ..
things such as....
very, very versitle,
millions made,
not bad looking,
very easy to work on,
highly adaptable ...engine conversions, suspension upgrades ...that goes on
forever in Vanagons.
world-wide very decent 'VW Family'.
huge support on the internet
very good handling set up right ..they are acutally a 'sport van
not-quite-truck' .
great visibiltiy when driving ....few are dinged in the front.
darn safe for the design era .......crash-wise.
not too crazy modern tech.
easy to work on at home,
can handle 250 horsepower esaily with upgrades to suspension, wheels ,
brakes.
many, many parts avaialable..
and old ones being brought back into production all the time.
Endless was to modify them ...
you can sleep in them just fine, in most models.
Camper versions, poptop weekenders.....sunroof models...Wolfsburg
models..all hold value very well.
Avaialbe in AWD syncro models ...high end Syncro Westys' go for as high as $
70,000
availible in gasoline or diesel ..
easily converted to turbo diesel..
how many more reasons do you want ?
seriously..
they are a world class vehicle really ..
used from Africa to Asia and everywhere in between, with notable exceptions
...but 'well recognized' .
some of the things that make any vehicle 'stick' .......like really stay
highly regarded for a long time are ..
( like the Porsche 911 )
lot of 'em made ..
very good german construction,
good looking or at least not ugly..
very well known throughout most of the world..
very capable in their handling ..
in the case of porsche .....racing history.
oh ..long history too ..the 'vw bus' dates from the late 40's/very early
50's ...the vanagon is only the 3rd generation of the 'rear four cylinder
opposed aluminum engined van' from VW ..
so big history behind it.
...........all those kinds of things.
They're awesome ..
and they are very well worth preserving ..
and if I find time I'll rant about how much I don't see these fine rigs
*actually* being cared for ..
I see lots of new parts installed on them .
but I don't see anyone lubing and treating for corrosion the 300+ spots on
them I find that need nice caring, and simple, care and lubrication and
corrosion treatment. And it's so easy to do too !
'people' eveidently just do not recognize a dry worn out mechaism. I am
certain that on the vast majority of vanagons I see a year ...about 40 or 50
or something ....there are endless places, like say ignition lock cylinder
..that have not been lubed once ever since the factory. Without some
lube...they just wear out ..with the least bit of lube ..they are smooth and
happy !
and I'll post my advisory about horn contact rings ..
with no service ever ...in these 25 year old fine vans...that part just
wears out and fails..
with 'some attention' ....they can last quite well.
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Luther" <jluther@ALFONS-HAAR.US>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 6:21 AM
Subject: friday question(s)
> 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
| 
