Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:17:01 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: The Price We Pay For Being "Cool"
In-Reply-To: <AFA977ED-D8A6-4424-ACD3-C290184BA0A8@mac.com>
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We visited friends in California over Christmas. They have a Eurovan. I had not realized how much more minivan and less van the vehicle is compared to my Vanagon Campmobile. Theirs is the model with bed, poptop, but no kitchen. But it really is a minivan. But, with the V-6, they get 22 mpg on the road, and they stated that that was really too bad for a modern vehicle, that it should be more.
mcneely
---- Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:
> I agree, the Vanagon community is such a great resource for the vehicles. I keep meaning to call up Click & Clack and emphasize that point...
>
> Speaking of which, on one of their shows (I'm listening via podcasts) they talked about cars and souls. Vanagons (and splitties, and loafs) have Souls, IMHO. These modern mini-vans don't. Actually, the fun part of the show was...if doing an engine swap, does that affect the soul of the car? Relevant, as all of my Vanagons have had engine swaps (transplants in some cases).
>
>
> On Dec 30, 2011, at 11:53 AM, Joy Hecht wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 12:27 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> >
> >> I don't have a VW camper because others think it is "cool," or because I
> >> do. I have it because it is a tool to make camping practical for an aging,
> >> crusty old nut and a not always well wife. It is that simple, and if there
> >> were a comparable, but more reliable vehicle, I would have that. I also
> >> would not bother myself with whether it was a VW, a Ford, a Toyota, or
> >> whatever. In fact, being a long-time anti-cool curmudgeon, a Toyota would
> >> likely be more fitting to my tastes.
> >>
> >
> > Interesting. If there were an equivalent vehicle but more reliable,
> > available at the same price, I suppose might go with it too, just because I
> > am so useless at repairs.
> >
> > But frankly, one of the big reasons I wouldn't want to change brands is
> > because of all you folks out there. Being part of the vanagon community
> > made living in my van a totally different experience from simply being on
> > the road. I didn't know about the vanagon community when I got my van, but
> > realizing that I'd become part of this group of people, and wanting to stay
> > part of this group, is a big reason why I stick with my van now despite all
> > the problems.
> >
> > I don't mean to sound sappy - but it's true! So thanks, guys.
> >
> >
> >
> > Joy
--
David McNeely
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