Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:59:11 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fix it as it needs?...or Go For IT!!
In-Reply-To: <4F694E62.5040303@turbovans.com>
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.pretty understandable." (regarding parts and so forth)
>
>> So we all know we are constantly dealing with old age on our beloved
>> Vanagons; thanks to this List and the wonderful suppliers we are able to
>> handle it. As our wallets allow. For many of us, we want to have this
>> superb vehicle, or it's equivalent, ready to go and ready to tackle
>> whatever
>> we throw at it with confidence. But I suspect things will get harder and
>> harder to maintain and keep ready to go.
>>
>> Do we just keep "plugging the holes" as it were, or dig deep into the
>> wallet
>> NOW while pretty much anything we need for our Vanagons is still
>> available.
>> Sort of like GoWesty does; spare no expense. Endure the pain briefly, and
>> then be good for another 10-15 years.
>>
>> Or hope for an alternative vehicle to present itself? And we all know
>> there
>> will probably be a hefty pricetag going that route even if it were true,
>> gotta be north of $35-40K right?
>>
>> Just wondering what you guys are thinking these days regarding longevity
>> and
>> options. I'm sure many who love the "Vanagon roadtrip style" are thinking
>> like me. I've been a VW van owner since 1974 and it's kinda in my blood;
>> but I'm a practical guy too.
>>
>> Rich
>> San Diego
>>
>> I'll keep after my Vanagon for a while, piece by piece. I don't
think it makes sense to do a "Go Westie" on a Vanagon...and sinking big
bucks into a full modernization...fine, but California would not allow you
to drive it when finished...without a huge giant legal bill to legalize all
the stuff they've forbidden for their own inexplicable reasons....It looks
as if other states are starting to copy California's rules....too.
There are equivalent vehicles to the VW vanagons...they just aren't
allowed in the US..at least without major expense to get them imported
legally...If you page around on the net, you will find all kinds of cool
vanagon-like vehicles running all over the world.... If I were still
well funded, that would be my direction...something modern, but equivalent
to our Vanagons, and then just pay to get it 'federalized' or whatever it
takes....makes more sense than trying to build a "perfect, virtually brand
new totally restored Vanagon" and then keep that going....
Some of the Euro-tourists come round the SW deserts in pretty cool camper
rigs...usually diesel, often very off road capable..There are companies
that will do the legal crap to get it legal to drive here in the US...Or
maybe you could 'loophole it' like the 1% seem to do with most other things
...send it on a freight car to Canada one day a year or
something...register it in the Cayman Islands or Isle of Mann....
Don Hanson
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