Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:00:26 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Fix it as it needs?...or Go For IT!!
In-Reply-To: <20120321143658.TPPY17308.fed1rmfepi107.cox.net@fed1rmimpi04.cox.net>
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---- "fonman4277@comcast.net" <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
> That said, I had always contemplated buying an empty Chevy G20 van and taking a dead Westy and putting the camping gear and the pop top onto/into the Chevy. I also thought about a Chevy Astro awd to the same, making basically a Syncro. But I just don't think it would be the same....
Well, I did say exact same thing. To me, that would be a 4 cylinder engine, just modern. After all, I do get 20 mpg with the camper. Would not happen with a Chevy 6 or 8 cylinder on a big van chassis, especially with the camping stuff.
I understand the Eurovan gets about that mpg, but again -- exact same thing includes ground clearance, and the Eurovan has less than the Vanagon. And the Eurovans are starting to age, too.
Looks like I'm stuck with this beast for the foreseeable future.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
----- Reply message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Date: Tue, Mar 20, 2012 23:13
Subject: Fix it as it needs?...or Go For IT!!
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Well, as for me, if there were a vehicle that provides the benefits of a Volkswagen Vanogon GL Campmobile on the market for 45 or 50K, I'd probably go for it. But I am not looking for a motor home of any type, even if built on a van chassis. I am not paying for and polluting with fuel to haul sewage around, I don't need a shower or even a porta potty. Just basics. My wife can't and I really don't like (hurts me old bones) sleeping on the ground any more. Indoor cooking is quite nice, especially when weather is bad. My Vanagon is strictly for camping, and I have no particular affinity to VW. Just another brand, with more problems than most, actually.
If say Toyota or Honda or Hyundai, or even GM built the exact same thing as a Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile (but with modern mechanical stuff), and I could afford it, I'd have it in a flash. If VW did, I'd have that in a flash. It is the capability, not the brand, that I'd like to have.
mcneely
---- Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
> TurboVans Scott wrote the following and it got me thinking....
>
> "I'm sure as supply dwindles on these old vans they let the supply run out ..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
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David McNeely
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David McNeely
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