Date:         Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:40:06 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Purchase price is just the down payment
In-Reply-To:  <CA+So780h77eWqczEbR9Tu-psJ-+FpceVoHbQdKzGd9cYSsK_Vg@mail.gmail.com>
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>   The upside of the story is that she lived fairly close to the shop, and
> she'd kept them fixing the odds and ends that kept cropping up. (warranty
> work, I assume)
>
>    My take?  You can trust your bus about as far as you can throw it, no
> matter what. OTOH, I love it to death.
>
> Geo/ATL
>

  Stuff breaks....or gets out of whack..or doesn't work at it's best...All
stuff is like this.  This is just the nature of Stuff.....

  The more complicated the stuff, the more it usually has problems that
need fixing.....Usually, even brand new stuff needs fixing a few
times...then we seem to have a short period when it seems to work like
designed, without much attention, then.....it needs fixing again...  I have
a nice coffee cup with a Ward Cleaver type's picture on it, smiling....the
caption is "Don't assume I FIX things"   One of my favorite cups.
   With all the stuff we have around our small horse barn and woodworking
shop....I could fix stuff all day everyday and probably still have things
waiting..
  The thing about Vanagons is they are pretty robust.   They are relatively
simple for a motor vehicle and they were designed to be maintained, not
just tossed away and replaced...So we have nuts and bolts, screws and
clamps rather than clips, double sided sticky tape, Modules and
systems...When something breaks or goes goofy on a Vanagon, you can take
the crappy busted one out, with a wrench and a screwdriver, and stick in
another pretty easily, usually...and not for much money, unlike what we're
being conditioned to accept with modern vehicles.
  So yeah, I guess if you aren't liking a vehicle that might have an issue
now and again, and you aren't comfortable enough with that
possibility...you should buy a new Honda van ever couple of years, or  a
Sprinter/Airstream camper for a $100k+ and then....if you got that kinda
disposable income, just get your Man to take it in when it breaks.....or
have him run down and trade it on another newer one...

  Now, what shall I fix tonight?...I worked on the CBR 600, the John Deere,
the Subie and the wood stove already today...still sort of light outside....

  Don Hanson