Date:         Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:46:16 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Friday Philosophy: On Previous Owners
In-Reply-To:  <CANrF1zixpwp+mcXhUnG3xucyWTY8jYgt61D-Edy0-k54wWavig@mail.gmail.com>
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  The PO of my van had just recently finished the conversion to it's inline
VW motor...he hadn't much used this one, having another inline he'd had
done prior and that was what he drove.   We didn't talk much about Vans,
since he was in the woodworking business as I am, sometimes.   And he was
located just two buildings away from a boatyard where I worked happily for
about 6 winters in the past....
   There were some very 'sketchy' details when I got mine....I think this
fellow had obtained two complete sets of vanagons to convert, 'just in
case' and when he got the first going without having to use much from the
other two, he just slapped together the second set and sold it to me....I
jumped in and took it home, then right on to California for winter,  in
less than a week....fixing stuff as it happend.....the usual Vanagon stuff
minus the motor problems...

   I recently encountered a California Vanagon guy here in the desert....He
came up and was looking at mine, sort of 'down his nose' was my
impression..We talked a little and.he mentioned, somewhat proudly, that he
had a "90 Westie with a 2.4 motor, automatic, AC, everything
works.......blah blah" and when I said mine was Jetta powered, he just
looked kinda blank.....I assume he was a Go Westie kinda guy, seemed sort
of that way, just pay the money and don't bother learning about the
vehicle....
I got to thinking though that I wouldn't trade his "90 Westie Automatic
with the 2.4 motor" for my 84 5sp inline....ever...Even if he paid $60k for
a full Resto Go Westie.....I prefer mine, thanks.

   I do pity the next owner of this van, however.   Since I am often off
the grid or away from home with just minimum tools, there are some 'unique'
modifications in this vehicle now that will probably cause lots of
consternation to the next owner...if there is one ever.

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 12:10 PM, Joe T. <vanagon85@gmail.com> wrote:

> There have been moments when my wandering eye has seen another Westfalia,
> usually a newer model and/or a Syncro, and I've thought about selling my
> current one (grass is always greener?)
>