I don't see any reason, other than the auto manufacturer's lobby and our government, that we can't keep Vanagons viable until the last fossil fuel is gone...I mean, the basic chassis should last if it isn't in a super salty road state for it's whole life. They'll probably legislate us off the road soon....They are already doing that with diesel trucks (big rigs) in some states...Older ones not allowed....gotta buy a new one.... It certainly seems like you'd have better value if you simply 'revise' the Vanagon continually rather than keep starting over with brand new vehicles, for a big price. Vehicles that are now configured to make money for the car manufacturers and their dealers....with 'required' service, extra fee for warranty, remove the motor to change the spark plugs, dealer-exclusive service ports, etc etc . You could build a pretty effective (and attractive) Vanagon for $85 grand or whatever an Airstream Sprinter must cost.....and if you put that kinda money in your Vanagon, it would be something you know would last...you could make it really pretty stout and efficient for that money and use all the best parts...Then, in ten or 15years, when your Dodge or Mercedes chassis camper was ready for replacement again at another $100k (inflation)....you could again rework your antique Vanagon with that kinda dough and again, do better than buying from the showroom floor... That being said, I'd like one of those Nissans..I have owned that brand in the past and they are dead-nuts dependable. I've see some older Canadian diesel ones I like and the newer 1/2 ton(?) ones I see more of lately look a lot more appropriate for an everyday driver than the big sprinter ones...Since I am just a worker, I haven't looked seriously at what is really offered .... Happy friday On Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 8:34 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans < scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote: > HI Dave.. > I believe in a whole other philosophy. > I also just *love* preserving things, treating and preventing rust > ....fixing things .. > like 'working a vanagon, or 'one's vanagon' is not a bad thing . > or something to be avoided to do 'when you have to ' ..it's a fun > rewarding thing to do. . > |
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