Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2013 08:32:51 -0700
Reply-To: Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Driving a Vanagon or any RV fast.
In-Reply-To: <CADSU2EHK=0zHPrV7=FNQMiOiQwX=ypxEf14byAt=+Lqm50U-jw@mail.gmail.com>
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Like Dennis I grew up with air-cooled VWs. I learned to drive stick on an old bug of my brother's, then took my driving test in a 78 diesel Rabbit. I guess I am just used to not going all that fast. My 87 2wd keeps up with traffic nicely except on hills. Then I move to the right and just try to stay out of the way. Much of my driving practice was in the very steep Sierra Nevada mountains of California. When I had a 82 tintop Diesel vanagon we would go to Reno from the Bay Area on a regular basis. Talk about slow pulling the grades! I would stay in the truck lanes and move out of the way back into the car slow lane when a truck came up behind me. The truck drivers would usually wave; unbelievable that I was slower than some of the fully loaded guys!
Our 87 Syncro seems slower than my 2wd (now my son's daily driver). That is likely in part because my husband put the BFG 15" off road tires on it. But our work schedules are so crazy now I don't go to the Sierras or anywhere else where I have to pull much of a grade so I just don't worry about it. I'll admit that I am not too comfortable sometimes in the slow lane when people come up behind me fast as happens frequently in the very urbanized area where I live. People drive fast and have limited patience around here (SF Bay Area).
Donna, 87 syncro
> I
> On Jun 7, 2013 8:56 AM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Many of us work not only full time but often very demanding jobs. Then some
>> of us even have family and side line obligations. While I enjoy traveling,
>> especially the driving and sightseeing part there are times I/we simply
>> have
>> to get there. Just last week I went to Busses By Natural Bridge. This was a
>> 470 mile trip each way. I has a challenge getting the Friday off. Once past
>> NY traffic I needed to "make tracks' to get down there and enjoy the
>> weekend. Generally I stay right and middle lanes and keep up with traffic.
>> Most of the trip was done at 65-75 mph. With my need for frequent stops and
>> a shopping diversion it was still almost 10 hours. There were a few hills
>> that slowed my down to 60 or so and I still felt that I was in someone's
>> way. I find this stressful.
>>
>>
>>
>> I grew up with Busses and Bugs. I learned to drive and took my road test in
>> a 67 splittie. I had a few bays. When we got our first Vanagon, an 84 with
>> the 1.9L, it was like oh my gosh, I can go as fast as I need in comfort! I
>> can even stop and steer (not aim) it. I never looked back. Back in those
>> days we had the 55 mph speed limit and the early Vanagons especially the
>> Diesels were designed around that limit. For some those vehicles are fine
>> but the lack of power is probably the main reason these never really sold.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> For many reasons I really like the Vanagon. For a van type vehicle there is
>> nothing that offers some level of modern performance that is so
>> serviceable.
>> Yes, serviceable. What other van type vehicle can have the complete drive
>> line removed in your front yard without a hoist or exotic equipment? Know
>> how to use a multi meter and a pressure gauge and you can fix anything that
>> happens. How about that almost bullet proof suspension? Just look at the
>> number of people that get into these things having no repair experience
>> later becoming fully self-sufficient. Sure they have some quirks and some
>> parts are expensive but overall how many other vehicles 25 years and older
>> with hundreds of thousands of miles get pushed into service for cross
>> country trips and living space?
>>
>>
>>
>> However after all that is said if they couldn't travel at normal speeds I
>> probably wouldn't own them.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dennis
>>
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