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Date:   Mon, 16 May 2016 15:09:51 +0000
Reply-To:   Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:   Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:   Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:   Re: Back in service, a real pleasure, the Vanagon (long)
Comments:   To: Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:   <CAEwp_cRqudNSy_FX3MMi=WVPUO=xLf6vkm1g8_v-jjHPN810yQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type:   text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I rode that stretch on a loaded touring bike on Mother's Day and would have welcomed the sight of a Vanagon going any speed.  This at the end of a headwind day.  Actually, I'd have been happier to see my own Westy coming for me. Stephen

On Sunday, May 15, 2016 11:34 PM, Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

I know what you mean, Don. For better or worse, when you're driving a Vanagon, you are in touch with the road, usually for better. Today, we drove to a folklife festival at James Monroe's Highland over Monticello mountain, a steep, curvy road. A friend of ours, also a Vanagon owner, was in the line of cars behind us and was also going to the festival, unbeknownst to us. She met us at the festival and came up to me and said, "You know, when I saw you in your van, I just knew that there was going to be a long line of cars behind this slow-moving van going up the mountain, but you took off and left everyone else in the dust!" It's not the most powerful thing out there, but I do have a brand new engine in it and the Vanagon actually does handle pretty well if you know how to drive it and you are in touch with it. Even needing upper control arm bushings and shocks, it takes corners pretty well at the RIGHT speed. People get on those mountain roads and they have no idea what they're doing and they're driving cars that have absolutely no road feel and they probably have every right to be scared out of their minds driving those curvy roads. Me, I grew up driving roads like that and my van totally lets me know if I'm pushing it too hard. I LOVE driving my van!!

And next weekend, I get to go camping for the first time since last year!!! Marc Perdue

On Sun, May 15, 2016 at 9:47 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote: > After almost 8 months on the "injured reserve", my 84 vanagon is back in > the 'rotation' again and I am quite happy.  I kept it off the road most of > that time to minimize possible damage to the transmission internals, and > that seems to have been pretty smart.  I just finished reinstalling the > transmission after an AA Transaxle rebuild  (5sp manual trans) and it is > remarkably quiet and smooth, just like new (I imagine)  The major > components of my 5sp were OK, but the bearings were pretty far gone...all > is good now. > >    There's a real pleasure (I actually have fun driving good vehicles) in > the experience of driving this pretty well-sorted Vanagon.    I've recently > been using a GM Safari AWD van for almost everything...  I picked the > Safari AWD automatic up as my winter-time worker vehicle and while it is a >  fine vehicle, especially given they are relatively inexpensive, it is > nothing special to drive...  Quiet, semi-powerful, luxurious with full > leather and heated seats, etc etc......the conventional older (97) mini-van > GM simply doesn't 'connect' to the roads....it sort of isolates you in the > cabin...like you  are watching a video or something.  Everything in a > normal mini-van seems to be designed to isolate you from the outside world > as you motor along....not so the older vanagon with "power nothing"...You > are right there, involved, and the Vanagon does it pretty well, given it's > general configuration and versatility. > >  Also noticeable is the "Vibe" one receives, normally, while driving a > Vanagon.. Something about them seems to make people smile,  They make ME > smile..and probably YOU, too....unless your's is broken right now...


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