Date:         Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:43:01 +0000
Reply-To:     Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: For Ben T - Where has everyone gone?
In-Reply-To:  <CAK9Aa+=b2WLwNC+PoaFDGbUQamwnqmX+995wN7yTuMykLqUv3A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 I got my first VW bus in 1974; the idea was to use if for a summer to travel all around the USA and then sell it afterwards.  After 1 week of wonderful travel and adventure, I knew I was hooked.  I upgraded to my current 85 Tintop Vanagon in 1989...loved the increase in power, solid handling, A/C as opposed to the previous air-cooled bus.  Around 2005, my Vanagon was now 20 years old, and I was worried about ease of getting parts and service, and started considering other options.  But options were few (Astro, Eurovan).....and about the same time I joined The List.  Wow!  My eyes were opened!  Tons of options, ideas, experience, advice and help, as well as exposure to all of the great Vanagon Vendors we cherish; so my worries were over.
Around 2015, I was considering new options (Sprinter, Transit, etc.) but they just didn't fit my needs as nicely as the Vanagon, nor did they fit into my garage.  So I went all in:  2.2 Subie (with zero miles) conversion with all the upgrades like stainless steel exhaust, stainless steel coolant pipes up front to a new radiator, a bunch of other stuff, and I even got the A/C working again.  Could not be happier!
I am on the Facebook Vanagon Owners Group; I find it entertaining and sometimes informative and helpful; and I love it when there are links to things on The Samba, that too is a great resource for a 29 year old Vanagon.  But The List has always been my favorite.
Rich  
San Diego


    On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 12:11:27 PM PDT, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM> wrote:  
 
 I too am here and happy to be part of this list since 2006.
Coincidentally, I deactivated my FB account last week as I had enough of it
all.  My Syncro is awaiting another rust overhaul so I can drive it into
the next couple of decades.

Bruce

On Tue, Jun 11, 2019 at 11:40 AM Erin Daniels <eirejammer@gmail.com> wrote:

> I’m still here.  And still full timing it in my ‘85 Vanagon - going on 4.5
> years full time
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 2019, at 5:36 AM, Pete Owsianowski <pnoceanwesty@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > I have enjoyed 17 years of following this list! Lots of great info and
> it’s been cool to get to know people through their bus experiences.
> >
> > Pete O
> > 1987 Westy “JoesVan”
> >
> >> On Jun 10, 2019, at 23:36, Jim Arnott <jrasite@eoni.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> There are currently 490 subscribers on the gerry.vanagon.com list.
> >>
> >> I suspect that your hypothesis is correct. I admin a few other lists
> and where there used to be ten to a hundred posts daily, there’s now one or
> two a week. All gone to FB no doubt as it’s more ‘immediate.’ WetWesties
> for example, 2008 saw an avg of 299.8 messages/month. 2018, the avg is
> 32.5/mo.
> >>
> >> I too miss the chatter. I also miss that chatter being archived.
> >>
> >> For historical purposes, the following is the first post to the Vanagon
> list.  (There was a vanagon-L list that preceded it, but those archives are
> lost to the sands of time as I’m sure this list’s archives will be
> eventually.)
> >>
> >> We’ve had a good run.
> >>
> >> Jim
> >>
> >> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>
> >> Date:        Sat, 2 Apr 1994 15:01:54 -0600 (CST)
> >> Sender:      Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
> >> From:        Gerald Skerbitz <gsker@lenti>
> >> Subject:      New listprocessor
> >>
> >> This is a rather trepid announcement of my installation of the
> >> listprocessor software.
> >>
> >> The list is still called vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu, but you can send
> >> help,subscribe,unsubscribe,set vanagon digest messages to
> >> listserv@lenti.med.umn.edu
> >>
> >> As soon as I get a welcome message together, I'll post it to the list
> >> so you can forward it to your friends.
> >>
> >> If there are any problems, I'll probably see them, but please send mail
> >> to me as gsker@lenti.med.umn.edu if you see them first or you need
> some
> >> help with something.
> >>
> >> Also, if you can spare a few seconds to quickly respond to this note so
> I
> >> know it got out there somewhere, that'd be nice (I can do that while
> the
> >> list is still small. <smile>)
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> --
> >> Gerry
> >> Gerald Skerbitz <gsker@lenti.med.umn.edu> U of MN Med.School.Admin
> 6-5379
> >> 1984 VW Vanagon Waterboxer 1915
> >>
> >>> On Jun 10, 2019, at 3:32 PM, Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I figured that this was best sent to a moderator, hence Ben T in
> subject line.
> >>> The Vanagon list seems to have shrunk to just one or two posts a day,
> and I'm wondering where everyone has gone.  I'm thinking they have all gone
> to a FaceBook page, but not sure which one.
> >>> I don't do FaceBook, but I checked my wife's account and there is
> several Vanagon groups; one with 11,000 members!  Is that it?
> >>> There was even a small Vanagon diesel group, and what really surprised
> me was a Central Florida Vanagon group with a couple of hundred members.  I
> didn't know that there was that many Vanagons here in Florida.
> >>> I'd love to know where everyone has gone because I miss the Vanagon
> chatter.  Especially as I am searching for a van again now.
> >>> Thanks, Anthony (NE FL)
>