Date:         Wed, 22 Apr 1998 09:51:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Gary Clendening <garyc@SATURN.CAPS.MAINE.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Clendening <garyc@SATURN.CAPS.MAINE.EDU>
Subject:      7060 miles in EVC, technical
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi Gang,

We just returned.  Key West and back by way of the Appalachian Mountains and
Cleveland.  Hit every casino in the East (definitely not worth repeating), too.

Warantee service for 10000 mile service was done in Ft. Myers, FL at VW
dealer with no difficulty at all.  Down about a half quart.  The service was
prompt and all work was done as called for.  They suggested having tires
rotated at 5K miles rather than 10K...good idea as they had developed some
slight uneven wear.  A dealer in St. Petersburgh did not wish to do service,
"I don't think it will fit on my lift."  he said. "Take it to a Winnebago
dealer in Tampa."

For you real mileage people, here it is...7068 miles on 362.47 gals of 87
octane gas (only one or two tanks of the 89) gives an overall mileage of
19.5 mpg.  The VR6 and tranny seem to be very well matched for we spent most
of the time on the Blue Ridge Parkway in fourth gear.  Every feature was
tested since we used only three motel rooms in the six weeks and spent at
least 12 days in "parking lots".  Furnace kept us warm (frost on windows one
nite); Norcold did cold on gas, dc, and ac (we could get ice formed but
didn't try cuz we tolerate warm drinks from boat experience (^_^); water
pump pumped always; screens screened bugs in the Everglades for five days;
and the van remained so quiet that I decided to rename it Flying Carpet.  In
traffic jams we simply pop a cold soda and read a book, or knit.

Have you EVC owners tried reversing the passenger seat, put up a table close
to yourself; crank the seat way back; get a comfy pillow; put your legs over
the table for support; and wave to the uncomfortable characters stuck
looking forward forever?  Add a good pair of binoculars and the barrier
islands of North Carolina, VA, and MD get right into your lap.

Glad to be EVing,

Gary
Gary and Belle from Hallowell, ME
garyc@saturn.caps.maine.edu
'72 Westy (gone to iron oxide)
'97 EVC "Flying Carpet"