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Date:         Sun, 12 Jul 1998 22:13:29 CDT
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Subject:      Re: 2nd Vehicle, any sugestions?
Comments: To: ghamburg <ghamburg@VOM.COM>,
          Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
In-Reply-To:  <01bdae08$e8ca8600$a73ad4cf@v-gsystem>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Sun, 12 Jul 1998 the Hamburgler said: >I'm looking to buy a smaller ''zip around town type" car to keep the wear >and tear on my 84 westy to a minimum (a red VW cabriolet convertible appeals >to me) any recommendations?

in all seriousness, what about another vanagon? a non-camper. maybe an automatic (for all the red lights and stop signs)?? advantages - - no "negative learning" involved ... all controls are in the same place and work the same way. same entry/exit. - swap parts to find problems. especially if it's another 84. - swap wheels/tires. - lots more room for hauling "stuff" like groceries, household furniture, and other big bulky things that won't fit into a "commuter" car. - insurance won't be as bad as a small 2-door car. check on it and see how much more a 2-door rabbit would cost you. :( - bigger presence in traffic, easier to see ... less likely to get hit by some moron who "didn't see you coming". - you sit up higher, and have better visibility in traffic. - sitting higher is safer if they do hit you from the sides. - if they do hit you, you've got an immediate "parts bus". :) - might be a lot cheaper than a small economy popular car.

disadvantages - - fuel economy sucks in town. :( - parts are no cheaper. :( but you can buy in quantity now (filters and such) so it might work out to be cheaper. - not much "pizazz" or "fun". not as much as a little sporty car, anyway.

just a thought. :) joel (who tried the little car idea. found it was harder to get in/out of them, nearly got hit lots of times, noticed that an 18-wheeler TIRE was taller than the whole car!!!, noticed that i could not SEE anything in traffic but the butt-end of the car in front, and the wheelspray in rain from other cars/trucks in traffic pretty much blinded me. kept it four months. and got rid of it. now i have two buses. wishing the town-bus was an automatic ... old bad knees and all). :)

but if you must, then what about ... - 80's vw rabbit diesel. great fuel economy. roomy. - 88-91 honda CRX. fun. fun. fun. great fuel economy. but tiny. :( - vw jetta? - AMC Pacer. lots of room. nobody wants to be near you, so it's safer in traffic. :) not too good on fuel economy.

just wonton ramblings.


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