Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 14:12:02 EDT
Reply-To: GMBulley@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: GMBulley@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: VW=On-going maintenance concern
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
In a message dated 98-07-15 12:47:09 EDT, dmc@CYBURBAN.COM writes:
<< Does any Vanagon owner trust it as their ONLY vehicle (as I would be
doing)? >>
I can't speak for everyone, but can assure you that a Vanagon can be a
COMPLETELY reliable vehicle, if properly maintained. The caveat, unlike a
Honda Accord, or Toyota Camry, there is a "learning curve". To call a spade a
spade, the above-mentioned cars are no brainers: chaing the oil, take it to
about any mechanic to have it fixed, basically ignore it.
The Vanagon, (like many of the 1968-1990 VW's) will never let you down if you
LEARN about it, and address the warning signs early on.
Example: my father once owned a Nissan pick-up, and after 100k+ the
performance suddenly dropped. He drove it for another 30?-k+ before it finally
died, (blown head gasket was the original failure, cracked head/dropped valve
resulted). He drove for 30k on a blown head gasket. Nissan, built by Japanese,
gives warning of it's intentions well ahead of time.
The Vanagon, on the other hand, is more communicative of it's needs EXACTLY
when it is in need attention: built by Germans, more direct. If your Vanagon
drops performance suddenly, (and you are smart), you will check things out
straight away.
Example: The O2 sensor is a critical part of VW's Fuel Management system. It
"burns out" at about 60k. The replacement is simple (less than $100) and then
all is well in the world. Where *some* folks run into trouble, is the O2
advisory light comes on (a milage-counting light that tells you when you've
gone 60k), they figure, "Hey, the van's still running, I can ignore that".
Wrong. Should've bought a Nissan with that attitude. A bum O2 sensor can cause
a VERY rich mixture, ruining the catalytic converter, and possibly burning
valves, or causing other BIG problems.
All this blah-blah-blah to say this: if you want your VW to be reliable, stay
on the list, learn the quirks, find a good mechanic, spend some $$$ up front
to take care of what the previous owner ignored, and LISTEN to your van. If
you hear a noise that doesn't sound right, FIX IT TODAY!
hope this helps your decision-making...like joining my Beloved U.S. Marine
Corps, It ain't for everyone,
seeking a few good VW owners,
gmbulley
cary, nc
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