Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 11:46:30 -0400
Reply-To: Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject: Potential new Vanagon owner {long}
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi everyone,
I am a newbie to this list because I do not own a Vanagon and I have never
driven one. However, I have this strange desire that I MUST own one! It
defies all common sense and practicality trying to convince my wife that I
want to purchase an old vehicle which will immediately have to have the
engine replaced -- I can't explain it, it is all emotion. Our '97 Passat
TDI has converted us to VW's, and I have since been reading the VW
newsgroup, the diesel listserv, and visiting vanagon.com. Now that kid #2
is on the way, and carpools with other soccer-moms are being organized, the
word "minivan" is being spoken in our household. Of course, there is only
one choice: Vanagon. I mean, I would prefer a Eurovan MV (110 hp TDI, 5
speed), but that is not a choice over here in the U.S. -- even if I did
have that much money. I am looking at ads in the internet traders for my
area, but I do not see what I am looking for. I would prefer a newer one
(2.1l engine) with the 7 seating configuration that has the rear-facing
foldup theater seats behind the driver and passenger. I would assume that
the engine rebuild has already been done, or maybe I could enjoy it for a
while before it is needed. If I had to settle for an older one, I would
prefer a diesel that was available in that time frame anyway. Can your
wisdom help me:
1: I think I remember seeing a list somewhere that was "advice for the bus
shopper" that listed things like what engine options / problems were
available for which year. Does anyone know where that is?
2: If I get an older Vanagon, I pretty much accept that I will be changing
the engine. I have heard of someone on the diesel list changing a 1.9l
Canadian Turbodiesel into a regular diesel. Is it possible to drop a 1.9
TD into an old gas vanagon (which is all I see around here in North
Carolina)? What about a 2.1l digifant into an older 1.9l Vanagon? What
about this Subaru engine conversion? What about rebuilding the present
engine -- are they successful? Does anyone know where I can find the
details of these options?
3: If I get a version with the middle bench seat, is it possible to
convert it to the rear-facing flip-up seats (with seatbelts still
available, of course)?
4: Can you get shoulderbelts for the outboard rear passengers?
5: Am I crazy?
Thank you for all of your help -- I look forward to joining you on the road
one day. Assuming, of course, we can buy one before the brainwashing wears
off of my wife.
Michael Townsend
townsend@rtp.ericsson.se
No, I don't live in Sweden, my employer's headquarters do, though.
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