Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 11:25:19 -0500
Reply-To: "Roy O." <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Roy O." <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
Subject: Fw: one year anniv.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Glad you had a good year and are happy with your vehicle, Eric! But let's
not mislead any Vanagon wannabees...these vehicles can be absolute
nightmares! In spite of following the manufacturers suggested maintenance
schedule religiously, my vehicle has eaten up a lot of my finances in the
past eleven years just to keep it on the road. It has left my family and I
stranded so many times, my eight year old daughter continually questions our
decision to take the van anywhere. These vehicles are great "handyman
specials" which can bankrupt owners who are not mechanically inclined. When
the van is running a-ok, travelling, hauling and camping in it is "heaven"
but when
it's repair time, it's "hell". The only reason I'm on this list is to make
the "hell" more bearable.
Roy O.
'87 Westfalia
(till death us do part)
From: Henning, Eric <Eric.Henning@BAILEY.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 1998 1:25 PM
Subject: one year anniv.
>Well it's my one year anniversary of my first air-cooled VW (1980
>Westfalia). Bought last year around this time w/ only 58k miles. Had
>no idea what to expect. Here's a run down on what I've done (maybe to
>give other newbies or wannabes an idea):
>
>tune up (cap, rotor, plugs, points, condenser)
>rear wheel cylinders (only $8.95!)
>push rod tube seals (no oil leaks)
>two new tires (Yoko's)
>oil temp gauge (sump plate, VDO)
>clutch master cylinder (no more wet shoes)
>slave rebuild kit (got at PEP Boys, $19)
>oil changed every 3k
>pop top seals
>fan belt
>spark plug wires (nice & smooth running)
>fuel filter (no more sputtering up hills)
>replaced loud ticking clock w/ tachometer out of a Rabbit.
>Put a green LED in the high beam indicator instead of red (didn't want
>to de-sensitize my eyes to red oil/alternator lights)
>had to repair the pop-top screen and window cover (sewed screen shut,
>put velcro on flap)
>
>I'm up to 67k miles. Been camping 11 times and loved it, especially the
>kids. Farthest trip so far was Cape Cod (about 400 miles each way).
>Fun to drive, reliable. I wouldn't hesitate to drive this van around
>the country. Wife would've liked A/C though. One of the best tips
>received from this list: use the jack to stabilize the van while
>sleeping so less bouncing around.
>
>It been a good westy year. So all you wannabe's, find a good vehicle
>and jump in, the water is fine.
>
>eric
>eric.henning@bailey.com
>
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