Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 04:55:56 -0700
Reply-To: "Philip Hanson (Volt Computer)" <a-phanso@MICROSOFT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Philip Hanson (Volt Computer)" <a-phanso@MICROSOFT.COM>
Subject: Re: Your Opinion: Vanagon or Late Model Bus Westy?
He's right. The suspension and overall design of the Vanagon is much better
than the 70 models, even though the "funk" quality may be less. Most people
end up liking a vehicle or not on how it works. I used to have a '55 Ford
Truck. Cool, but antiquated. One day, I sold it, got a little modern
truck. I never missed the few obscurantists who (5 of them a year) showed
interest in my old truck, and I never looked back and was much happier.
Once I had a cousin of mine who had a nice '66 VW bus drive my '80 Vanagon.
You could just see he was thinking: "This is so much more modern and nice!"
Actually, what he said was: "This is like a real car!" 6 months later he
sold his van. Cheers, ph '80 Wfla
-----Original Message-----
From: Bulley-Hewlett & Associates [mailto:gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM]
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 1998 4:41 AM
To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Your Opinion: Vanagon or Late Model Bus Westy?
Marty wrote:
<<<SNIP>>>What do you think? Would you trade the comfort and relative
speediness of your Vanagon for the simplicity of a late model bus? Anyone
feel like you would NEVER go back after owning a Vanagon? How about anyone
with a bus who wouldn't own a Vanagon?
I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Marty-
Don't do it.
I've owned a couple of 2.0L FI 1970's vans and they ARE great. I spent time
and money to get the heat working great, no problem there. The "in the
seat" power wasn't THAT much different from a water cooled Vanagon. AC,
well, there are still a few busses out there with AC, but it's pretty hard
on the motor. Who needs it, right (at least until summer).
The BIG difference for me is the HANDLING. Even with the proper tires, new
everything in the suspension, the bus was all over the road. Passing trucks
caused the tires to court the ditch. Gusty cross-winds presented a grueling
task the driver, making long highway trips an exhausting ordeal.
Our Vanagon handles MUCH better. It isn't a Porsche, but most of the above
maladies are greatly reduced. We bought the "happy median", a 1982
Air-cooled Vanagon for just the reasons you site, simpler and (hopefully)
cheaper to maintain than the younger waterboys. It handles great, the power
is sufficient for all that we do, ("PASS US" license plate directs other
drivers when the power is lacking).
If you MUST satisfy your curiosity, trade with a bus owner for a week. I
bet you'll be SCRAMBLING back to your van and the bus owner will want to
make the trade permanent.
Best of luck,
G. Matthew Bulley
Principal
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
Communications for Organizational Development
www.bulley-hewlett.com
(888) 468-4880 toll free
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