Date:         Thu, 21 Jan 1999 11:14:59 -0600
Reply-To:     "Roy O." <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Roy O." <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Reliability
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

|> Karl Batzler wrote:
|>
|> Hi guys,
|> The reliability of the "Vanagon" is highly dependant of how it is
|> maintained and treated from new.

Sorry volks, in my case, I disagree...I bought my '87 Westfalia new and have
virtually paid
for it over again in repairs and parts. I was fastidious about using VW parts
and having regular maintenance done at VW dealership. It has been very well
treated in its 175K kilometer life.

Here's a sample of what you'll find in my three inch binder containing service
orders and parts replaced since day one:

replace corroded and leaking cylinder heads
three idle stabilisers
new exhaust system and muffler
two engine replacements
four ball joints and tie rods
three water pumps
two speedometers
two radios
one propane tank
three propane tank valves
one pop top seal
one complete paint job
one fresh water supply tank
(as Sonny and Cher once said...'and the list goes on...')

Add to this list regular normal wear and tear items such as shocks, brakes,
tires, clutch pressure plate, rear hatch struts, belts, etc.. and service to
correct chronic problems such as erratic idle, hesitation while highway driving,
cold air entering from under passenger seat, chronic shift linkage freezing,
etc., etc., etc.

It has left me stranded so many times that my daughter frequently questions our
decision to go by van over going by our other vehicle ('91Honda Civic,
absolutely reliable!, BTW). There has only been one year since buying the van,
where it hasn't been towed at least twice.

IMHO the Vanagon is a good idea poorly implemented by VW. After the cash I
poured into my van, you know why I write "till death us do part".

Roy O.
'87 Westfalia
('till death us do part')