Hey... I own an 89 Syncro Westy and a = 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I don't have any problem admitting it. We used to = use the Jeep for all our four wheeling needs... camping in tough to get over the = radical lava locations... now we can take the syncro... but often when we camp = with family and friends we take both and pull a trailer full of camping gear = behind the Jeep. It's actually a great combo. All the conveniences = of home in the westy that can go almost anywhere, plus the towing capacity of = the Jeep (V-8). We disconnect the Jeep at the campsite and use it if we = need to go anywhere for supplies while camping. The hotel on wheels gets to = stay put.

Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy = "Daddeo"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-935-5557
808-935-0066 (fax)
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Schmidt

To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 = 10:48 AM

Subject: SUV was road = rage

It is chic to be against every SUV on the = road these days, especially if you drive a vanagon. You are even cooler if you = talk about the "mentality" and the testosterone high, the mpg, etc. For some = these vehicles make sense. My Suburban hauls my four kids, wife, groceries, = toys, car seats, and what-nots every time we turn the key. It does so dependably. It does so safely. It goes anywhere in any weather.

Sure, my outback AWD did the = same thing when we were a family of four. It was small, trendy, chic, and granola = enough that we did not have complete strangers harassing us for owning one.

I own a Suburban for some of the same reasons as I = own my vanagon westy 6 passenger. It comfortably seats my family and = hauls "family stuff." I also own a suburban BECAUSE I own old vw = vans. It tows or pushes anything anywhere. Towing and pushing is = inevitable when you insist on owning "cool" vehicles like busses.

Hopefully my wife does not get too big of a = testosterone boost when she takes the kids to school. Hopefully the vanagon = owners she passes don't secretly despise her for driving the suburban. = Even if they do, she or I will still stop when you need a tow, jump, push, or = just moral support. Sorry for the minimal VC in this post.

Jay Schmidt

97 Suburban 4X4

90 Buick Full size Brady wagen with third = seat

84 westy 6 passenger

77 westy deluxe-garaged...seats only = four

71 highroof camper lawn-ornament/ = playhouse

70 wife

93 girl

96 boy

98 girl

'00 boy

No apologies- the vanagon does NOT get better = mileage than the 'burban!