Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 11:22:18 -0700
Reply-To: john tomljenovic <zadar72@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: john tomljenovic <zadar72@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: early morning, long winded, easter story
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I have posted once earlier showing off my trailer hitch, I am
new to the ownership of a westie. And have just subscribed to the
list, so let me introduce myself...
My name is john tomljenovic, and have been a proud owner of a 83.5
westfalia camper in sage? green. Oh, yes I should also add in my
girlfriend Tawnya, without her I would never have gone though with it.
I blame her completely.
With what you say? Buying a vanagon! I could never have gone though it
alone, Let alone find it. We live in evanston, which probably has the
biggest concentration of vw busses in the chicago area, and so I am
walking down chicago ave, going to meet up with tawnya who was getting
her glasses in the south part of town. I usually don't walk this way
but there is a vw dealership on the same street, and there she
was...the camper silly! Just standing there in the showroom floor of
all places. Well it must be a pretty good find if it is in the showroom
I thought, so I went in and checked it out. It was in excellent shape,
and had only like 25,000mi. I am like no way, the salesman shows me the
records the PO had kept, this was for real. I always wanted to own a vw
camper, But I was in no mood to spend the 10grand they were asking
(although I new there was room for negotiaion, this dealer always asks
high), so I left, in order to stay on for my date.
Me and the girl are walking back, and were passing the dealer again, I
showed her the vanagon I found, and we got inside the bus, and even
test drove it. Her face just lit up, and boy am I a sucker. She said
it was my decision if we were to get it, so I thought about it for a
day, read all I could on the subject (thanx vanagon.com!) and tried to
determine the real value of this camper. I was still very indicisive
And so developed this harebrained scheme...I just lowball my bid, 5k I
think, if the dealer goes for it then it was meant to be, if not then I
would be perfectly happy not aquiring a westie. Well would you know
it, the sales manager accepted the offer(though after much pleading for
a higher price) must have been the lousy november weather and being the
only customer that day I think.
here is a pic of the new ride:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1631693&a=12475160&p=45919195
I never though I would have found my perfect camper at a dealership of
all places, but anything is possible I guess. so now I own the dream
and have no place to park it, the girl me and two cats have 650sqft of
apartment, we couldn't find a closet big enough for the vanagon. I have
been keeping and working on the camper at my parents house. I am still
trying to figure out if I really got a good deal or not as I have spent
about 2 grand getting this thing worthy for the inevitable cross
country roadtrip .But I know I didn't get ripped off, fair is fair I
guess.
Road trip? that is what has been generated from the purchase of this
thing, at first the westie was going to just be the ultimate camping
tent for our mountain bike races. But now has turned into my girl
quitting her job, and me taking a month off mine so we can go cross
country. moab, california, oregon, montana. is what has been loosely
drawn up. We are leaving chicago on may 20 and going to alabama, from
there west. I will still be keeping track of our email and
reading/posting on the list, let you guys know when I break down?!
mabye if there are any listers out there who are going that way we can
hook up and caravan.
thanx for letting me eat up bandwith like this
and happy easter.
johnny t (me)
tawnya (girl)
bandit (old cat)
boo-radley (new cat)
???????? (the yet to be named bus)
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