Date:         Thu, 13 Jan 2005 16:33:50 -0500
Reply-To:     "Townsend, Michael D" <Michael.Townsend@SONYERICSSON.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Townsend, Michael D" <Michael.Townsend@SONYERICSSON.COM>
Subject:      Vanagone
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Well,

After 6 fun years of Vanagon ownership it is over.  My Tornado Red 1990
Vanagon Carat (Wolfsburg Limited Edition) 4spd. has been totalled.  :-(
Although I have only been lurking on the list for the last couple of
years, I have really enjoyed this chapter in my life and all the wisdom
that I have learned here.  I maintained the Vanagon with the
list-recommended procedures and have replaced practically everything.
Too bad the insurance company doesn't understand the _true_ value that
Vanagons give when they give you their payout valuation!  :-(  Most
importantly, no one was hurt in this accident -- it could have been a
lot worse.  All it takes is a windy day, curvy road, and a panic swerve
to cause even a lowered Carat to go into oversteer mode.  My wife (who
was driving alone) lost control, ran off the other side of the road,
into a shallow ditch, out of said ditch, airborne for 20 feet, began a
180 degree rotation in the air, landed on right rear wheel shearing it
off and then rolled the van completely over (maybe more than once)
ending up on it's left side.  The windshield popped out in one piece
like it's supposed to with only a slight deformation in the right
A-pillar.  She took off her seatbelt and crawled through the windshield
hole to get out with only seatbelt bruises as injuries.  The seatbelt
locked up like it was supposed to and probably saved her life -- hint
hint.  While the rear-engine design may have contributed to the
oversteer condition, I'll have to admit the body and frame design did an
excellent job of protecting the occupant.

I have already sold the salvage, including the square E-codes headlights
that I purchased from Calle in Sweden, to my mechanic.  I think he
appreciated the opportunity to get a 2.1 longblock rebuild with only
35kmiles for a good price.  I don't know if he has plans for the
interior or not, I presume he will strip it out in the next week or so.
If you want to make offers for Carat interior parts, you can call him.
His name is Lonnie Long, his business is "University Auto Center," and
his phone number is 919-309-7898.  It is located off I-85 (exit 173) in
Durham, NC.  Hopefully, the parts from my dear-departed Vanagon can be
used to keep many more on the road for years to come.

Thanks all,

Michael Townsend