Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 13:30:03 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Which Type 2 to recommend?
In-Reply-To: <C20714C5.159BF%steeles@horizonview.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Hi Stephen,
I woud challenge that "cost of ownership" assumption that puts
waterboxers in front of Baywindows.
My aircooled bus has had the lowest cost of ownership of any vehicle
I have ever owned. My Dad's watercooled vanagon has an annual cost
about 2-3x that of his previous aircooled vanagon.
There is a "zen" to driving an aircooled vehicle; you have to be
willing to listen to what the machine is doing and not ignore its
messages. Fix things BEFORE they break and drive within the limits of
the vehicle. These are hard lessons to learn and usually come at the
cost of hardship and expense... most people will refuse to learn
thedee lessons and tend to blame the vehicle and not their own actions.
My advice: (Remember, you did ask)
1. Buy a copy of "the complete idiot's guide to VW repair" by John
Muir, and read it cover to cover. There WILL be a test later.
2. Search long and hard for a 1971 bus in good shape. This is
arguably the "best" year for aircooleds since it is the only year
that got the type1 engine and disk brakes. The type1 engine is easier
for a novice to work on and parts for it are much cheaper and easier
to find, though it is down slightly on peak power and torque. This
engine is MUCH less complex than the vanagon or later baywindow and
if cared for properly will deliver reliable service for many years.
3. Don't buy a project; it is ALWAYS cheaper to buy a complete and
running bus in good chape than it is to work up a fixer-upper. This
applies to Vanagons as well as Baywindows.
4. Consider hiring a west-coast listee to scope out a local
california vehicle and start the adventure by flying out and driving
home. My parents brought home a 1967 camper form Seattle at a cost to
the owner of less than $2K, the day after he got it he was offered
double the price he paid. This will improve the economics of the
project by increasing the resale value of the vehicle.
5. Regardless of the condition of the vehicle, be sure to thoroughly
inspect the brakes, suspension, steering and fuel system as soon as
possible.
That's my $.02CDN.
Happy Trails,
Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com
On 25-Feb-07, at 10:26 AM, Stephen Steele wrote:
> Friday, while I was at my buddies' shop prepping for my dive into
> my parts
> Vanagon for removing the cruise control in order to switch it over
> to my '89
> Westy (unnamed, as of yet), a fellow boomer appeared on the scene.
> He was
> ingenuous and inquisitive; obviously attracted by my '91 Caravelle,
> my son's
> '84 Westy and my '73 Sportsmobile, all of which are sitting outside,
> awaiting various work when my time permits.
> There were lots of questions about Type2 and T1, T2 and T3.
> Seems his raison d'être of his curiosity is a step son who has
> 'lots of
> money' and wanted to do a post high school, pre-college trip "West"
> in a
> Westy. Having never owned a VW, he had lots of concerns. What was
> the best
> purchase for this novice teen with no mechanical ability? What
> should he
> buy? What to look for? Where to find the best deals? etc...etc.
>
> Like Westy sightings, this may be a daily occurrence to you folks
> in the
> "more advanced" States of these United, but out here in the
> hinterlands of
> Southern Ohio (where it is NOT so flat that you can watch your dog
> run way
> for two weeks) we seldom get these kind of encounters of the Type 2
> kind.
> Following a quick recitation on the VW Type2 Splittie to Eurovan
> pedigree, I
> mentioned thesamba classifieds and forums, and this List regarding
> working
> resources within the Type 2 community. I headed him toward the
> VList's
> buying guide should he decide on a T3.
>
> The dad is a tent camper, somewhat mechanically adept, and is
> trying to
> insure his step-son a "summer of discovery" and I applaud him for
> that. He
> is concerned that the purchased vehicle be safe and sound and not
> be a money
> pit for a short term owner. I explained my personal bias toward the
> later
> model w/c vans. Even though the entry price will be higher, the
> overall
> costs might be lower, especially considering resale values.
> I also invited him to attend one of our scheduled camping events
> that will
> be fairly near his hometown of Fairfield (OH). By doing that he
> could better
> evaluate the various Type 2's and talk to their owners about their
> experiences. He had lots of questions about the VW community and I
> ensured
> him that there are as many different types of people driving and
> camping in
> these VWs as there are in any given group... even if we do tend to
> be a
> little out of the mainstream when it comes to our vehicular
> proclivities.
>
> Anyway, I was just wondering about the List's input on this subject
> and how
> some of you would answer his questions and address his concerns... any
> ideas?
> --
> Stephen
> Chillicothe OH
