Date:         Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:01:08 -0700
Reply-To:     "John C..." <jcarp1910@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "John C..." <jcarp1910@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: first time buyer
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTim8M34ybzJqSrSJGokUsdLv61edpREBCPNMdXwb@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

>>>I didn't mean to kick-off a big debate

Brad,,,
Oh No !!!
Once you get to know this list a little better,
You'll find it Doesn't take all that much
to set off a real nice re-enactment of the Civil War !!!
the Orly Blue against the Pewter Grey !!!  ;o)  heh...  heh...
JC...


On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 2:49 PM, Brad Pauly <bpauly@gmail.com> wrote:

> Lots of great input from everyone! I didn't mean to kick-off a big
> debate, but I am gleaning lots of good information from it. Thanks to
> everyone for adding their voice.
>
> Cheers,
> Brad
>
> On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 1:09 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> > Alistair, I understand.  I am willing for now to put up with what it
> takes to be able to have and use the camper.  When it isn't worth it any
> more, I'll do something else.  I just thought this ought to be clear to any
> naive person.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> > ---- Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> >> Dave,
> >>
> >> Think about it, the "newest" Vanagon is now almost 20 years old. It is
> >> unreasonable to expect the van to be trouble free, especially compared
> >> to "things like Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, that never break."
> >>
> >> And westies need more maintenance. I look at them as if they were
> >> boats. Try buying a 20 year old boat that sleeps 2, has a galley, and
> >> and expect then to do no work on it. :)
> >>
> >> Vanagons in all there forms are not for everyone. I'm one of those who
> >> love mucking around fixing things on mine, I know other owners who
> >> don't and have pro. mechs. do the work. I do wince a little when
> >> someone that I suspect don't want to take either path asks me about
> >> vanagon ownership.
> >>
> >> alistair
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 18-Jan-11, at 10:47 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> >>
> >> > I guess I'll have to say at this point that the following post from
> >> > Matt illustrates something that any prospective Vanagon buyer
> >> > without Vanagon experience should consider.  The folks who seem to
> >> > enjoy Vanagons the most are those who are either mechanics or want
> >> > to be mechnics, and who just enjoy getting their hands greasy and
> >> > barked up for the sake of working on a vehicle themselves.  This
> >> > even extends to the point of some (though not most) of them
> >> > resorting to ridicule towards those of us who just want to have a
> >> > vehicle that works to do what we want it to do.  For them, it is all
> >> > about the opportunity to work (and redesign and rework even) a van
> >> > that some of us would just like to be able to reliably used, having
> >> > been spoiled by things like Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, that
> >> > never break.
> >> >
> >> > I have grown to like my camper a lot, and my wife likes it even more
> >> > than I do.  But the things can be a real trial, and only someone
> >> > willing to put up with that, or even better, to love it, should
> >> > consider one.  It is not for the sake of the trials and tribulations
> >> > that we like the camper, but for what it can do for us.  But a good
> >> > many others seem to love the trouble, and to love constant dickering
> >> > with the beast.  And though some will say, particularly in response
> >> > to anyone stating otherwise, that the vehicle is easy to maintain
> >> > and easy to diagnose, and easy to work on, there are probably very
> >> > few people for whom that is true.
> >> >
> >> > McNeely
> >>
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >
>