Date:         Sat, 15 Feb 2020 17:01:57 +0000
Reply-To:     frankgrun@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <frankgrun@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Friday subject - are we on the list just old farts?
Comments: To: albell@SHAW.CA
In-Reply-To:  <2818AA3E-61FD-4332-931F-CD4A6B51133F@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Old Farts, indeed! I'll not see 75 planetary solar cycles again - at least in this dimension!
My first VW bus experience was 1967 with my 1962 VW Sundial Camper. The Idiots Guide was essential to the unscheduled and unanticipated engine rebuild in the driveway. The first and only Vanagon experience is dated 1982 with delivery of our diesel Westfalia in Weidenbrück, West Germany (then). Transmission replaced within 1 month in France. Imported to USA after 8.5 weeks in Europe. Added auxiliary fuel tank for gas crisis of '83. Eventually replaced the diesel with a 1.8L VW engine from from a Golf convertible code RV. Often massaged the internals of the engine relying on the Water-cooled Idiot's Guide. Lots of cash went into engineering mods, grills, gauges, lights, electrics, nav, and stereos. Then upgraded to an Audi 2.0L engine, adapting Digifant. Then added low pressure turbocharger with SAAB knock control to the Audi 80 engine. Then switched back to diesel with a 1.8L 1Z Passat engine. Added VNT turbo, modified engine mounts, retuned ECU, audi intercooler, oil coolers, more gauges, etc. Frightening cash expenditure, but stimulating and so much fun. Driving/camping too. Old - not yet.
Frank Grunthaner


-----Original Message-----
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Fri, Feb 14, 2020 6:23 pm
Subject: Friday subject - are we on the list just old farts?

Now don’t get me wrong. Don’t think I’m accusing anyone or if this has to do with any recent list subjects.

It’s ti do with my own experience, day to day. I work where I’m the oldest person. This is a first for me. The other guys are half my age and pretty well twice my smarts. And we do a lot of Toyota Tacoma and forerunner accessories and mods. And some jeep stuff.

These vehicles are all within 5 years old, many are brand new. The purchase price of these toys is high, and what we put on them isn’t cheap.

Customers all younger than me, all enthusiastic and energetic. And all want that off road ( overland) look for the trucks.

As an owners group, they all are much younger and more willing to spend money than what the average vanagon owner is. They vast majority of vanagon owners I meet are around my age(61). Yes, I know there are younger owners, some of the van life types, but majority are old farts. And we old farts are tight with our money. And often we have the btdt attitude that I’m finding, in myself, to be a negative attitude.

What do you folk think? I know there are younger list members, even now with the list being much much much quieter than the hay days of the 90s and 00s.

Just a Friday musing eh?

Alistair