Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 21:05:47 -0700
Reply-To: mac stricklen <mac_stricklen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: mac stricklen <mac_stricklen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Fire! (a sob story)
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So, after shopping for a few months I finally bought a vanagon this
past saturday (2 days ago) It was an '82--In great shape. I was
happy because it met my three big requirements--air-cooled, fold down
bed, and it was cheap enough that I could pay cash. It was in great
shape--needed some work here and there, but it seemed worthy of taking
a couple of short camping trips since I had the week off anyway. I
drove it home, did a little work on it. admired it a little more.
My wife, who was skeptical about the whole idea from the beginning was
really enjoying it too. she constantly wanted to drive it, and had
declared that it was the "funnest" vehicle we had ever owned.
So this afternoon, a beautiful, warm, sunny low humidity kind of day,
we pack up the mt. bikes and the gear and head out on some back roads
taking the long way to one of of favorite trails heads for a day of
vanagon-induced leisure. We top a little hill and Jessica comments
that someone sure is burning some foul-smelling trash today. Seconds
later we realize its us. We pull off the road hoping it's just some
kind of overheating thing, and that the smoke isn't really related to
a fire (duh!) and frantically run to the back and start clearing off
bikes and gear from on top on the engine compartment. No sooner is
everything out when real honest-to-god flames start lapping out of the
engine compartment. I began to seriously regret thinking that buying
a fire extinguisher could wait until the next paycheck!
By the time we'd called 911 on the cell phone, it was clear that that
van wasn't going anywhere this week, and by the time the fire trucks
actually arrived it was clear that what we owned was technically no
longer a van, but was acually a smoldering metallic cinder. And a
stinky one at that.
What was perhaps the most frustrating thing is that the first two
vehicles to arrive were a tow truck and a truck hauling flammable
chemicals--so we had three vehciles (including me) that by all means
*should* have had a fire extinguisher an the scene in time to have
saved the van, but no actual fire extinguishers.
I'm just curious now about what is going to happen with our insurance.
The agent I talked to today said that since we had full coverage on
our other two vehicles, we were automatically coverd on the vanagon
for trhirty days after purchase. Theoretically, then we should be ok,
but I'll feel better when (if) we've got the check in hand!
I think, despite all this I'd like to own another vanagon, so if
anyone out there knows of a good one FS within a days drive of central
KY, let me know!
mac
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