>From:    "Michael S. Nichols" <msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM>
>
>I have often pondered the way the airlines keep 25
>old planes in service, but consumers for the large part junk their cars
>after a few years.  Planes have scheduled maintenance different than >our
>vans--Why not replace our ECU's, fuel injectors, alternator, starter, >or
>for that matter replace our drive train components at specified mileage
>intervals, before they expire, rather than wait....
>
Because of the cost!
If you want to spend $2500 per year on 'maintenance' of your van, feel
free to do it!
Most of us don't have money to burn and want our Vanagons's to be less
expensive transportation than air travel.

By the way most cars are not junked after 'a few years', they are sold
as used cars, multiple times to multiple owners. Its not unusual to find
a used car that has had half a dozen owners or more. Many, many used
cars have had their original engines and transmissions rebuilt or
replaced.