Jon,

I have no particular opinion on the bug, but the van sounds like a pretty
good deal.

Anytime you are buying a vehicle of advanced years, you can anticipate some
occasional repairs.  You might luck out and drive it two years without a
single mishap, or you could blow the engine two hours after you pay for it.

The only real disadvantage to the Vanagon is the unfamiliarity of mechanics
with its design.  Even VW dealers would just as rather never work on them.
Unlike practically any other car on the road, the Vanagon is a design unto
itself.  It does not share many parts with other vehicles, and there really
weren't many made.   Consequently, parts are either more expensive than
you'd expect, or are dealer only items (more expensive than they have any
right to be!).

One other odd thing about the Vanagon design is that, if it speaks to you,
you will fall in love with it and no other vehicle will quite satisfy you
ever again.  Just like a beautiful but heartbreaking woman, you will lavish
your Vanagon with gifts, like water pumps and tranny mounts, and it will
repay you by leaving you high and dry, searching for another gift to please
her/it.  And you will simply obey, because you know that when she/it is
happy, you're getting the best you've ever had or ever will.

Jon; if it feels right, go for it.  If not, run away.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lee" <jrlee@MAILANDNEWS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2000 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: '84 Vanagon -- Thinking of buying

> Thanks to everyone for their advice.  I'm almost convinced not to buy the
> Vanagon, though I *REALLY* liked driving it. :-(  If it just weren't going
to
> be my primary vehicle . . .  Maybe someday.
>
> Now, a new question.  What think 'ye of a '67 Beetle with a newish engine
> (20,000 miles on it)?  Any dire, eminent emergencies waiting to happen
with
> that one?  It'll be driven across the Bay Bridge 3 days a week if I buy it
.
> . .
>
> (Sorry for the slightly off-topic question)
>
> best,
> Jon
> ---
> Jonathan Rhodes Lee
> jrlee@mailandnews.com