<<<snip>>>What would you have said if you were in my shoes? <<<snip>>>

My dad (or was it Tim Allen) once said, "Anything worth having is worth
tinkering with."

Along those lines, I would have responded to you friend as follows...

"Look.  Our friendship has endured (fill in the blank) years and it's not
the same as when we met, is it?  We've adjusted to and allowed for our
idiosyncrasies, we've repaired our fences when they've broke, and we've
pulled each other out of the trouble spots each of us has managed to get in
to.  That's what friends do for each other.  That bus there, the one you've
disparaged, is also my friend.  And as my friend, it has accompanied me on
some memorable adventures and I have helped it when it is unwell or sick.
I would do the very same for you.  As a friend..."

Okay.  Sorry for waxing philosophical.  Now back to our regularly scheduled
gun and tire thread...

Alan Bosch
& Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)