I agree. I've had 4 busses, the 71, a '79, and two '84's. The 71 was my
favorite hands down. The '79 was my least favorite. I'm no fan of the Type
IV engine. I found it needlessly complex and expensive to maintain for no
noticable power gain over the '71.

While waterboxers are even more complex, at least they are more powerful,
and have heat.

Also, contrary to popular opinion of loafs vs. vanagons, the '79 sucked in
the snow. Both of my '84s were better.

John Flaherty
Portland, Maine
'94 GL

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Baker" <abusguy2@springmail.com>
To: <jflahert@maine.rr.com>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: Re: Pop Top Alarm

> On Thu, 14 Feb 2002 11:48:38 -0500 "John P. Flaherty"
<jflahert@MAINE.RR.COM> wrote:>>
> I always preferred the poptop in my '71 Westy. Hinged at the front. Never
had to worry about it flying open on the road.<<
>
> AMEN!!!  Yetta Nutter reason the 71 model Westy is the BEST ever made!!!!!
>
> Peace, John Baker (recent new owner of a 71 westy, and hoping this doesn't
turn into a huge long thread about who thinks what year is best ;^)
>
>
>
>
> John Flaherty
> Portland, Maine
> '84 GL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Loren A. Busch" <lbusch@IX.NETCOM.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 11:17 AM
> Subject: Re: Pop Top Alarm
>
>
> > Better one: Leave the mountain top, drive 22 miles and down 4,000 feet,
> > stop and have breakfast, pull back onto the freeway, and as you are just
> > starting to cruise at about 65 WHAM!! the pop-top opens!!! Right in the
> > middle of the highway!  No alarm light or cutout needed in the future to
> > double check that the top is latched ALL THE WAY after that one.
> >
> > Loren A. Busch
> > I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am
> > not sure that you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
>