Getting back to the original topic, these recent posts would be the best
argument FOR the 1.6 diesel.... if driven reasonably, I'd be comfortable
taking them wherever I wanted to go.  You have to take your time in the
Vanagon diesel, but with close to a million miles on all the various
diesels I've had, not one has ever left me stranded with an engine
problem.  I've had problems - glow plugs, head gaskets, etc etc, but
most of these problems you see coming a mile away. If they strand you,
it's because you've been ignoring the signs.  No quirky ignition system
or dropped valve seats due to overheating to deal with.  We take our '74
Westy to close campgrounds and enjoy that, but the Vanagon is my daily
driver...

That'll be $.02...
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Debra Clark
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Diesel Power (now: long drive security)

I have to agree with Stan on his assessment of the Vanagon for long
drives.
At least for my purposes.  I came to that conclusion while 'lurking'
before
my purchase.  I envy those who have taken their Westy on long trips to
out
of the way places but I've read the horror stories of break downs with
parts
availability being nil.  Luckily, being in San Diego County, there are
camp-sites from the mountains to the oceans within 50 miles.  I love my
Vanagon.  We've gone camping in it, picnic-ing, tail-gating, hauled a
dryer
and a loveseat (at the same time!) with it and picked up a storage unit
from
Home Depot that we never could have hauled with our other cars.  My dogs
love it and my kids love it and my husband likes driving it because the
seats and driving position are comfortable for him.  (He's had 3 back
surgeries)  We're looking forward to taking in a drive-in this summer
(give
me some tips for the best positioning) and as soon as the beach heats up
a
bit, it will be the beach mobile.  But it's not my daily driver and I
would
be constantly on edge if I took it far from home.  It's just not worth
it to
me.  There is so much this car can do for me that our other cars can not
that I don't feel badly saying that there are a few things I'd rather
not do
in it.

Debra Clark
Santee, California
90 Multivan
clark10006@cox.net