----- Original Message -----
From: "Calle Fallberg" <calle.fallberg@telia.com>
To: "Michael Rule" <mikerule@UFL.EDU>
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 1:37 AM
Subject: Re: Trusting Your Machine

> Hi Michael !
>
> When you�re using vehicles this old, the year it was made is of smaller
> value, what really matters is how well it was taken care of !
> OK, there are aicoolers and WBX with it�s pros and cons but in general all
> year related faults have already been dealt with if the PO liked his rig !
> The thing about travelling in a Vanagon is faith, trust and luck :-)
> You must believe in the capability of the car, drive carefully - remember
> this is an OLD car - and with a little luck you�ll reach your destination
!
> Ehhhh - some mecanical skills and a well filled toolbox will help too but
if
> you only have the later, the first will come to you in no time !!
> So do a little service, take a deap breath, climb up on your throne and go
> away and you�ll be amazed how reliable these buses really are !
> OK, we discuss lots and lots of weird problems here but have in mind that
> that�s the reason for this community - most of the travel experiences we
> share with other people who are not completly devoted to german
engineering
> :-)
> And if you�re worried, why not get a travelplan up here and ask if there�s
> someone along the way that can give a hand if the impossible should occure
?
> You�d be more than welcome to stop here for a cup of coffee, or use the
> garage/tools/local knowledge if you happen to be in the neighbourhood !!
>
> Calle
> -88 Vanagon
> ( that blew the engine and has Volvo I4 replacement :))
> Mullhyttan, Sweden
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Rule" <mikerule@UFL.EDU>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 12:57 AM
> Subject: Trusting Your Machine
>
>
> > Hi Ya'll,
> >
> > Silly Question, but I thought it would be an interesting survey-
> > and one that is simply opinion-based, so no one can accuse right
> > or wrong answers- but hey- feel free to tell me not to post
> > useless drivel like this if you're so inclined!
> >
> > This may apply more to the pre'86 models, but all years seem
> > significantly quirky enough that anybody might "feel my pain"...
> >
> > Obviously there are plenty of brave Volks who travel all over in
> > their Groovy Vans, accumulating fun times and memories... but I
> > gotta tell ya, I'm a bit terrified!
> >
> > Reading the constant issues that seem to randomly arise in these
> > machines makes me VERY hesitant to got much further than St.
> > Augustine's or Tampa Beach (from Gainesville, 1-2.5hrs), for fear
> > of some horrific random tranny/ head-gasket blow-out, faulty
> > fuel-line-induced fire, silent coolant loss, lite-switch blow-out
> > turning my dash into a brown puddle of goo... I mean, short of
> > rebuilding EVERYTHING, when does one begin to feel comfy and
> > cozy??
> >
> > Please bear in mind, this is sorta tongue-in-cheek griping!  I am
> > admittedly neurotic and anxiety-driven (hah!), altho I have
> > already spent about $3K prepping the vehicle to Be Travel Worthy
> > (thanks the The List, the Vendors, Vanagonauts, and more Listees
> > personal communications than I can name)... but I'm wondering if
> > the initial ownership has made anyone as batty and conflicted--
> >
> > "Sell and buy a newer one?"
> >
> > "Go back to my 66 Olds and hiking/camping equipment?"
> >
> > "Medication??"
> >
> > "Forget the motorized things, those Luddites had it good?!"
> >
> > --as I feel after 5wks of ownership of an 84 Westy?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Mike
> >
> > --------- <:3~ ---------
> >
> > Michael Rule
> > UFL / UFSCC
> > Transgenic Core Facility
> > CB-033
> > 352.392.4210
> > http://transgenics.ufscc.ufl.edu
> >
> > The trick is to listen to what the experiments tell you -
> > and to not be fooled by the myths of authorities --
> > Constantine Spyropoulos (1928-1984)
>