Al and all,
I figured with the storage, jump seat config, three swiveling seats,
two tables, extra lights, cupholders, soundproofing, handles etc that
I had made the perfect family car. And I did I think.
The cheapest car I've owned has to be the 71 single cab bus I drive on
a daily basis. It has a very smooth new Mexican long block in it that
I purchased from John at Aircooled.net (great guy to deal with by the
way)
-steve

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 00:11:28 -0600, Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@mchsi.com> wrote:
>     Uh, am I missing something here? What does it cost to drive a late
> model sport utility? Especially one not made in Korea? (I.e., more
> expensive model like Lexus, Tahoe, Expedition?) Don't they cost quite a
> bit to buy, fix, buy tires for, etc. Especially after they get a few
> miles on them and major parts start to need fixing? I don't really know
> first hand, this is just speculation. (I do know that my dad paid nearly
> $500 to have a new turn signal switch put into his 2001 Buick- not
> exactly thought to be an expensive car.) But with $40k new price, maybe
> you west coast guys ought to drive a $2000 air cooled westy and put the
> other $38k towards a down payment on a house.I think the Vanagons are
> the inexpensive  answer. Anybody that would borrow that kind of money to
> drive a new SUV and not have TONS of equity in a house is a fool. He is
> taking his family to the poor house.
>    Personally, my good car is a 91 Vanagon. A pretty nice GL that I
> have  put in a 4 speed that I rebuilt, plus maybe another $1000 worth of
> work. Easily the quietest, smoothest, nicest Vanagon of the 6 I've had.
> For maybe $3500 total investment.  Driven it about 35k miles so far in
> 2-1/2 years.
>      Still, Steve's red Syncro seem like a very nice car to me. If the
> work was well done, I don't think anyone could duplicate it for that
> price unless they were  working for $10/ hour or less. If I had the
> extra money, I'd buy it myself. It looks like it is very well thought
> out and very nearly what I would do myself. Except I prefer Bordeaux
> Red.  And--- you could have 4 for $40k, maybe 4 different colors?
>       But then, real estate here is cheap, and my mansion with a view
> is paid for. (Though there are about 17 more rooms to rehab!)
> Al Brase
>
> BenT Syncro wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >The average Joe/Jane actually living in the SF is getting wealthier.
> >That is why so many can afford to support Vanagons. The fortunate ones
> >own Syncro Westies. The less fortunate have to live away from the City
> >center.
> >
> >--
> >BenT
> >
> >
> >
>