Belts, sure. I'd bet a bit that most drivers outside of Vgon owners
wouldn't, or don't, consider hoses and fluids to be 'wear' items. As in, I
think most people replace a hose when it pops, and replace the coolant
because they lost it all with the hose. I've gotten plenty of blank stares
from people that should know better when mentioning replacing the tranny
fluid and filter, for instance, never mind brake fluid. Wonder how many
people actually change their differential oil without having to get in there
to do some work?

BTW, that's pretty much the definition I was grasping for ('even if driven
properly, they will wear out and go away'). Brief and to the point.

Cya,
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl Wolz" <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: Wilder's Law

> Tires, belts, hoses, fluids, brake friction components are all
> considered to be wear items.  That is, even if driven properly, they
> will wear out and go away.
>
> BTW, still happy with my vans.
>
> Karl
>
> > I paid $300.00 for my '87 GL passenger van, and I've got roughly
> $1400.00
> > into it, so I guess I'm helping Tom pull up the average, at least from
> a
> > percentage standpoint.
> > BTW, I tend to think that these figures shouldn't include tire
> replacement;
> > I don't see it in the same category as replacing a radiator or a head
> or
> > whatever. Can't really think of anything else off the top of my head
> that
> > I'd exclude, tho. Brakes, possibly; that's another limited lifetime
> > wear-out-and-replace item. Hmm.
> >
> > Cya,
> > Robert