Favorite Vanagon feature?... lemme tell ya.  This last Tuesday afternoon
the weather suddenly turned warm and sunny after a whole lot of cold rainy
gloom, so after school instead of driving home I pointed the Westy away
from town and drove 20 minutes north to the Finger Lakes National Forest
(in upstate NY).  Fired up the GPS and followed some muddy rocky old
logging roads that no motorhome would have a prayer of getting down... in
fact few cars could have... even with the Vanagon's ground clearance I
picked up a new dent in the oil pan.  (Subie)

Came out in a secluded hillside pasture and lo and behold there is a picnic
table and a fire ring.  Not another person in sight.
<http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/rdh24/0510.jpg>

Up goes the poptop and in no time water is boiling for dinner (i keep the
kitchen stocked).  8pm Tuesday night and most folks are zombied out in
front of the boob tube... I am watching the sunset through the open sliding
door and sipping hot chocolate.  Listened to the nighttime bug sounds as I
drifted off on the comfortable lower bed.  Then up bright and early at
sunrise, took a 4mile hike through the woods, oatmeal and more hot
chocolate for breakfast, shaved and threw on fresh clothes from the closet
and I was back in the office by 9am.

Life is GOOD!  When I see people drive by in the latest high buck sport ute
they're struggling to keep up payments on I almost feel sorry for them...
"utility" schmility... they have no IDEA what they are missing out
on.  Anyway they would never have the patience to give a Vanagon the TLC it
needs to keep it running.  It's all good, keeps these old busses affordable
for those of us in the know.
best,
Robert H
Ithaca, NY

At 10:35 AM 5/13/2005 -0600, you wrote:
>OK Time for a new compilation of "Quirky things that make a Vanagon
>Interesting and unique and that you need to know if you are going to
>live with one"
>
>  Along with the location of the brake/clutch reservoir, washer bottle
>refill, oil tube extension, there must be other "Quirks" or design
>features that are unique to these vehicles and that knowing about would
>elicit amazement and wonder. Westies too!
>How about it listees, what are your "Favorite Vanagon/Westy Features"