Another one:
Since driving our '82 for a while, I've noticed we get way more attention from
hitchhiker's and bay drivers, and even a few peace signs so far this year! With the
'88 nobody around here noticed - we had to leave town to even get a wave from
another bus...

but I'd stop short of calling these bumpers real *metal*... more like tin foil. I can't even
step on them without bending them, and I'm only 160lbs. I step on the '88 bumpers
all the time without trouble... :-)

On 3 Jun 2005 at 15:25, Mark Cumnock <kayakwesty@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> Top 20 Why Reasons Round Headlight Vanagons Are
>                    Better.
>
>         Contrary to what Gowesty states�..hee hee my little jab there�..
>
>
>
> #20 Chicken S#*#^ Brown Interiors are easier to keep clean than Pansy
>  Grey. (Remember you bought the van to camp in.)
>
> #19 You can actually see the road with the round headlights at night.
>
> #18 They can have a real middle seat, instead of the turned around
> get car sick jump seat/ mother-in-law seats.
>
> #17 1.9 liter motors don�t throw a rod like a 2.1
>
> #16 Cheaper on the market so you have more money to spend on the same
>  problems a Square headlight van will have.
>
> #15 Coolant hoses are easier/ simpler to change including the metal
> coolant  pipes. Most don�t have a bleeder valve that doesn�t work
> anyway. I.e.  useless. And if you don�t like coolant you could get it
> air-cooled!!!
>
> #14 Some even came with Diesels, how cool is that and most Diesel
> owners fill  their van up by marking their calendar.
>
> #13 You can get a Wolfberg GL model with a Stove and Frig.
>
> #12 With round headlights you are halfway done on converting the grill
> to a  cool South African look. Meanwhile �squares� are looking on Ebay
> for  lights.
>
> #11   You can drive across the country with antique car tags on your
> van, while it  is more reliable than any soccer mom SUV will ever be in
> 20 plus years.
>
> #10 (Bonus for you Vanagon Geeks)Use can use a Digitool with a Digijet
>  system and not have the Digifant (Idle Stabilization Valve)
> trouble.
>
> #9  ( Another Bonus for you Vanagon Geeks out there) Round headlights
>  don�t  have the plastic inserts in the coolant system that are
> time activated  for you summer vacation to go bad.
>
> #8        1.9 Liter rebuilds are cheaper to obtain because they have an
> intact  crankcase (See #4)
>
> #7   Later model �squares� came with an updated transmissions, that
> have  updated gears that don�t break. The point is moot with a van with
> 200,000  plus miles on it don�t ya think?
>
> #6      Some �squares� could come with a Syncro conversion so you can
> really  stick you van in the mud and give it body damage�.when�s the last
>  time you really needed a 4x$   �the $ wasn�t a typo by the way.
>
> #5 You could get a solid yellow, two �tone or metallic with real
> metal  bumpers. Instead of the take out a loan and go to the dealer
> fiberglass  bumpers.
>
> #4 Most rounds have the bottom sag that gives it the cool West Coast
> Bling- Bling look.
>
>
> #3 Didn�t come with Power Mirrors , when is the last time you really
> adjusted  your mirror.
>
> #2 They didn�t come with Power Windows that are rain activated not to
> roll up  during a sudden monsoon.
>
> #1 And the the number one reason round headlight Vanagons are
>  better����1.9 liter heads leak just as good as the 2.1 liter heads
>
> Thank ya Thank ya verrrrrry much.....van-elvis has left the buliding....
>

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D
'88 Westy 2.1L, soon to be 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy