Not that I'm a cynic... but I'm betting on the laughter. :-)

At 07:09 PM 12/8/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>You know, you might want to try a different tack as well (though the
>tree-hugger how-much-does-it-hurt-the-environment-to-make-a-new-car is
>good).  How about letting her know that you really have strong feelings
>about the Vanagon, and implying that she should encourage this evidence
>that you are a sensitive man.  And maybe suggest that if she accedes to
>your desires to save the van, you'll realize that she really understands
>how you feel.
>
>She might laugh her head off, but it might work, too!
>
>
>
>Joy
>
>****************************************************************
>Joy Hecht
>and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
>
>For musings about life and the vanadventures:
>http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
>
>****************************************************************:::-----Original
>Message-----
>:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
>:::Of Christopher Gronski
>:::Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 9:48 AM
>:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>:::Subject: Re: Those dreaded 9 words...
>:::
>:::Yeah I'd go th etree hugger route, but start in reading about
>:::alternative fuels without referening the vanagon, then find some news
>:::articles on how much fossile fuel and materials it takes to make a new
>:::car, and then go in for the kill about how not only a TDI engine
>:::conversion would be environmentally concious, but not having your
>:::vanagon end up in the scrap heap, or have the world produce one more
>:::gas monster would be good for the planet.
>:::
>:::Chris
>:::
>:::On 12/8/05, Michael Diehr <md03@xochi.com> wrote:
>:::> "Honey, I think we should consider selling the Vanagon?"
>:::>
>:::> Pardon?   "Shelving" the vanagon?  No honey, it's got shelves in it
>:::> already.   And besides, why would we want to work on the interior
>:::> when the engine is dead....the engine...the engine is dead....it's
>:::> dead.  Uh oh. That's not what you said, is it?  What did you say
>:::> exactly?
>:::>
>:::> It could happen to you.  The fear.  Those words...echoing in your head.
>:::>
>:::> How do I convince my sig.other that spending $4k to $8k on a engine
>:::> rebuild/fix/swap actually is a good idea.   This is, after all, a 20
>:::> year old car with 150k miles on it.     I think she's still mad over
>:::> the 24 hours spent broken down in the middle of nowhere on our last
>:::> vacation.   She's also concerned about global warming.    And
>:::> societal breakdown.    So I'm thinking maybe start with the TDI
>:::> conversion running biodiesel (reliable and good for the environment)
>:::> and then negotiate from there?   Maybe the idea that the vanagon
>:::> could be up-armored a lot easier than a Camry, and we'd probably look
>:::> silly driving a Camry with mohawks and crossbows?
>:::>
>:::> Help me out here!
>:::>
>:::> :-)
>:::>