I hear you loud and clear Don.

First, I considered a Honda Element. I like them but I think the reason I
like them is that they are really the closest thing (that I know of) to
having the versatility of a Vanagon (and they don't do it as well).

As for all the gadgets and automatic this and that. Well, I have thought the
same thing. That is just one more thing to quit working. Sure those are nice
conveniences to have but aren't necessary in my opinion.

On 12/20/06, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
>
> I've recently returned to VW ownership, first with an old Beetle  ('72)
> and now an older Vanagon.  Makes me wonder about 'stuff'.
>     When driving either of my 'new' vehicles I often look around at the
> other stuff on the road and think things like...'Hey, lookit that Honda
> Element, is it ten times the vehicle that my $3k vanagon is?"  Or.."how
> about that_____,(mmm, I can't even think of a car that compares to a
> Beetle...but)  do I want one of those?  Could I fix that in the middle of
> Nevada with a screwdriver and some pliers?"
>    After 33 years of Automotive Evolution, I figure my Vw Vanagon is right
> up there with the best new stuff available.  Is that just me?
>
>   I watched a lady get into her Chrysler mini-van the other evening.  She
> walked up thumbing her key fob till the lights blinked and the horn
> beeped...Up went the rear door, automatically..(Good thing my van wasn't
> parked behind her, or my pickup with the light bar..)  She stuck her kid
> into the toddler seat, after dis abling the automatic seat belt function,
> then went round and got in, again thumbing the key fob...More blinking
> lights and horn  then the door slid shut, automatically and down the hatch
> came, automatically.Seat belts wrapped her up and away she went.   Wonder
> how all those Gizmos will be working in 35 years?  The doors didn't even
> have handles...Wonder if that POS was worth $20k+ to her?..musta been..
> Dunno, ya gotta wonder about a culture that finds people buying Hummers
> for daily drivers and who find pushing a key fob more desirable than pushing
> a mechanical door latch...
>   Don Hanson
>

--
Thanks,

Jeff
90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)