Interesting.  Maybe this explains why, in eleven years in the financial
services industry, I've never met a fellow employee with a Vanagon.

Joe T.

>From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
>Reply-To: dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Total restoration cost!
>Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 13:43:56 +0000
>
>One thing I don't see mentioned is the cost of the money! If you have $30K
>in cash to put into your vehicle, think of what that could be in 5 years.
>At a modest 8% you would have over $44k in 5 years. Almost 65K in 10. The
>30K in cash could be a future retirement home. Heck, you could invest the
>30k, use the $200 month earnings to pay off a cheap car and still have the
>$30k at the end. Well, not quite with taxes and stuff.
>
>In general, car addicted people are not good money people. Good mechanics
>are not good businessmen. Cars are usually not good investments. Especially
>if the goal is to use them. Restorations usually are for the pride of
>ownership. Most restored vehicles are used as show vehicles. We call them
>trailer queens as that is how they often go to shows.
>
>As for spending that type of cash on a vehicle for a trip, just don't make
>economic sense. For lots of trips and a future, maybe.  Get into an
>accident or have it stolen, guess what, most of that money is gone. It is
>hard to get stated value insurance for vehicles in normal use. For one or
>two people, the Westy is great. With a family, with that much cash, I would
>look for an RV. In the US, interest on an RV is even tax deductible. As for
>some of the big money I see spent on Syncro Westies and stuff, makes less
>sense. Invest big money on Syncro Westy to so you can go off road and trash
>it!
>
>I love the Syncro and Westys for their usefulness. Mine are no longer show
>pieces but I dislike abusing them. I do maintenance to keep the overall
>cost per mile low. I have 247K on Fun Bus, original engine and head gaskets
>and I will still take it on trips. Maybe not to Mexico but I did drive it
>to Florida last Thanksgiving. I frequently inspect parts but I don't change
>things until future failure is evident. In industry, they call it
>predictive maintenance.
>
>Just rambling!
>Dennis

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