Yup.  For my 84 which began life with me at 7K odometer miles and now shows almost 204k (+ - a couple or more hundred or so unclocked when I went without a cable replacement), it gets a body lift every couple of years and replaced parts as needed and discovered during routine checkups .... Sort of like many elderly folks .... Whoops!  the VW and I fit in similar categories.
Sam Conant
Colchester, Vermont

-------------- Original message --------------
From: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>

> It's kind of funny that the idea of getting rid of it (my 84) came to mind
> often. But every time I took a short/long trip in it I easily negated it.
> There is no need for me to explain it. Everyone of you knows what it is that
> keeps you driving it.
>
> David
>
>
> --- BJ Feddish wrote:
>
> > As long as they are well maintained I don't think you HAVE to spend allot on
> > these every year. I spent $5000 this year only because 1) I did not spend a
> > dime on repairs for 4 years so I spent about $3K this year for all new front
> > end parts, rear end parts, body work , clutch, all new gas lines, etc. to
> > get it back into shape. Averaged over 5 years that's $600 a year and 2) I
> > spent about $2k in goodies. The van is now back to where it was 11 years
> > ago which is really good shape.
> >
> > http://mywebhopserver.feddishbasses.com:81/vw/
> >
> > A year ago, before I started the repairs, Chris said that if my van came
> > into his yard with a blown motor, he would part it out... That got my ass
> > in gear.
> >
> > Bryan
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> > Jeff Lincoln
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:48 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: 60 years ago this week
> >
> > I'd say I have about $800 into mine this year but that includes purchasing
> > it, hauling it from Indiana to the east side of MI, hauling it from the east
> > side of michigan to the west side, installing the engine (original), and a
> > few part here and there. I certainly hope it doesn't cost that much on a
> > regular basis.
> >
> > On 7/31/07, David Kao wrote:
> > >
> > > --- BJ Feddish wrote:
> > >
> > > > Only $800 a year? You must not be actually driving the van. :)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Byran
> > > >
> > >
> > > It is actually less than $800 per year.
> > >
> > > 150k miles total. I paid $13,000 to buy it new in 84. My estimate of total
> > > cost in fixing it is well within $5000 over 23 years. It was never in any
> > > dealers nor any independent shops for any repair. I did all the work
> > > myself,
> > > including resealing the heads when it leaked at 120k miles. The $5000 does
> > > not
> > > include fuel, oil, registration, smog check, and insurance. It was only
> > > for fixing it and keeping it up in shape.
> > >
> > > It is still in excellent running shape. I have spared a pair of used AMC
> > > heads for it. I yanked those from a You Pull junkyard for less than $200.
> > >
> > > How much do you volks spent in the thing to keep it up over 20 years?
> > >
> > > david
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ____________________________________________________________________________
> > ________
> > > Need a vacation? Get great deals
> > > to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel.
> > > http://travel.yahoo.com/
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jeff
> > 90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful. Now sporting a very unstylish brown
> > interior taken from the parts bus)
> > 86' (We call this one Parts)
> > 85' GL (Sidelined and feeling neglected)
> >
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________
> ____
> Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search
> that gives answers, not web links.
> http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC