Some years ago, when I was first on the road and Matilda was constantly
breaking down, I seriously considered selling her and continuing my travels
in my Prius, with a tent.  I posted to this list, and the replies were
probably evenly split on the options.  I'm not a mechanic, so having a van
that broke down all the time was definitely a big hassle.

I didn't sell Matilda (why does that sound as if I were thinking of selling
my first-born into slavery or something???).  The community on the vanagon
list was one of the big reasons why not.  Later on in my travels I met a
fellow traveling in some US-maker van converted to a camper.  In many ways
it was much more convenient than a Westy, didn't break down all the time,
etc.  But when I told him about the vanagon community he was so envious!

I think the people are worth the hassles.

Joy
and Matilda, who's really glad she didn't get sold down the river...

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 11:33 PM, Mark Hineline <hineline@helix.ucsd.edu>wrote:

> In a month or so I'm going to sell my 2001 VW GTI (1.8 liter) so that
> I can buy one of two vehicles. The heart wants a hardtop Vanagon (it
> actually wants a Syncro Westfalia, but the heart isn't writing the
> check). The head says no, get a mid- to late-80s van produced by a
> Japanese automaker. First syllable rhymes with "boy." Second and third
> syllables rhyme with "quota."
>
> The head argues: good heat and air conditioning. An engine that will
> last hundreds of thousands of miles. More power in proportion to mass.
> Same relationship between the driver and the sheet metal in front of
> the vehicle. Radiator and engine are in the same county. Fabulous
> turning radius. No real need for the added interior volume.
>
> Heart says: yeah, but you'll still want a Vanagon.
>
> Anyone have any arguments that the head will listen to?
>
> Mark Hineline
>