George,
I will agree with you about being concern with breaking down with a older Vehicle. I also agree with pdooley; Older vehicle are more of a hobbie and if one can work on them themself you could fell more confident. The fun parts is when you breakdown you get to meet some new people and hopefully they are good people. If you don't work on them yourself it is going to cost you more of course. Good luck with the 84.

SOG

________________________________
From: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Tue, January 5, 2010 2:26:26 PM
Subject: Re: Solution to Reliability Problem

Maybe vanagon ownership isn't for you.
And yes, owning an old van is a hobby, unless you got deep pockets.
To make it reliable requires the same thing any old vehicle requires.
Complete rebuild.
Otherwise carry tools, spare parts, rescue list and a AAA card.

Basically, if you are afraid to drive it you may lack the require knowledge
and skill to fix it on the road.� Time to buy a Toyota :)

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
George Averill
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 3:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Solution to Reliability Problem

All,
I haven't posted in a while.� I have an 84 Vanagon camper that runs great.
I have had it for a number of years.� I don't use it much any more because
I'm afraid to go too far from home base.� I'm afraid that something will
break and I will be stranded in a motel or worse while trying to locate
repair parts and someone who is willing to make a repair.� That happened
once, and I don't want to repeat the experience.

Are other owners this paranoid?� Is there a solution?� I have just about
decided to sell the bus to someone who wants to have another hobby.

George
Cataula, GA
84 Vanagon Camper