Yep, what Craig said.

  Part of the hobby/adventure is seeing if you can make it in a 26+-
year old vehicle.  When you don't make it, you improvise somehow, &
that makes the adventure more interesting. When you do make it, you
marvel at how well your ancient vehicle works, & look forward to the
next adventure.

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-84 Westy Detlef has been coast to coast & I didn't buy it until
it was 18 years old

On Jan 5, 2010, at 3:09 PM, craig cowan wrote:

> In my mind the key to building confidence in a vehicle is to just
> drive it!
> The first few trips, you won't be confident. So, carry your spares,
> carry
> your tools, your AAA card, and your resources as stated above, and
> just go
> do it! After a few trips of increasing magnitude, you'll be confident.
>
> Real confidence comes from a few cross country treks......
>
> Now if only I could make it up the snowy driveway....
>
>
> -Craig
> '85GL turned WESTY
> BOSTIG in the back
>
> On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 4:57 PM, Stephen Grisanti
> <bike2vcu@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> George,
>> You must be able to do the work required to keep it going or pay
>> someone to
>> do the work for you.  I was fortunate enough to find a really nice
>> '87 with
>> an intermittent no start problem that in 3+ years (until this week)
>> was not
>> serious.  It ALWAYS eventually started right up until the time it
>> did not,
>> so now I must get my hands dirty.  Luckily, this last episode
>> occurred in
>> the driveway and not 1,000 miles from home.  Also luckily, I think
>> I have
>> isolated the malfunction and have some parts on order.  We shall see.
>>
>> Thing is, if this keeps up it could easily defeat my fundamental
>> trust in
>> the vehicle, as yours seems to have done to you.  We either deal
>> with it or
>> we don't.  Good luck with your decision and your van!
>>
>> Stephen
>>
>>
>> --- On Tue, 1/5/10, George Averill <averill@MCHSI.COM> wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: George Averill <averill@MCHSI.COM>
>> Subject: Solution to Reliability Problem
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 3:45 PM
>>
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>