I find the Vanagon an "Honest and reasonable" vehicle.  I do enjoy working
on my Vanagon because it is pretty straightforward, unlike many vehicles.
You got screws, bolts, nuts, and real mechanical fasteners holding real
wires and stuff, rather than clips, adhesives, solid state modules and
'sub-assemblies'.  Mine even has wind-up windows and a BIG steering wheel
for 'power steering'...Cool simple stuff like that, stuff that I can 'fix'
with a wrench without a diagnoistic computer and a dealership visit...But
when something goes 'off' in the electronics with a Vanagon, I find it cheap
enough to just throw parts at it...Unlike my old Porsche with it's $2800
engine computer (if you could find a used one..new no longer available...) I
found one for $30 at my local junkyard for the inline four VW motor...
  All the mechanical aptitude and interest in working on a car isn't worth
much when your brand new Ferrari or Lambo breaks down in the
backcountry...Heck, you have to drop the engine to get to the spark plugs on
a Porsche Boxster, and that will void the warrantee if you do it
yourself...But I still would like to take a few laps of Le Mans in one of
those more than I would like to wrench on it...
  Wonder how long a lap at Le Mans would take in a Westie?  I guess you
could at least nap half way round in some comfort..

  Don Hanson
On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 3:29 PM, <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

> Well ................ .  Don ---  a man I can admire for honesty and
> reasonableness.   Actually, reinforces my thoughts that a lot of the love of
> the Vanagon is by those whose main interest is in working on it, rather than
> benefitting from its abilities.  One should have mechanical aptitude, and
> love to use it for the Vanagon to be a fun vehicle.
>
> David
>
>
>
>