I read on the list that Vanagon are great because the owner can fix it
himself. I can't understand what is so great in that. Wouldn't it better to
do the maintenance, not the repairs? Some may like to be under the Vanagon,
its their choice. Mine is to troublefree, secure driving without very
expensive repairs.
I can't understand why a company building cars lasting 30 yers shall go
under. That is an american wasteful mentality, forced on producers all over
the world. Massive amount of materials and labor are wasted. The average age
of cars in Sweden is 19 years. In Portugal, I, a motorcycle fanatic in the
past, do often see BSA, Triumph, NSU, GILERA, Moto-Guzzi, Zundapp, Fichtel &
Sachs, 250, 350, 383 ( police version ), 600, 750 cc BMWs,
....................Vespas. Very many in great shape, daily driven. And made
in Germany right after the WW II cars: NSU, VETTA, Yanus........Three -
wheeled Messerschmitts.
And over 40 years old Citroen 2CV, Renault can be seen everywhere. Extremely
reliable, economical and parts are readily available.
Ark.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Fisher" <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 9:29 AM
Subject: Re: identification plate

> --snip--
> The company which produced the car, any piece of machinery, did care for
> its
> plate to last.
> --snip--
>
> The van is 23 years old. It was never intended to last that long; I'd bet
> good money that the designers and engineers thought a 12-15 year old van
> would be rare compared to the production numbers. Any car company that
> built
> 30-year vehicles would eventually go out of business. We're all trying to
> re-animate Dodos.
>
> As for the stickers and the window rubber; they're out there, people have
> posted about them. Search the archives.
>
> Cya,
> Robert