Lots of great input from everyone! I didn't mean to kick-off a big
debate, but I am gleaning lots of good information from it. Thanks to
everyone for adding their voice.

Cheers,
Brad

On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 1:09 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> Alistair, I understand. �I am willing for now to put up with what it takes to be able to have and use the camper. �When it isn't worth it any more, I'll do something else. �I just thought this ought to be clear to any naive person.
>
> Dave
>
> ---- Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> Dave,
>>
>> Think about it, the "newest" Vanagon is now almost 20 years old. It is
>> unreasonable to expect the van to be trouble free, especially compared
>> to "things like Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, that never break."
>>
>> And westies need more maintenance. I look at them as if they were
>> boats. Try buying a 20 year old boat that sleeps 2, has a galley, and
>> and expect then to do no work on it. :)
>>
>> Vanagons in all there forms are not for everyone. I'm one of those who
>> love mucking around fixing things on mine, I know other owners who
>> don't and have pro. mechs. do the work. I do wince a little when
>> someone that I suspect don't want to take either path asks me about
>> vanagon ownership.
>>
>> alistair
>>
>>
>>
>> On 18-Jan-11, at 10:47 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>>
>> > I guess I'll have to say at this point that the following post from
>> > Matt illustrates something that any prospective Vanagon buyer
>> > without Vanagon experience should consider. �The folks who seem to
>> > enjoy Vanagons the most are those who are either mechanics or want
>> > to be mechnics, and who just enjoy getting their hands greasy and
>> > barked up for the sake of working on a vehicle themselves. �This
>> > even extends to the point of some (though not most) of them
>> > resorting to ridicule towards those of us who just want to have a
>> > vehicle that works to do what we want it to do. �For them, it is all
>> > about the opportunity to work (and redesign and rework even) a van
>> > that some of us would just like to be able to reliably used, having
>> > been spoiled by things like Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, that
>> > never break.
>> >
>> > I have grown to like my camper a lot, and my wife likes it even more
>> > than I do. �But the things can be a real trial, and only someone
>> > willing to put up with that, or even better, to love it, should
>> > consider one. �It is not for the sake of the trials and tribulations
>> > that we like the camper, but for what it can do for us. �But a good
>> > many others seem to love the trouble, and to love constant dickering
>> > with the beast. �And though some will say, particularly in response
>> > to anyone stating otherwise, that the vehicle is easy to maintain
>> > and easy to diagnose, and easy to work on, there are probably very
>> > few people for whom that is true.
>> >
>> > McNeely
>>
>
> --
> David McNeely
>