At 11:35 AM 9/21/2012, Roland wrote:
>before I leave home.   (Many years ago with our old Vanagon my wife drove
>into the garage with the rear hatch all the way open which bent the wiper
>and added some "character" to the metal).

That hatch is invisible from the driver's seat when it's raised.  I
think maybe I'll go hang a donkey's tail from it, or an AOL CD or
something.  That's bitten me twice now, fortunately not badly - but
still.  Once into another Vanagon's open hatch, and once into the
inside of an open garage door.  Both times while working on a Vanagon.

I guess that, along with driving the Westy seven miles once with the
top up,* are my big stupids.  Signing up to help moderate the list I
have no regrets about.  Yet.  <g>

*It did seem a bit sluggish once I got to 45 mph, but that's as fast
as I was going.  It was night time, going from my folks' house to a
friend's along countryish roads.  Got to my destination, turned back
to shut the door and almost had a heart attack.

Subsequent thought - headlight-alarm type buzzer, goes off when
reverse gear engaged with any door open.  Easy-peasy.  AOL CD in the
meantime.  No, Alistair, I'm not going to use La Cucharacha for that
either.  Beetle horn, maybe. ;-)

Yrs,
David