Remember Don, I ended with "YMMV". We are all capable of different things (like Mike I can't do an engine swap. Minor fixes, oil changes, etc yes). I'd love to find a garage space in my area that I could do my own work though, it's tough doing it on a city street. Perhaps I'd be able to do / learn to do more. (Derek, care to share your space and tools?!?! :-) 
For example:
I bought an EGT gauge and sender. In order to install the sender I will have to take off the exhaust manifold, drill, tap and weld a bung on and then install the sender. Reassemble and I'm good to go. If I had a place to put it up on blocks, take the parts out and do the work over a day or 2 and then put it all back together I'd be thrilled. And I'd learn a bunch along the way. It's not a complicated thing, it's just complicated by circumstance. So instead I'm thinking about buying a manifold so I can do the mods to it, they get my mechanic to get new gaskets and do the swap. $$s for one manifold = about 1 hour of mechanic's fee and I would save 2 - 4 hours by doing it that way.  Anyhow, I digress!

Also keep in mind that it was in response to what we tell people when they ask about Vanagon ownership. If they don't have the stomach to pay that or do lots of the labour themselves they should be aware up front. Once you've bought� well that's another story!

Regards, Peter Kraiker
nextchapter.kraikerphoto.com
Toronto, ON, Canada
'82 L Westfalia 1.9 TD 5 Spd (Babe)

On 2012-10-20, at 12:53 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:

>  I think $20 Grand is a bit much to put dependability and enjoyment at.