Stick with the waterboxer, but get it, and keep it, running right. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

> On Feb 22, 2014, at 4:50 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> My Vanagon is pretty easy to keep going.  I think the key is to replace the
> troublesome WBX motor... Most of the unreliability issues seem to stem from
> those...
> 
> When I first began to  consider a Vanagon... a bit of research told me I
> wanted nothing to do with a stock motor..... Every review said they were
> poorly designed and very prone to frequent expensive repairs.  I was smart
> enough to choose to do an "end run" and find a Vanagon with a different
> motor... Rather than learn all about how to fix a water boxer and keep it
> fixed...
> 
>  Yes a 30yr old machine of any sort is going to have things wearing out
> but with the Vanagon we're able to do most of the needed replacements on
> our own with simple tools.  The Trick seems to be to replace stuff before
> it fails...
>> On Feb 21, 2014 9:42 AM, "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I would not argue with that logic. They have to be pretty smart to figure
>> out how to keep them running at this point!
>> 
>> Huntsville has had a military presence back to WWII, and has had NASA since
>> the mid fifties. Back when I was a kid, soldiers could ship a vehicle back
>> to the states at low/no cost. Parts places and mechanics for these cars
>> were everywhere. I was friends with the guy who came here to be Dr Von
>> Braun's Mercedes mechanic and he opened a shop that has survived him, and
>> he spawned a lot of other shops (he was the Fiat dealer for a time, and you
>> know what that means). I came of automotive age at a pretty interesting
>> time. Morgan 3 wheelers, 2-stroke SAABs, Alfa Romeo Giuliettas, all manner
>> of British T-series and on, Simca, Renault, Citroen, VW, Muscovich (sp?),
>> NSA all cheap if you kept your eyes open. A lot of them deserved to be
>> cheap, but some cars were fun bargains.
>> 
>> If you couldn't find it in town, JC Whitney had it. Look at an old Whitneys
>> catalog and you won't believe your eyes. I have an old one that I am going
>> to scan someday and put up a few pages. You will sob.
>> 
>> When I acquired Fifty Shades of Brown, it had a sticker in the window that
>> read
>> 
>> SAVE ME FROM WHAT I WANT
>> 
>> That is good advice for an old diesel Vanagon owner. I was obviously smart
>> enough to ignore it : )
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Feb 21, 2014 at 11:25 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>> 
>>> University towns have always been VW centers, especially for campers.
>> The
>>> Seattle area has three VW dealers, one four blocks from the University of
>>> Washington campus. They all sold a lot of campers over the years, which
>> is
>>> why we still have so many around.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> At least that seems to be true in the west, and Huntsville too
>>> apparently.  Hmm, does that mean smart people own Vanagons?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Stuart
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> *From:* Jim Felder [mailto:jim.felder@gmail.com]
>>> *Sent:* Friday, February 21, 2014 9:09 AM
>>> *To:* Stuart MacMillan; Vanagon mailing list
>>> *Subject:* Re: I am not alone
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I'm in Huntsville (Madison, technically). No shortage of parts here,
>>> thanks to me! LOL
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Plus we have a really good shop here and another in a nearby town. I
>>> looked at a Carat automatic yesterday at my local shop. It was parked out
>>> front with a Birmingham tag. The shop owner said that they owner has the
>>> car towed to Huntsville for any kind of service more complicated than an
>>> oil change.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> About a week ago a friend with a westy stopped by for a part. There were
>>> my two in their respective driveways, and this one on the street. My
>>> neighbor, who just bought a red passat TDI wagon, stopped and rolled the
>>> window down and said "You better keep them apart! They're starting to
>>> multiply!!!"
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Jim
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Feb 21, 2014 at 10:24 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com
>>> 
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I've heard that Huntsville has a pretty good quantity of Vanagon owners.
>>> Aerospace folks seem to like them. Drive up for a weekend to get your
>> fix!
>>> 
>>> Stuart
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>>> JRodgers
>>> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 10:10 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: I am not alone
>>> 
>>> For the longest kind of time I have not seen any Vanagons around
>>> Birmingham, AL but my own. Never see any mention of Birmingham on the
>>> Vanagon List so have wondered if I am all alone in the big city.
>>> 
>>> Well, today, just after parking my van and nearing the steps into the
>>> house, I hear this familiar engine sound, and almost simultaneously hear
>>> the unmistakable sound of a Vanagon horn down by the street. I turn and
>>> look toward the street in time to see TWO Tintop Vanagons with cargo
>>> carriers on top - one behind the other, one blue, one green, chugging up
>>> my hill. They waved, blew the horn again, but didn't stop. Wish they had.
>>> 
>>> But it's nice to know I'm not alone in the big city.
>>> 
>>> John
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>