I gotta tell ya, nothing beats the turning radius of a Vanagon.

-- Gnarlie

On Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 8:33 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:

>   I posted a Friday bit on my new to me GM Safari AWD van...then, after
> working on it most of the day, doing my post-purchase fluid changes and
> checks....I got in my Vanagon (84 tin top faux-westie with ABA inline and 5
> sp)...all my toys were still loaded in there, ready to use, just like in
> my  'grand plan'. One of my main goals (shh! don't tell my S.O.)  was to
> remain "Rec-Ready" at all times... that was why I bought the second worker
> van...and I drove 25mi to one of my favorite bicycle routes for a quick
> spin.
>   After the Safari, driving the Vanagon was really fun!  It felt quite
> nimble and it sounded marvelous!   I have a non-cat custom exhaust with a
> magnaflow muffler.   It's not loud but it sounds like a real motor...and I
> do like shifting for myself.  Plus, I found it easily in the parking lot of
> Fred Meyers, unlike that generic Safari in 'boring mini soccer-mom
> white....
>    Don't get me wrong, that Safari isn't a bad ride...it just isn't as fun
> as my Vanagon...  I will say,  I have had the Vanagon now for 3-4yrs and
> I've got it 'dialed-in' pretty well, it wasn't always so pleasurable to
> drive.. Also,  the 2wd Vanagon is ~1000lbs lighter then the Safari AWD, so
> there is that.    I bet the Safari would be the better ride during a long
> day on the highway or bashing through the back country in Baja...
>       I 'noticed' how much pleasure I got, just driving my Vanagon 50 miles
> around the Columbia River Gorge.   I rinsed off in my sink after the bike
> ride and changed clothes inside, got a cold drink out of the fridge and
> went on home...a happy guy..
>