Similar here, I knew nothing about Vanagons other than the pile I was
looking at sitting under a tree with window down, not running for 2 yrs. I
wanted a smaller camping machine, thanks to the list, she's almost done!
On Jul 4, 2016 5:14 PM, "David McNeely" <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am not a gearhead, but just an ordinary person who likes to have a
> vehicle for camping (and definitely not a motor home for staying in motor
> home parks.  I mean camping).   I essentially knew nothing about what
> owning one of these beasts would be like, except that it WAS old, and that
> despite what people call "quality," Volkswagens generally require more
> maintenance than most vehicles.  But I wanted one for what it is.
>
> I got it.  I became disillusioned by the amount of work it required, but I
> kept it.  I am very glad I did so.  It has taken Bonnie and me into many
> places that we wanted to be.  If we had our "druthers" we'd still be
> backpacking and tent camping, but sleeping on the ground, and carrying gear
> on our backs is now beyond our reasonable capabilities.  The beast is a
> good compromise between what we would prefer and not camping at all.  We
> are not going to turn into RV people, we like nature, not RV parks.
>
> mcneely
>
> On Mon, Jul 4, 2016 at 2:42 PM, Scott - IMAP <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I just saw on Wet Westy's that a couple just got a 91 Syncro Tin Top and
> > they're all excited of course ...camping and adventure etc.
> >
> > their last VW was a 67 Split Window Bus I think I read ..
> > that sure is a Quantum Leap ..............and they'll probably do fine
> ...
> > IF  ever there was a Vanagon to warn people ..'be prepared for what
> > you're getting into' ...or however you want to put it,
> > it's a Syncro Vanagon. Not for the faint of heart or wallet, generally
> > speaking.
> >
> > Reminds me, I have a stock Syncro Driveshaft I would sell.
> > Nothing particularily wrong or worn on it.  Located Southern Oregon.
> >
> > I 'may' be up to Portland OR around July 17...concerning any delivery.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> >
> >
> > On 7/4/2016 2:36 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
> >
> >> To clarify, the folks I usually discourage are those who stop me in a
> >> parking lot or at a campground really enthusiastic about wanting to get
> >> "such a cool vehicle!"  I tell them about the woes and high cost of
> >> ownership if you can't do at least some of the work yourself.  I think
> >> gearheads like many of us get interested in them and do some research
> and
> >> decide whether or not to jump into the adventure called Vanagon
> Ownership.
> >> Edward
> >>
> >> On Sat, Jul 2, 2016 at 5:25 PM, Scott - IMAP <scottdaniel@turbovans.com
> >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> I never discourage people from owning Vanagons ..
> >>>
> >>> I just tell them they take SPECIAL CARE AND UNDERSTANDING ..
> >>> that they are not like a old, say, Toyota that will run forever with
> >>> hardly any repairs..
> >>>
> >>> I also ask if they have ever owned a VW of any kind.
> >>> Some VW background helps for sure.
> >>>
> >>> Fortunately older VW's are pretty conducive to owner-repair and
> >>> maintenance.
> >>>
> >>> On 7/2/2016 6:59 AM, Edward Maglott wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Dennis says:  "One thing you will find as a new Vanagon owner is that
> >>> most
> >>> regular shops are not equipped or willing to bother with vehicles of
> this
> >>> vintage, never mind the Vanagon with its idiosyncrasies."
> >>>
> >>> worse yet are those shops that don't know what they are doing but try
> to
> >>> work on the Vanagon anyway, causing much more damage than good.
> >>>
> >>> Edward
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
>