At 09:22 AM 3/11/2005, you wrote:
>Are you suggesting that "Wilder's Law" says more about people than Vanagons?

Now that you mention it, it kind of DOES say more about the nut behind the
steering wheel than the vehicle. Logic would dictate that (say) a $1000
Vanagon would require more work to get it "up to snuff" than a $10,000
Vanagon. Wilder's Law, though, says that the more you spend initially, the
more you will spend later. What this indicates to me is that the amount
necessary to bring the vehicle up to "satisfactory" condition is entirely
dependent on the new buyer's financial state. I propose a corollary to
Wilder's Law: "Vanagon owners will tend to spend the most their disposable
income will allow on their Vanagons". It's probably something to do with
this strange contagious  mental illness that is spread via ownership of
rear-engine VW's. If you'd asked me a year ago what I thought of old VW's,
I'd have said "Not much; sounds like a lot of trouble I don't need". But
here I am, pouring thousands of dollars into a 14 year old van and wishing
I could spend MORE! I expect to reach the $10,000 mark ($2100 purchase
price included) before I reach the 1 year mark in July. I am clearly sick,
but I couldn't be happier.

John Bange
'90 Vanagon "Geldsauger"