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BS: The Folk Musician's Car
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Troll Date: 25 Aug 01 - 01:41 AM I drive an '83 ford van- Moby Ford -with a 302, automatic, air (which just died) and seating for seven. Take out the rear seat and I can carry the full p/a for an 8 piece band plus three passengers. It's old, rusty and utterly reliable. I can sleep in the back if I put the p/a and instruments in the trailer (covered and lockable). The down side? The gas consumption is frightening. Memsabib has a Geo Metro 3-cylinder which gets 45mpg. When we don't need the p/a, we drive that. troll |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 24 Aug 01 - 03:07 PM Well, my 20 quid car made it to Whitby + back ok! A few years ago I had a Saab 9000, at the time it was the only car that could fit a full drum kit in the boot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Llanfair Date: 22 Aug 01 - 03:14 PM YES!!!Please BillD!!! Son Dalek has a VW and would LOVE that book. Let me know the postage. I'll PM the address. Cheers, Bron. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Bill D Date: 22 Aug 01 - 01:27 PM Nancy the Librarian...exactly!! THAT VW manual!...tells you stuff like when you'll need to tie long hair back and how to grip the wrench, so as not to skin knuckles.... I have this manual, and no VW....anybody need it?..free for the postage. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Kim C Date: 22 Aug 01 - 01:04 PM Mister and I have an un-PC evil gas guzzling 1996 Jeep Cherokee and it is MARVELOUS. Holds camping gear and instruments and sometimes two large dogs. :-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Susan from California Date: 22 Aug 01 - 12:38 PM Amos, LTS,& Don just a note, a motivated teen/early 20's can do that anywhere! When I was MUCH younger, a '65 VW Beetle, a '81 VW Rabbit, among others :-)and then as an "old married woman" my hubbie and I in our '71 VW Bus for old times sake. But please, don't tell the kids! Now that I'm an ancient person, I want that PU w/ camper and trailer that Susan is talking about up there! Can we outfit the trailer or camper w/an awning also? Now that Keith is allowed to talk again, can singing be to many months behind? Our vehicles now, tho nice for tooling around town, are impractical for the kind of tour we want to take. The 98 Mazda MPV has 80,000+ miles on it, and the 2001 Mazda Protege is not big enough! Sue |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Naemanson Date: 22 Aug 01 - 12:35 PM I have a 1997 Ford Taurus Wagon. While traveling I put a foam pad in the back with a couple of sheets and a light sleeping bag. In winter I use a couple of sleeping bags. There is still room for my guitar and a cooler. the suitcase fits under the deck. For attending the concerts with a gang of people I have seating for 7. Good all round useful car. Haven't gotten laid in it yet though... |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: GUEST Date: 22 Aug 01 - 11:56 AM Nissan Multi. Compact size. Excellent room for people (even back seat). Carries lotsa gear. Decent gas mileage. I remember 3 of us going from Hamilton down to New York state for a church gig. 3 hours to drive and we hadn't had a chance to rehearse - we tossed the guitarist in the back seat, where he had tons o' room to play and had our rehearsal en route. Stopped at a light, got a strange look from the folks next to us as the guitarist was wailin' away. I put the window down and told them, "He's a 'loaner'; the tape deck's broken!" |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: guinnesschik Date: 22 Aug 01 - 10:45 AM Anything cheap that runs forever and on the minimum of maintenence is the ideal. We have a '77 Chevy Nova we bought for $750 dollars. We had the brakes fixed when we first got her (last December) and other than regular oil changes, it's all the work we've had to do. She gets 12 mpg, and can carry a guitar, two fiddles, a bodhran, two fat @$$es, and half a sound system. She does have holes in the floorboard, and we get our feet wet when it rains, but they serve as an excellent alternate brake system. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: GUEST,PeteBoom (at work) Date: 22 Aug 01 - 10:42 AM 1979 Mercury Marquis - Ford 302 engine, 8 cyl, 4 door cavernous trunk/boot (the ENTIRE drum set fits inside!). Bought it a couple of months ago for a song - almost literally - 57,000 miles on it - the original owner had a stroke 6 years ago, so stopped his weekly treks to the grocers and church on Sunday. No lie. Seals and gaskets need work, but hey - insurance is cheap on this - and better gas mileage than the "good ol' boy" I work with who gave me no end of grief - then he realized my beast had a bigger engine and was 3 inches longer than his "full size" SUV tank (his testosterone based ego took a major hit when he realized this...) |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Willie-O Date: 22 Aug 01 - 10:24 AM Not a lot of sports car enthusiasts here...practical bunch aren't we? Amos, someday I'd like to visit you in 1967. Or we could meet in the Kootenays where it never went away, and where old VW's go to die and/or be reborn... W-O
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: The_one_and_only_Dai Date: 22 Aug 01 - 09:50 AM I had a Vauxhall Frontera (colonies: read Isuzu Rodeo/Holden Frontera as applicable) which would do 12 miles to the gallon rock solid - around town, onthe motorway, empty or fully loaded (and I mean fully loaded). Its only virtue was an incredible ability to carry a HUGE amount of junk/equipment/drunks over very bad ground (e.g. your typical folk festival) without getting stuck. Having an ever-expanding family I now drive a Hyundai Trajet (eh?) which is a great comedy turn for those dull and quiet moments. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Gervase Date: 22 Aug 01 - 06:54 AM After years of company cars (fastest, best off-roaders in the world, company cars) I'm now stuck with a 1987 Ford Fiasco with an exhaust that burbles like a herd of hippo with catarrh and which gives you a footbath whenever it rains. I never thought I'd say it, but at Sidmouth I was casting lascivious looks at some of the big Winnebagos and other mobile shag-palaces on display. Ah, one day... |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: KingBrilliant Date: 22 Aug 01 - 05:50 AM 1968 BMC J4 Camper - RIP Gloria....sob Kris |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: English Jon Date: 22 Aug 01 - 05:46 AM I've got a Vauxhall Astra which can take most of the gear to gigs at astonishing speed. Also you can change the points a lot easier than on a VW. Coitus a bit uncomfortable, but possible, and anyway, I generally take a tent! EJ |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: GUEST,lanfranc in turkey Date: 22 Aug 01 - 04:27 AM Once accompanied daughter and boyfriend in search for VW Microbus - rip-off merchants abounded and insurance costs were sky-high for such an antique. Decided Japanese would be better, but she ended up with a Ford Escort = dull but adequate, reliable and cheap. Me, well from 1971 for around 18 years I had a successiom of SAABs (once in the early 70s I turned up to a gig with Derek Brimstone and Alex Atterson, and we parked our three SAAB 96's in a neat row outside the pub!) Nowadays we drive a Subaru Impreza Sport = would like a Turbo, but like having a licence too! Having fun in a Turkish Internet cafe with a Turkish keyboard and screen prompts.
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Clinton Hammond Date: 22 Aug 01 - 03:06 AM One of my ex-girlfriends use to drive her parents Volvo... Good springs in that thing!!! ;-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 22 Aug 01 - 02:30 AM I have noticed Volvo's are very popular with antique dealers. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Aug 01 - 02:21 AM I see no-one mentions getting laid in the back of any other vehicle except the VeeDubya Microbus..... Is this something Volvo drivers don't do?? LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: blt Date: 22 Aug 01 - 01:39 AM The most useful car I've owned was a 1982 Dodge van with doors that opened out on the side. Loading equipment was really easy and it held a lot of stuff, including a bed so I could camp out in it if I needed to. The next car I had was a Toyota pick-up/short bed--the van was easier to load and I often regretted not being able to camp out in it, if I was loaded up with equipment. I had a canopy on the back of the truck but there just wasn't enough room for PA equipment, instruments, and me plus companions, both 2 and 4 legged. Then I got a Toyotal Celica, which has been an incredible car mileage wise but has no space to speak of. I ended up selling my PA system to pay my taxes one year so now I'm just carrying around my guitar and mandolin. Those fit ok--I've moved across the US twice in that car with all my belongings--but I am thinking of getting a different car, one that's more equipment friendly, when I have to replace the Celica. Maybe a Honda Civic? I've never been a VW fan, they always seemed too cold and prone to breaking down. blt |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: M.Ted Date: 22 Aug 01 - 01:15 AM Volkswagens are not what they used to be--now, far from being air cooled, you have to special order the high performance coolant, you have to buy premium gasoline, and you can't repair anything on it yourself--they go a lot faster, though, and the heaters really work-- |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: DonMeixner Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:08 PM What irony coming from the mouth of Cooney. I recall 26 years ago saying good bye to Michael from the Auburn Community College Coffee house as he drove off in a Mercedes Benz, white as I recall. Or Maybe that was Mickey Seegar, Hmmmmm. Never mind. 1994 Plymouth Grand Voyager for me. Room to camp in or even do the horizontal bop with my Sweetie Pie. Don |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Gary T Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:00 PM Well, no one asked, and maybe you all know, but for those who might not: U.K. estate/estate wagon = U.S. wagon/station wagon And just in case: U.K. saloon = U.S. sedan |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Thomas the Rhymer Date: 21 Aug 01 - 10:41 PM "The Idiot's guide"... I went through two of them. Seems they are hard to keep clean. Split window busses are simple, beautiful, and easy to fix, but you have to. All the time. Fully loaded, 35 miles per hour on long hills is normal, and you sort of look forward to 'em so you can get some reading done (usually the idiots guide for the next problem that is surfacing rapidly...). Volvos are great! That is, if you like to spend big money on parts... but they go and go and go... Not so good on gas mileage though.. Equipment LOVES to ride in the Volvo! I now have a little PU, with a crew cap, a canopy, and a decent motor. It is fast, reliable, and it gets 30 mpg on the open road. The crew cab is nice, cause the instruments can ride with the climate control, and the rest of the music stuff goes in back. Quite OK fine. Needs a better stereo tho...ttr |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Nancy King Date: 21 Aug 01 - 10:14 PM Bill, are you referring to "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: a Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot," by John Muir and Tosh Gregg? It's available at your local library. Maybe not everybody's local library, but definitely at yours! (BG) NancyTheLibrarian |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Amos Date: 21 Aug 01 - 09:48 PM I'm not deluded, Willie -- I'm just stuck in 1967!!! Love, A. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Bill D Date: 21 Aug 01 - 09:35 PM everything Wille-O says about VW buses is true...but we loved 'em...(I had 3)...had a '56, a '62 and a '68...went to festivals and camped...and hauled things for people, and people for things!..(took 13 Young Democrats to a Mexican restaurant one night!) Now?..well, the logical progression..a 92 Dodge 15 passenger van with room for EVERYTHING...plywood lined for hauling logs and curtains for sleeping.....and not nearly as easy to fix as that old VW bus. (who remembers the VW manuals written by the hippy?) |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 21 Aug 01 - 09:28 PM I drive a Ford Sierra 1.6L Estate, I bought it last week for 20 pounds, it has 2 months road tax amd MOT, it is in very good condition, has a radio cassette and a sunroof. I am driving to Whitby in it in a few hours. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: vectis Date: 21 Aug 01 - 08:22 PM A 15 year old Volvo 760GLE. Roomy, comfortable and fast(for the dashes home so I can get some kip before getting up for the day job. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Bernard Date: 21 Aug 01 - 04:35 PM I'm very fortunate in that respect at the moment - my company car is a Peugeot 405 GLX Turbo Diesel estate, which is the best vehicle I've ever had for the purpose of humping instruments, P.A. and people around - and it's got air conditioning, too... Nearly 50 miles to the gallon (UK!) on low sulphur diesel, an asymmetric split rear seat, and really comfortable to drive. I average 30,000 miles a year, so comfort is quite imporatant! Hopefully I'll be upgrading to the 406 soon... |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 21 Aug 01 - 03:44 PM For years I went with GM products which were variants of the same car. 1986 Chevrolet Caprice wagon, 2 1986 Pontiac Parisienne wagons, a 1987 Pontiac Safari Wagon, but since the last one went belly-up 2 months ago, I now drive a 1998 Mercury Villager. Love it. Seamus |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Clinton Hammond Date: 21 Aug 01 - 03:42 PM Well, Garnet Rogers put a million miles into his stealth Volvo wagon... And that guy carries WAY too much gear for a solo performer!! LOL!!! Must be something there... |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Willie-O Date: 21 Aug 01 - 03:26 PM My now retired powder blue 88 Tercel sits out front, 310,000 km on the clicker. I could throw a battery into it today and head for the west coast tomorrow. Closest thing to a sports car I'll probably ever own, (2 door) including non-existent suspension, semi-non-existent floors and sadly deficient unibody frame. Amos, I fear, is deluded in his praise of the VW cult deathtrap. True engineering marvels do not:
Willie-O |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Llanfair Date: 21 Aug 01 - 03:24 PM Vauxhall Astra estate. Plenty of room for gear and people, and known for their reliability. The non-drinking driver is me!!!! Trading it in for a Volvo estate next week. Same as above, but big enough to sleep in. Cheers, Bron. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Willie-O Date: 21 Aug 01 - 03:22 PM My now retired powder blue 88 Tercel sits out front, 310,000 km on the clicker. I could throw a battery into it today and head for the west coast tomorrow. Closest thing to a sports car I'll probably ever own, (2 door) including non-existent suspension, semi-non-existent floors and sadly deficient unibody frame. Amos, I fear, is deluded in his praise of the VW cult deathtrap. True engineering marvels do not:
Willie-O |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: M.Ted Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:43 PM What color is the '86 Toyota hatchback? Mine was the light, powder blue? It threw a rod at 178,000 miles-- |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Willie-O Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:43 PM Really, a mid-late 80's Chrysler minivan had the best combination of carrying capacity/comfort/good gas mileage/good dependability and low cost maintenance, I don't know why the hell I "sold" ours to some dreadlocked wanderer who still hasn't paid me the ridiculously low price he talked me down to, a year after he got the van. (But he has called me from the west coast to whine about this and that). For all round cheap dependable wheels, nothing beats a late-80's Toyota Tercel -- I've started a habit of buying them at 200,000 km, very cheap, and taking them past 3, then finding another one at 200 and retiring the first one for parts. (But I've had the second one for 20'000 km now and it hasn't needed any parts after the initial safety-check fix up.) For most gigs though, I take the 94 Mazda pickup which replaced the minivan. Good ride, a little pricey, good stereo. W-O |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:37 PM LOL! What we talk about on car trips! Winnebago or pick-up campertop, small, with trailer for ready-to-use sound system. Camper Specs to Include: Built-ins with controlled-environment instrument storage. The camper is, in part, an instrument case. Awning on the camper to perform from. Traveling office to hook up with key software and data (DT). Trailer Specs to Include: Open the side panel and plug in. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Sorcha Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:32 PM LOL! 86 Toyota hatchback and 86 Chevy Suburban.......and I hate the bloody Suburban. |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Liz the Squeak Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:30 PM Ah, the infamous Vee Dubya microbus of 'Alice's Restaurant' fame..... Never possesed one, never rode in one, never been laid in one, never lived in one. Am I missing something here? LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Amos Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:28 PM The VW Van must be the all-time classic folky gigwagon, man. It's funky, reliable, cheap to own, cheap to run, air-cooled, doesn't go fast and doersn't accelerate worth squat but will always roll along and get you there even if late. You can lug gear in it, conduct practice sessions in it, get laid in it and in really hard times, live out of it. You can repair it with a rubber band and a pair of pliers. It is an engineering marvel, no? A. |
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Subject: difficulty posting From: GUEST Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:18 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: Liz the Squeak Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:17 PM Has to be an estate - to get all the sound gear/instruments in. Has to have a decent sound system to play the cassettes on. Must have somewhere to put the chocolate bars and must have non drinking driver. I carry mine with me wherever I am, so as long as I remember the crib sheets or have access to a pen and paper, I'm OK, and can go on my motorbike, remembering to keep the visor down so I don't swallow any bugs! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: The Folk Musician's Car From: GUEST,Iamjohnne Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:14 PM Well, not being a singer or performer, but having dated a few in my time, the best was trying to pack 4 people 2 guitars and an upright bass in a volkswagon back in the mid-sixties. We went from gig to gig and had a wonderful time doing it. Johnne "goin' where the weather suits my clothes" |
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Subject: The Folk Musician's Car From: M.Ted Date: 21 Aug 01 - 02:09 PM Michael Cooney once said something about three least heard words in the English language being, "The Folksinger's Porsche"--at any rate, for the most part, we drive to gigs, and, for the most part (as professional entertainers) we are on the bottom of the money tree--we need reliability, we need affordability, and we have an image to keep up--for my part, I currently have an old Nissan minivan --which was ideal when I gigged a lot--before that, it was a string of mostly old Toyota hatch backs and wagons--(all very used when I got them, rent was hard enough to manage, let alone car payments and collision insurance) So what is the ideal vehicle for a folksinger/musician performer? And what do you have instead? |