Capt. Mike
Moderator
Recent posts have turned up some old vandalism topics. Something to consider from an insurance point of view is Comprehensive Deductible. Comprehensive is non-collision damage. It includes fire, theft, broken windshields and vandalism.
Have a coverage review with your insurance agent. Although it is common for coverage to include a comprehensive deductible, you may find the difference in premium is negligble. The $100 or $250 deductible that is common may only save you a few dollars a year for Comprehensive coverage, unlike the savings for a big deductbile with Collision coverage. Thus many of the common small claims like antenna or glass breakage would be 100% covered for a very low cost. Coverage would then include labor at a dealership.
(Not to be pessimistic, but I have no respect for insurance companies since most of my experiences have been negative. Ask your agent for actual dollar quotes; an agent could consider the tiny increase in his cut of the premium not worth the added risk of claims against "his policies" so might shrug off a 0 deductible. The insurance companies do rate their agents that way, you know.)
Antenna vandalism can be irritating as much by the difficulty in replacing them as the actual cost (usually insured). On Vanagons, the antenna is retractable. Since most antenna vandalism are unplanned acts of opportunity, just keeping the antenna down while parked may be a big preventative measure.
When replacing a Type II antenna, consider a retractable or one that has a removeable mast. Ditto for CB and cell-phone antennas. It at least gives you an option when parked in a questionable security area.
Sugar in the gas tank is one of those situations where it would be easy to say you sort of asked for it by not having a lockable gas cap. Damage can be severe, whereas the prevention is usually less than the cost of a tank-full. Since vehicles after 1968 have captive vent systems, stick with factory or manufacturer approved caps. Aftermarket may not vent properly. The Type II and Vanagon OE caps are excellent.
Glass breakage: Whether by road accident or vandalsim, glass breakage eventually catches us all. When replacing glass, many insurance companies try to intimidate you into using some "chosen" glass company of often dubious quality and ethics. You can bet your backside they were picked ONLY because they are cheap. Pick your own glass replacement company with care, getting OEM or quality replacements. Demanding you use their "approved" list has been overruled again & again by the courts. VW manuals specify cutting the windshield gasket to remove the old windshield. Insist on it to insure a new weatherstrip -- it does no good to put a new glass into an old, stretched & hardened weatherstrip. This is often the cause of that dreaded windshield channel rust.
Much paint damage (bird & sap droppings), vandalism (soap, shaving cream) and spills (fuel, drinks) can be minimized by a really good wax job. If washed off immediately, the damage is very often prevented or minimized. Wax is only a 1000th or 2 of an inch thick. Instead of just relying on wax, first (after a thorough cleaning and polishing) apply a sealer/reglaze (Maguires #7 for example). This fills paint irregularities and blemishes, giving it that "smooth as glass" feel. Then wax, and preferable a couple-three coats.
It's better to be wearing on the 2nd & 3rd coats of wax than to have to repolish, seal and rebuild each time. Don't wait for it to quit beading between waxings. Few waxings are good for more than a month or three depending on conditions.
While wax alone may allow beading on an unsealed surface, the surface will still be rough and more likely to hold contaminates. That sealer/reglaze has purpose besides improving gloss & depth. But don't let anyone talk you out of the final protective wax afterwards -- sealer/reglaze does NOT have protective ability, although it may look great & bead for a short while.
Have a coverage review with your insurance agent. Although it is common for coverage to include a comprehensive deductible, you may find the difference in premium is negligble. The $100 or $250 deductible that is common may only save you a few dollars a year for Comprehensive coverage, unlike the savings for a big deductbile with Collision coverage. Thus many of the common small claims like antenna or glass breakage would be 100% covered for a very low cost. Coverage would then include labor at a dealership.
(Not to be pessimistic, but I have no respect for insurance companies since most of my experiences have been negative. Ask your agent for actual dollar quotes; an agent could consider the tiny increase in his cut of the premium not worth the added risk of claims against "his policies" so might shrug off a 0 deductible. The insurance companies do rate their agents that way, you know.)
Antenna vandalism can be irritating as much by the difficulty in replacing them as the actual cost (usually insured). On Vanagons, the antenna is retractable. Since most antenna vandalism are unplanned acts of opportunity, just keeping the antenna down while parked may be a big preventative measure.
When replacing a Type II antenna, consider a retractable or one that has a removeable mast. Ditto for CB and cell-phone antennas. It at least gives you an option when parked in a questionable security area.
Sugar in the gas tank is one of those situations where it would be easy to say you sort of asked for it by not having a lockable gas cap. Damage can be severe, whereas the prevention is usually less than the cost of a tank-full. Since vehicles after 1968 have captive vent systems, stick with factory or manufacturer approved caps. Aftermarket may not vent properly. The Type II and Vanagon OE caps are excellent.
Glass breakage: Whether by road accident or vandalsim, glass breakage eventually catches us all. When replacing glass, many insurance companies try to intimidate you into using some "chosen" glass company of often dubious quality and ethics. You can bet your backside they were picked ONLY because they are cheap. Pick your own glass replacement company with care, getting OEM or quality replacements. Demanding you use their "approved" list has been overruled again & again by the courts. VW manuals specify cutting the windshield gasket to remove the old windshield. Insist on it to insure a new weatherstrip -- it does no good to put a new glass into an old, stretched & hardened weatherstrip. This is often the cause of that dreaded windshield channel rust.
Much paint damage (bird & sap droppings), vandalism (soap, shaving cream) and spills (fuel, drinks) can be minimized by a really good wax job. If washed off immediately, the damage is very often prevented or minimized. Wax is only a 1000th or 2 of an inch thick. Instead of just relying on wax, first (after a thorough cleaning and polishing) apply a sealer/reglaze (Maguires #7 for example). This fills paint irregularities and blemishes, giving it that "smooth as glass" feel. Then wax, and preferable a couple-three coats.
It's better to be wearing on the 2nd & 3rd coats of wax than to have to repolish, seal and rebuild each time. Don't wait for it to quit beading between waxings. Few waxings are good for more than a month or three depending on conditions.
While wax alone may allow beading on an unsealed surface, the surface will still be rough and more likely to hold contaminates. That sealer/reglaze has purpose besides improving gloss & depth. But don't let anyone talk you out of the final protective wax afterwards -- sealer/reglaze does NOT have protective ability, although it may look great & bead for a short while.
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