A carrot by any other name

[Sixray]

So I've recently had a debate come up.

Upon finding out that my "Carrot" was actually supposed to be pronounced with a German flourish (the "Ka-Rot)" I've run into a serious question about pronunciation.

The (very Midwestern) front desk guy at the local 'Dub shop I go to call it a "Van-a-Gone"

Observers and curious onlookers often ask me about my "Van-iggen"

I normally refer to it as my "van-a-gunn"

How the hell are you actually supposed to say it? It seems to be one of those words that is used infrequently enough in daily conversation that everyone I've met has a different pronunciation of it. The older VW folks I've run in to tend to lean towards "Van-a-gone" but that still seems odd to me given that most people don't pronounce the word "wagon" as "wa-gone"

The guy in this super 80's dealer promo video seems to demonstrate that "Van-a-gone" seems to be the correct way but it still just feels too weird to me.

Link


How do you say it?
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1991 Vanagon Carat- Bordeaux red
2003 Golf MKIV 2.0- Reflex Silver

[Ahwahnee]

[GMByers]

Here you go - ...........
2007 - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=221217&highlight=pronounce
2010 - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=441342&highlight=pronounce

Don't suspect the pronunciation has changed much.
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And then there were two...downsized to 83 Doka &
74 Thing.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Personally, I think the Vanagon name is pretty stupid. They should've just kept it as a Transporter globally...but I've always pronounced it as van-a-gun
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Vinzanto]

For me the name Vanagon makes sense.
Its a shape; for example: an eight sided shape is an "octagon" or a five-sided a "pentagon" whereas the van we know and love is a "Vanagon".
But I tend not to pronounce it this literal way rather as "Vanagain" or something similar.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg

[MsTaboo]

For me it depends on usage.

"Time to use the Vanagain."

Or if my friends ask, "where has the Vanagone?"


_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine.

[sea_sick]

Had to stop the video when I heard the Van-again "handles like a sedan".



Was the typical sedan (not talking BMW and the like I suppose) from the mid 80's - early 90's really that ...sloppy? Maybe 'soft' is a better adjective. I know it's another sales pitch, but...

[geodude]

Van-ah-gun is how I say it. And the handling, at least the tin-tops, is very good for a vehicle of its size and compared to almost any American car of he same vintage. My brothers dodge kind of felt like a ship going over swells as it went down the highway, soft suspension is an understatement.
_________________
1988 GL Camper
1991 Multivan — the basket case

[Ahwahnee]

[240Gordy]

It is a Carat
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

[Zeitgeist 13]

When I was in college, I followed one of my school mates through a tight S curve on ramp at some considerable speed, which impressed him immensely. He was driving his lowered Volvo 240 wagon with a 5.0L Ford V8 and full IPD suspension, and I was in my '88 GL with Carat springs. I've never driven a big utility vehicle that handles as well as the late model tintops. It's still a stupid name
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[S4VAGE]

[Syncroincity]

♫ Volkswagen does it.... aaaagain. ♪♫
_________________
'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight=

[Merian]

yes, lame - should have been Van-ferg-nugen

[singler3360]

I live in Orygun, therefore it's Vanagun. No such state called Oregone, therefore our Westy cannot be a Vanagone.

[CHARLIE-DONT-SURF]

If a multivan was a Carat in the US, What's a carat badged as?
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https://www.facebook.com/Cow-County-Looms-1010851485971680/

[tencentlife]

Grist fer y'alls' mill:

wan·i·gan noun \ˈwä-ni-gən\
Definition of WANIGAN

: a shelter (as for sleeping, eating, or storage) often mounted on wheels or tracks and towed by tractor or mounted on a raft or boat

Variants of WANIGAN
wan·i·gan or wan·ni·gan

Origin of WANIGAN
Ojibwa wa·nikka·n pit
First Known Use: circa 1848

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wanigan

I wonder if the Ojibway of the 1840's just didn't have a word for "money".
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.

[luVWagn]

Its a van. its a wagon. Its a vanagon.
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'91 Syncro 16 Reimo Hightop Conversion, eTDI

[madspaniard]

I call it a Vana-gone but again, after 13 years in this country, I still cannot shake off my Spanish accent, which has led me to some memorable pronunciation mistakes like " I love Californian bitches (beaches)" or "pass me that shit (sheet)" or "I'm unich (unique)"

Unich
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Unich
_________________
1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[singler3360]