Newbie Questions

[Mark Langenfeld <mlangen@execpc.com>]

I suspect my wife and I will be looking for a car before long. We'd like
to do it right the first time, if possible, and not end up with something 
that's wrong for our needs or a pig-in-a-poke.

We've spent some time perusing the various resources on the net, trying to
get our feet on the ground and gain some general familiarity with what's
"out there." Please excuse our ignorance of the fine points. 
(Unfortunately, I didn't ask enough questions when we had our first
speeder ride recently.  Had I known this was going to eat on us like it
has, I would've unloaded!)

First, a few pretty good assumptions:

	(1) On the basis of simplicity and parts availability,                  
            we'll likely look for a four-stroke engine -- probably
            Onan;

	(2) 75% of the use will likely be in the upper midwest (north-
            central states); 

	(3) We'll be looking for something to use, not a one-of-a- 
            kind or collectors' item -- probably one of the more-common
	    Fairmonts; and

	(4) While we have passable mechanical aptitudes, we are not
	    insatiable tinkerers.

Now, a couple of specific questions:

	- We know the MT-14 is somewhat larger than the MT-19, but have no
idea how much (dimensions and weight). Is the bigger car significantly
more difficult to trailer, set on/off, turn? Are there any other major
distinctions we ought to know about, good or bad?

	- Fully enclosed cabs look nice for the dead of winter, but those
runs will be the exceptions rather than the norm.  Are they insufferably
hot in the summer? Are side curtains on a partially open car a good
compromise, or are they useless in the winter?

We've got many more questions, but suspect these are enough to keep us
(and you) busy for awhile. We're in the process of contacting some
local operators for advice, but would value feedback from as many of you
as care to respond.

Many, many thanks!

Mark & Lynn Langenfeld

P.S. Best guess is that these questions have been dealt with many times on
this list, and we'd review the digest but for some web access problems
we're experiencing at the moment. Please respond directly, if you feel
that's appropriate to save bandwidth. Thanks again!