Date:         Wed, 29 Mar 2000 21:24:17 EST
Reply-To:     MGBrickell@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Brickell <MGBrickell@AOL.COM>
Subject:      parking lights, high EV prices
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

My parking lights had bad connections too.  Turns out the sockets were
corroded down inside somewhere.  I think this is pretty common, as any
salvage van I looked at had bad sockets.  I just ordered 2 new sockets from
VW and when I pick them up tomorrow I will let you know my success ratio.  I
think they were around $11 each socket.
BTW, relating to another post, I believe a big part of the reason for the
high price of the new Eurovan is tariffs.  I think there is a 25% tariff on
imported trucks...this would add $5000 to a $20000 van and would be hard to
hide in the sticker price by VW.  I think Japanese companies get around this
by local manufacture.  This is to protect the "delicate" US truck industry (
think big profits and lobby money here ).  If anyone knows if this is true ,
let us know.  I'm all for Pueble produced Eurovans so I can get one for five
or ten grand less !  If they were 24 instead of 30k new it would go a long
way to getting me down to the dealer...well, then again, my vanagon was only
$1500 so I guess even with all the maint expense it is a hell of a deal
compared to even a cheap new euro!

Matt Brickell
Olathe, KS
00 VW New Beetle TDI GLS 5spd
84 VW Vanagon 1.9 Wolfsburg
83 VW Pickup LX Gas
73 VW 412 4-door fastback