Date:         Thu, 11 Jan 2001 13:19:32 -0500
Reply-To:     Sam Walters <slwalters@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sam Walters <slwalters@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: New Microbus Website - suggestions on comments
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Volks,

The goals here are to use the new website for EFFECTIVE advocacy.

In all of our advice for VW regarding the new Microbus, let's not forget
the idea of options packages.  It is very unlikely that VW is going to
turn its back on that segment of the market that wants DVD's, etc.  Why
should they?  But isn't what we really want is for them to market
several configurations and have among them a basic van like a Vanagon,
something a little snazzier like a GL, a camper like a Westfalia,
a "weekender" or "basic camper" and then the really fancy expensive one
like a modern variation of a Wolfsburg.  Of course, there should be a
4 WD model with a range of features.  Each basic package could also have
some options available for it.

That way price could vary - enormously - look at the range from the
bottom to the top on a Caravan.  Features would vary & most of us could
have a vehicle that we might identify with, if and when we gave up on
our
Vanagons or buses.  Of course, many of us might wait until the Microbus
was 10 years old and then start loving it. :<)

If we come across as too rigid and self righteous, no one will listen.
For those few who lately are so fond of using "sucks" or "sux" and
"hate" to describe things that they do not like, I would suggest that
your comments to VW will carry far less weight, maybe not be considered
at all, and possibly hurt the goal of these efforts if this type of
language is used. When I am talking to certain adult friends, I have
been known to use these and other words that I try not to say in front
of my son.  However, they are not useful in situations such as this.
There are much more intelligent and effective ways to communicate here.
Check your spelling, as someone for whom English is a second or third
language may not be able to figure out what you were trying to say.

Focus mostly on the positive.  For example, that some of you so
vehemently dislike the new Beetle is largely irrelevant and since VW is
selling lots of them probably not an effective way of telling VW what
to do.

What do you want in a Microbus and why would some significant number of
people agree and buy that bus?  Don't focus on what they shouldn't put
in the Microbus, mention that by way of reference to what you do want in
a model that would appeal to you and why.

Sorry, if this sounds a bit preachy, but I write and do advocacy for a
living and much of what I see pass by here will not get the job done
when it goes off the list and to VW.  This is not an issue of morality
or that overworked and largely meaningless phrase "political
correctness."  Just trying to help us get the job done.

Sam Walters
'84 Vanagon, 174 k, orig. owner
'89 Syncro, 175k, new to me 12/00