Date:         Fri, 15 Jun 2001 13:06:14 EDT
Reply-To:     CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: ?? SA Engine Conversion ??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

When the new Microbus hits the market it will likely use a drive train very similar to the current Eurovan.  Our beloved Vanagons are nothing like anything in the current VW line -- engines are in the wrong place and the only resemblence to other VW's is that emblem on the grill.

If VW brought the SA conversion kit over they would have to train service people to install it, provide parts for it and back it up with a warranty.  Not bad in SA where there are a bunch of Vanagons running around but here in the USA our vans are pretty rare.  The market is limited to start with.  On top of that we're a pretty ecclectic lot.  How many people would lay out the bucks to buy a dealer installed engine conversion?  Ken Wilford threw out a cost of close to $7K for a complete TiiCo installation -- what would a dealer charge for that?  I paid $9K for Roland in excellent condition.  I'd have to do an awful lot of considering before I'd plunk down that amount for Ken to install a TiiCo much less the bucks for a dealer install.

The engine kits would be unlikely to impact new vehicle sales.  They simply wouldn't generate enough money to be worthwhile for VW.  They'd also have to admit that the wbx was a mistake -- obviously they have accepted that but will never admit it.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

In a message dated Fri, 15 Jun 2001 12:45:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Terry Kay <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET> writes:

<< So in essence what you are implicating, is that as soon as VW introduces
the new Micro bus, the Eurovan is going to be dead issue?

I have a real hard time believing that.

And I don't think that there were enough Vanagons sold here, or still is
enough to jeopardize their current vehicle sales, in offering an engine
conversion kit.

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Terry
74 Campmobile (Clementine)
85 GL
86 BMW 325 ES
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