Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 13:40:50 EST
Reply-To: Sechzehnzoll@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Tom N." <Sechzehnzoll@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: one again last try with the letter to CEO Pischetsrieder
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
as posting the link had been rejected twice now the complete letter as plain
text:
Volkswagen AG
CEO Mr. Bernd Pischetsrieder
WOB / Germany
Dear Sir,
recent publications concerning a syncro 16" version of the T4 EuroVan have
brought a term back into focus which is strongly linked to the legendary T3
Vanagon syncro of the 1980s. Maybe the current offer is a perfect hotel
shuttle or taxi at ski resorts, for sure big and wealthy families will
appreciate the syncro Panamericana. Nonetheless - for those who ever
travelled in an "original" syncro 16" several questions remain unsolved.
For more than five decades the Volkswagen Microbus / Vanagon / EuroVan has
been enjoying an outstanding position, with private customers, with
authorities and commercial users. Discussions have been continuing among most
buyers - for almost one decade now - which vehicle once might be able to
replace a T3 syncro. The advantages of the Vanagon syncro (convenient
external dimensions, comfort on Limousine level, optimal interior size,
superior 4WD system, options like: 16"-packege, 100%-diff-locks at front and
rear axle) have led to an unique position of this vehicle at international
markets. No other VOLKSWAGEN or competitor, whatsoever would be able to cover
all opportunities of application a T3 syncro offers.
It is amazing that such a market segment can be ignored by VOLKSWAGEN since
the time when T3 syncro production has been decided to discontinue. Therefore
in recent years more and more potential buyers of new cars, covered their
needs with used T3 syncros. Since the last Vanagon came off the production
line in 1992, a substantial lack of vehicles in a decent shape occurred. Even
properly maintained T3 Vanagons do not really match today's standards. So
customers budgets vanish not only into overpriced used vehicles but also into
expensive modifications e.g. with modern engines and reinforced
transmissions, which however remain unsatisfying in their technical and
economical results. Surely you agree with us, that this money could be used
very well for purchasing factory new vehicles instead.
Meanwhile the international vehicle markets have changed dramatically: Sports
Activity -, Sports Utility or Multi-Purpose Vehicle concepts tend to be
top-sellers in sales statistics of most manufacturers. And who could deny the
fact, that the syncro idea was far ahead of its time and initially "paved"
the road for one of the best performing market segments at present.
This makes it hard to believe that the former innovator VW will accept to be
urged into an imitator's position, particularly since the technical basics
would be available even easier today than they were 17 years before. The
original T3 - due to several modifications over the years - remains popular
in South Africa; the T4 EuroVan indicates today's engineering standards even
in its 11th year of production; to say nothing about an expected T5. Just
think about a fascinating combination of the AUDI allroad quattro 4WD concept
and a Vanagon or Microbus body.
So today we have decided to start activities of procurement for the following
reasons:
· expensive revisions of used T3 syncro result from the very lack of an
appropriate successor and can no longer be accepted as a substitute to a
vehicle engineered to the standard of the 21st century
· within the segment of all-wheel-driven Vehicles we see a substantial market
volume for Minivans
· VOLKSWAGEN internationally is one of the most valuable and important
brandnames in vehicles for leisure time use
· the age and income of most of the organized syncro T3 drivers world-wide,
indicates to sufficient financial resources for plenty of demand on a
follow-up project for the Vanagon syncro.
To support your efforts for a conclusion about a T3 syncro successor we would
be glad to offer you our summary of experience from many hundreds of thousand
kilometers with the T3 syncro. Please feel free to use our contacts into
several countries in order to poll data for your marketing studies.
