Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 00:50:17 -0600
Reply-To: Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Organization: not likely
Subject: Owners Survey ... why not? :)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
ok, since it's officially Frydaye hereabouts, i was thinking ...
in the new issue of Road & Track magazine, they have an Owner Survey
Questionaire for several models of cars. well, they NEVER have one for
vw buses, i've noticed! so i got to thinking ... why not do one on the
list?
so here's the questions (slightly modified for our bunch of crazies).
what i want you do to is mail the response to ME, not to the list (no
sense in clogging up the server any more than we have to). my
intentions are to type all this claptrap into a file and then write a
dufus little program to sort and classify it by items and percentages
of the respondents (assuming anybody bothers to respond!). :) i ain't
saying i'll get it done quickly, but i'll get it done. i'd like to
have all the responses by, say, the 1st of the year. but if you are
off enjoying a winter holiday and don't get back til after then,
that's ok, too ... send it on in.
you don't have to send the whole mesage back ... just answers. like
this ...
1. 1987
2. a
3. b
and so forth. the last question needs to be answered like this ...
20.
Body parts .. a1, b3, c5
Brakes .. d3
and so on. if you replace something more than once, put it in the
answer twice ..
like this
Brakes ... a1, a5
ok, here goes. i'm probably gonna REALLY regret this, but having been
employed as a data pimp for nearly 40 years now, i fear i can't
resist. ;) and if this works out, and the Eurovan (T4) folks on the
list want to do it, i'll fix up the same thing for them. :)
OWNER SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE
Volkswagen Vanagon, 1979-1992
1. Model Year...
2. Model...
a. Standard/Transporter/Kombi/Microbus
b. L/GL/Caravelle
c. Wolfsburg Limited Edition
d. Camper
e. Camper GL
f. Syncro/Syncro GL
g. Camper Syncro/Camper Syncro GL
h. Carat
i. Multivan
j. Pickup (single-cab or double-cab)
k. Tristar
l. Limited Last Edition
m. Other (specify ________________)
3. Miles on the bus now...
a. less than 60,000
b. 60,001 - 80,000
c. 80,001 - 100,000
d. 100,001 - 120,000
e. 120,001 - 140,000
f. 140,001 - 160,000
g. 160,001 - 180,000
h. 180,001 - 200,000
i. greater than 200,000
4. Engine ...
a. 4-cylinder boxer gasoline aircooled
b. 4-cylinder boxer gasoline watercooled
c. 4-cylinder inline diesel/diesel turbocharged
d. Other (specify ________________)
5. Engine is original engine
or replacement of same size and type
a. yes
b. no
6. Transmission ...
a. manual 4-speed
b. manual 5-speed
c. automatic
d. Other (specify _______________________)
7. What FIVE attributes especially influenced
your decision to buy the bus?
a. body configuration (camper, 7-passenger, pickup, etc)
b. company/country of manufacture
c. comfortable seats
d. crashworthiness/safety
e. dealer service/parts availability
f. engineering
g. exterior styling
h. fuel economy
i. good value/price
j. handling
k. insurance rating
l. interior styling/ergonomics
m. interior room
n. overall size
o. performance/acceleration
p. previous experience with make/model
q. quietness
r. quality of materials
s. reliability/durability
t. resale value
u. ride
v. trunk size (cargo space)
w. ventilation/heating/air conditioning
x. workmanship
y. warranty
8. Now that you have owned the bus,
what do you consider its five BEST
attributes?
a. body configuration (camper, 7-passenger, pickup, etc)
b. company/country of manufacture
c. comfortable seats
d. crashworthiness/safety
e. dealer service/parts availability
f. engineering
g. exterior styling
h. fuel economy
i. good value/price
j. handling
k. insurance rating
l. interior styling/ergonomics
m. interior room
n. overall size
o. performance/acceleration
p. previous experience with make/model
q. quietness
r. quality of materials
s. reliability/durability
t. resale value
u. ride
v. trunk size (cargo space)
w. ventilation/heating/air conditioning
x. workmanship
y. warranty
9. Now that you have owned the bus,
what do you consider its five WORST
attributes?
a. body configuration (camper, 7-passenger, pickup, etc)
b. company/country of manufacture
c. comfortable seats
d. crashworthiness/safety
e. dealer service/parts availability
f. engineering
g. exterior styling
h. fuel economy
i. good value/price
j. handling
k. insurance rating
l. interior styling/ergonomics
m. interior room
n. overall size
o. performance/acceleration
p. previous experience with make/model
q. quietness
r. quality of materials
s. reliability/durability
t. resale value
u. ride
v. trunk size (cargo space)
w. ventilation/heating/air conditioning
x. workmanship
y. warranty
10. what changes would you like to see made
to the car?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
11. How would you rate your dealer's SALES
department?
a. excellent
b. good
c. fair
d. poor
12. How would you rate your dealer's SERVICE
department?
a. excellent
b. good
c. fair
d. poor
13. For any service or repairs not covered by
warranty, how would you judge the dealer's
prices for parts and labor?
a. very reasonable
b. reasonable
c. expensive
d. very expensive
14. Apart from any crash repair,
has your car ever been out of service
for more than a day waiting for parts?
a. yes
b. no
15. If Yes, how many days?
a. 1-5
b. 6-10
c. 10-30
d. more than a month
16. During the warranty period, how many times
did you have to take your bus to the dealer
because it needed repair (NOT just routine
maintenance)
a. none
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3
e. 4
f. 5 or more
17. Average fuel economy in miles-per-gallon
(US gallons):
a. less than 12
b. 12-15
c. 16-18
d. 19-20
e. 21-22
f. more than 22
18. After your experience with this car,
would you buy another one of the same
MAKE?
a. yes
b. no
c. undecided
If not, why not?
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
19. After your experience with this car,
would you buy another one of the same
MODEL?
a. yes
b. no
c. undecided
If not, why not?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
20. Indicate the mileage at which any of
the following items were repaired or
replaced ...
1 = 0-60,000 miles
2 = 60,001-80,000 miles
3 = 80,001-100,000 miles
4 = 100,001 - 120,000 miles
5 = 120,001 - 140,000 miles
6 = 140,001 - 160,000 miles
7 = 160,001 - 180,000 miles
8 = 180,001 - 200,000 miles
9 = over 200,000 miles
Body Parts (NOT crash related)...
a. exterior body parts/trim
b. glass/weatherstriping
c. interior parts
d. paint
e. upholstery/carpeting
Brakes ...
a. calipers/wheel cylinders
b. hydraulic lines
c. master cylinder
d. pads/shoes
e. disc rotors
f. brake booster
Cooling ...
a. electric cooling fans
b. coolant or heater hoses
c. radiator
d. water pump
e. thermostat
f. plastic tanks
g. temperature sensors
Electrical ...
a. alternator
b. battery
c. central door locks
d. computer sensors
e. ignition/distributor
f. dash instruments
g. exterior lights
h. sparkplugs
i. voltage regulator
j. window lifts/regulators
k. cruise control
l. turn signals
Engine ...
a. engine case
b. camshaft
c. catalytic converter
d. crankshaft
e. cylinder head(s)
f. exhaust system
(including muffler/tailpipe)
g. fuel injection
h. fuel pump
i. head gaskets
j. oil pump
k. pistons
l. piston rings
m. valves/valve guides
n. turbocharger
Final Drive ...
a. clutch
b. clutch master/slave cylinder
c. differential (front or rear)
d. cv joints (front or rear)
e. throwout bearing
f. transmission
g. driveshaft (Syncro only)
Miscellaneous...
a. air conditioning
b. oxygen sensor
c. heater (front or rear)
d. power steering pump
e. power steering rack
f. shock absorbers
g. steering linkage
(including tie rods)
h. tires
i. wheel alignment
j. wheel bearings
k. windshield wipers
l. sunroof
m. camper top
Please write any comments you have
regarding the problems and/or joys
of owning your car.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
