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Date:         Mon, 3 Jun 2002 10:48:23 -0600
Reply-To:     Ben McCafferty <ben@KBMC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben McCafferty <ben@KBMC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Plug and Trip Report (Long)
Comments: To: "Loren A. Busch" <labusch@ARCZIP.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000501c20b1a$3d916830$562579a5@LorenLaptop>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

This has always been my experience with VolksCafe. BTW, they currently have a sale on the Bentley, for those of you looking for one. $64.95. bmc :) "Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: "Loren A. Busch" <labusch@ARCZIP.COM> > Reply-To: "Loren A. Busch" <labusch@ARCZIP.COM> > Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 09:17:57 -0700 > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Plug and Trip Report (Long) > > Beware, this is an unabashed plug for VolksCafe in Santa Cruz, Ca.. I > just returned from a one month, 3100+ miles road trip in my '90 Westy, > "Garfield". I had traveld from my home in Lynnwood Wa. (just north of > Seattle) to southern California to visit friends in the Bay area, Laguna > Hills and San Diego, and attend a conference at Big Bear over the > memorial Day weekend. I had planned on returning up Highway 395, inland > in California, and making several stops along the way. On the way down, > after stopping for a day in the Berkley area, I made a swing through > Santa Cruz to check out VolksCafe and especially their very heavy duty > bumper package for the Vanagon. (www.volkscafe.com) I was impressed, > not only with the bumpers, but also with the warm and friendly reception > I received as a 'visitor'. After a discussion with Peter, the owner, I > opted to pass on having the bumpers installed, it would have been a > budget stretcher at the time. I continued on with my journey. After > spending two weeks visiting in So Cal, I took off on Thursday moring > before the holiday weekend to head for Big Bear. Just a couple of miles > up the road, I pulled off into Tustin to pay a visit to the last duty > station I served at while in the Marine Corp some 40+ years ago, MCAS > Tustin, also know as LTA (for Lighter Than Air because it was at one > time a blimp base). It is now abandonded but still contains two of the > largest wooden strucctures ever built, the old blimp hangers. I wanted > to take some pictures of these 300 foot high by 800 foot long monsters > before they are torn down. As I was driving down the road that leads > in front of the base, just before I got there, a mini-pickup just ahead > of me and in the lane to the right suddenly pulled over into my lane and > slowed down. To avoid hitting him I ended up laying down 20 feet of > skid marks, climbing a center divider, and taking out a street sign on a > metal post with the front of my Westy. (He was responding to a fire > truck at the intersection we were aproaching). As the dust cleared, my > front fiberglass bumper (that had had some trade in value a few seconds > before) was history. I lucked out: no damage to the radiator, grill, or > windscreen, only the bumper, underlying structure, and a ding in the > panel between the grill and the windscreen. Would you believe the other > driver (that cut me off) stopped and provided ID and info? Even > admitted (at least at that time) that he was at fault! Anyway, after > the usual with the local police (very polite, very professional, thank > you Officer Rowe of the Tustin PD), I was back on my way. Except for > the ugly void in the middle of the front bumper, and my front license > plate hanging by only two screws, I had no mechanical problems at all. > While at the conference at Big Bear, I deceided to change my route home > and return through Santa Cruz. I called VolksCafe, they had bumpers in > stock still, and agreed to hold a pair for me. I told them I'd be there > Tuesday or Wednesday after the Holiday. I took the 'scenic' route up > Highway 1 through Santa Barbara, Carmel, Montery (beautiful drive for > the passenger, but narrow and winding road, not much time for the driver > to enjoy the view). I arrived at VolksCafe in Santa Cruz in the early > afternoon, and they were busy as a shop their size can get, both in the > shop and at the counter. I talked to Peter, explained my situation, and > he said "Since you are 'passing through', we will get you out this > afternoon." And they did! I was on the road by about 4:30, just in > time to miss most of the traffic. BTW, while waiting for the work to be > done, I saw more Vanagons and Vanagon-Westy's drive by on the street > than you might see in a year in other places! Santa Cruz is Vanagon > Country in spades! Although the new bumpers (boy are they massive!) > don't have a place for a front license plate, they were able to come up > with a very good attachemnt method without having to mess up the new > bumpers, extra effort on their part, much appreciated. Bottom line is > simple: based on my personal experience as a neady pilgim 'passing > through', I can give my strong endorsement for the service and the > business practices of VolksCafe in Santa Cruz. As to the new bumpers, > the next mini-pickup that cuts me off may just get creamed! If I had > had them installed on the way down, the worst I would have encountered > would probably have been scratched paint. > Please excuse the cross-post on this, I'm putting it up on both the > Vanagon list and WetWesties. > Pictures available on request, going up on my Website soon. >


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