Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 17:27:14 -0800
Reply-To: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Subject: Re: Wasserboxer reputation (Long)
In-Reply-To: <BA17F593.33F8%sean@originalidiot.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Quit being reasonable! It's much more fun to poke at Stan. He deserves it
for living [?] in Texas.
Mike
On 12/7/02 5:01 PM, "Sean Solowiej" <sean@ORIGINALIDIOT.COM> wrote:
> John,
>
> I started watching this list four days ago and so I'm not familiar with the
> politics. However, I feel that making personal attacks against other list
> members based on engine preference is unnecessary and destructive.
> This list is a marvel in its open sharing of knowledge and experience, and
> everyone's experience is going to be a little different. That's why we
> communicate.
>
> Stan's comment was:
> ... "The air cooled engines (in my opinion) represent the best of simplicity
> in design and function
> Even the injection system is simple.
> I'd never consider a Waser boxer or conversion engine van.
> I go as fast as I require and life is simple."
>
> makes no assault at those who chose to drive or repair WBX engines. He's
> putting forth his philosophy that an engine that is simple to understand,
> troubleshoot, and repair and that will perform all the necessary functions
> of moving one across the country is ideal for self-reliance and
> reliablility.
>
> Your comment:
> ... "Further the old air-cooled "points & plugs VW mechanic(P&P)" is unfit
> to diagnose and repair a 2.1L WBX."
>
> is arguable. Saying that a person who can repair an air-cooled engine is
> necessarily unfit to repair a water-cooled engine is ludicrous. A person
> who is familiar with engine repair, able to sensitively consider diagnoses,
> and is comfortable applying them can help me out any day.
>
> Your following statement that:
> "The WBX technology requires a VW technician
> with factory training and Digifant diagnostic skills."
>
> is largely correct and helps to further the point that Stan and many others
> hold to, which is that when stranded at the Walmart parking lot in Boise it
> is much nicer to be able to diagnose and repair using one's nose, ears,
> eyes, and a screwdriver than to use up another call to AAA and hope there's
> a good, honest VW dealer nearby.
>
> Stan's statement (as I read it) was for a preference in lifestyle - that of
> liberation from the system of commercial dependence that is, in effect,
> keeping people isolated in their homes, afraid to leave their comfort zones
> less they should stray beyond the range of reliable "big-brother" bail-out
> facilities.
>
> Please be more respectful than to sling derogatory names at people for
> expressing their love for their favorite vehilces.
>
> Thank you, and no hard feelings,
> Sean Solowiej
>
>
>
> on 12/7/02 4:57 PM, Jfp w/2 WBXs at jfp7@HOTMAIL.COM wrote:
>
>> Hi list,
>>
>> Whenever I read a disparaging remark about the WBX, quite frequently it's
>> from Stan Wilder. While I respect his undying affection for the
>> air-cooled boxer, the 2.1L WBX is far superior to any air-cooled motor.
>> Unfortunately the last new WBX was sold 12 years ago so in engineering
>> terms, the WBX powertrain is now at the end of it's service life. In other
>> words, the original & previous owners have enjoyed all the reliability &
>> service designed into the WBX and then they cleverly sold them to us, the
>> Vanagon list members. That's OK since a worn out 2.1L WBX can be a diamond
>> in the rough............However.........
>>
>> The reconditioning of a tired 2.1L WBX powertrain must be 100% complete &
>> professional or disappointment will surely follow. Replacing of only one
>> coolant hose when 6 need renewal sets the stage for untimely failure.
>> Further the old air-cooled "points & plugs VW mechanic(P&P)" is unfit to
>> diagnose and repair a 2.1L WBX. The WBX technology requires a VW technician
>> with factory training and Digifant diagnostic skills.
>>
>> Incomplete(half-assed)reconditioning and air-cooled "P&P mechanics"
>> performing "replace this and see what happens" diagnosis have clearly
>> Demolished the 2.1L WBX's reputation. First by generating high repair costs
>> due to unnecessary component replacement and secondly by failing to diagnose
>> critical mechanical shortcomings in time to avoid a major mechanical
>> failure. When catastrophic failure occurs, the untrained P&P mechanic is not
>> likely to take an ad out in the newspaper to announce that they clearly
>> missed a critical diagnosis. More often than not, the incompetent mechanic
>> simply condemns the WBX and/or the Digifant system as a poorly designed
>> loser technology and waxes romantically back to the reliability of the
>> air-cooled days.
>>
>> Sadly when layman Vanagon owners(and Stan Wilder)encounter this result of
>> poor & incomplete diagnosis, they readily adopt the dumb ass opinion that
>> The WBX technology is useless junk and and the simplistic former air-cooled
>> technology is the way to go.
>>
>> Regards, John
>>
>>
>>
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>
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