Date:         Thu, 19 Dec 2002 22:54:16 -0500
Reply-To:     mrvolkswagen@HOTMAIL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris S <mrvolkswagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mercedes 5cyl 300TD in vanagon?
Comments: To: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@TSSGI.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> Perhaps people have different expectations? Here people are used to
> mainly Japanese fare, and the Europeans aren't proving up to it.

Right, you mean like those Infiniti/Nissan CV joints that went to crap after
40K miles, or those early '90s Honda distributors that regularly wore out
their bearings in a bit over 60K miles, or that metallic blue paint job on
92 Accords that shed its clear coat after 3 years, or those pre-'94 Infiniti
Q45 transmissions that failed at rate more regular than your own
Wasserboxer's heads, just don't get me started on the Q45's timing chain
tensioners, or those valve lifters that went to hell on those late '80s
Acura V6 engines and made them sound like a diesel on crack, or those
first-generation Acura ABS modulators that didn't, or those mid '95 Acura
Legend window channels that were legendary for whistling at highway speeds.

How do I know this?  I spent 1.5 years working in the service department of
an Acura dealership.  I got to see some very regular patterns in certain
failures much to the dismay of the owners of those 'perfect' Japanese cars.
This left one big impression on me  No car is perfect.  They all fail.  Each
dealership has got horror stories to tell.  The bottom line is whether you
enjoy what you have.  The answer to the question is a rather obvious and
adamant 'Yes' for most Vanagon owners.

Chris
www.knology.net/~vw/