Date:         Sun, 23 Mar 2003 17:56:55 -0600
Reply-To:     Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Subject:      Trips to Germany
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

        The wife and I just got back from a nice two week trip to Germany this
Thursday evening, and I thought I would give out some information for
those of you who are interested.

        The very first thing that comes up always is the exchange rate.  Last
year, when we went, also in March, the rate was $0.85 to the Euro.  This
year it was $1.10 to the Euro.  So skimp a little here and there, but
don't let it change your plans.

        I tried to rent a Westy through Flo, but he didn't come through, though
he said twice that he might be able to arrange this for me.  I guess
don't count on it.

        Somebody inquired about what "VW" things to see.  The biggest and best
is Wolfsburg, the home of it all, with the incredible Autostadt
complex.  It's just simply the best in the world. You can do a "virtual
visit" on the net at the VW website.  We visited it last year, and this
year visited the Audi plant in Neckarsulm.  What you notice, visiting
different plants, is that assembly techniques are pretty much the same,
with the same brand of robots doing the shuffling about and spot
welding.  I did notice two places being brazed at the front of the
windshield being brazed the good old fashioned way by the hand of
somebody skilled at the Audi plant.  The tour guide didn't want to talk
about it.

        The Hannover plant, where our Vans came to life, has not had tours for
the last year, while model change has been taking place.  The new
retro-van had better be a success.  We did look at the new "Touran",
based on the Golf floor pan, and It looks good to me.  The same size as
the older Chrysler Minivan, but four doors and a tailgate.  The choice
of engines, and the quality would make it sell well here, IMHO.

        We tried to visit the Westfalia plant in Wiedenbruck, but you have to
have an advance reservation.  They seem to have very few tours going
through, and since it now belongs to Mercedes, they aren't too anxious
to please a Volkswagen customer.  From what I saw, they were mostly
running a bunch of Opel vans through for commercial use.  Plumbers
trucks, etc.

        Kharman works in Osnabruck is pretty much the same deal.

        There are fewer and fewer of our "T3" vans on the road each year.  In
fact what I see the most of are the DOKA trucks.  The T4 has been around
for ten years now, and there are lots.  And there are lots of similar
vehicles from competing firms.  Mercedes, in particular, has a really
huge range of vans/trucks.  I got a chance to look at a "James Cook"
Mercedes camper, and drooled a bit.

        I really do think the most loyal customer group for VW is right here in
the USA, and that we'll be driving the vans far longer than anyone else
for several reasons.  So take good care of yours, and it will do a good
job for you.  There won't be another one made as good as what we've got
now!

        The diversity of Europe is great, from the seashore to the Alpine
mountains, from the absolute confusion in some countries, to the strict
order in others, the incredible variety and excellence of the food, ---I
love it!!  I thinks most of us would enjoy the trip.

        We take our big vacation trip in March because of work schedules-my
wife is a college counselor, and I am a dirt farmer in Iowa.  The end of
the month is not a bad time to travel Europe.  It's warm enough to be
comfortable, the spring flowers are out, the grass is green, etc.  And
it's the lowest point of the tourist season.  The hotels are really glad
to see you walk in the door, have off-season rates, and there's no
searching for a room at the inn, as is the case in July & August.

        Regarding renting a camper.  With the cost of fuel and hotels, and the
difference in mileage between a small car and a Westy or something
similar, if it's only two people, it's about equal, and you and your
wife will like a hot shower in your room better than what's at a
campsite.  Campsites, by the way, mostly don't open until April, though
some of the super-big ones never close.

Chuck Hill