Date:         Fri, 5 Sep 2003 00:58:32 -0400
Reply-To:     Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      Re: Just called VW- Camper discontinued in U.S., Canada

Why worry about a VW Microbus! it's ugly and will cost 60k?
Are you afraid that it's the end of an era!!!
Keep you bus/van alive if you like VW camper, thats it.

VW doesn't care about camper or older customers, they care about money! and
what sell, right now!!!
They piss me off!

Why, let me tell you why!

My brother in law is running our 84, he call me and says; Ben, i have no
clutch! nothing is working, just like that, everything was fine yesterday!!
OK, i tell him; go see under the bus (we live 50 mile appart) if you see
some oil, neer the trany or anywhere else, he call me back after 10min
and... he  tell me that there is a big oil leak/puddle under the tranny.

Conclusion: Clutch slave cylinder is done, cooked... OK, i dont have time to
go there with my tools so he said; OK Ben, i will go to the dealer, no
problem!!! He call me back the next day, BEN, they want 520$CAD (375$USD)
for the job, 295$CAD only for the part + labor...............

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.........
I said to him, have the van towed to my house, i will find the parts.

A few phone call later i found a german made slave cylinder for 85$ CAD, 1.5
hours later the slave cylinder was change! total cost, 85$ + a case of beer.
Even a 45hr labor time from any shop the total cost wouldn't have pass the
200$CAD mark. The VW 520$ piss me off, big time.

Cheers, Ben
http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm