Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 20:06:42 -0400
Reply-To: Vanagon Man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon Man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Subject: Boston Bob Engine
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Sounds to me like Tolga needs to call Bob instead of venting on the list. I
figure the facts are somewhere in the middle of both sides of the story, and
a solution i am certain can be agreed upon if heads remain cool.
2 years i sold a guy an aircooled camper..........a 65 year old man. Let
him and his wife test drive it, he went on the way to the bank and came back
with cash..he brought his son with him, who was a banker and a notary. His
son told him that he was buying it as is, as i specified, and told him that
if he pulled out of the parking lot and blew the motor it was his problem,
and not mine. Still the man felt good about the car and the deal was made.
I signed over the title, all was well. 2 days later the guy calls me up
RAISING HELL. That van leaked oil all over his driveway and he wanted his
money back. Well being somewhat of a glorified shade tree mechanic, i told
him i would come take a look and we would talk. There was a quarter sized
spot under his van. Guess what, he didn't get his money back. Did i screw
him, NO. But, when he called me (the person the local dealer recommends to
work on Vanagons) for service, i would not touch his car with a ten foot
pole.
Now i have had my share of leaky vw engines over the years, and i have not
seen one yet that could not be fixed//////(unless there was a crack in the
case or something)
Adam P
Charleston,SC Coburn, WV
81 Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tolga Morawski" <tolga@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Subject: Boston Bob Engine
> Bob,
> I think it would be good for you to check your story as I spoke to you
> on the phone last spring and you agreed to work with my mechanic, Greg,
> in your town. The van was out at Greg's for several weeks at which point
> he told me you both worked on the problem and were unable to fix it.
> There is no lying being done here so if anything you should apologize to
> me on the list for your statements.
>
> To recap:
>
> The Facts:
> -----------
> 1. I happily paid a 50% premium for a "Boston Engine" and traveled many
> hours, willingly to get the engine from you.
>
> 2. I told you early on of the oil leak at which point you sent me several
> main nearing seals.
>
> 3. When that didn't fix the problem you offered to take a look at it.
>
> 4. I brought the Van out to Natick for you to look over. You responded
> that you reduced the leak but that the remaining problems was due to
> problems inherent with the VW engine, that it will always leak.
>
> 5. After finding the amount of oil leaking still unacceptable the emails
> (below) and phone calls occurred and I brought it ALL THE WAY OUT THERE
> AGAIN (6+ Hours) willingly to give you another go at it whereupon there
> was no improvement.
>
> 6. Besides my engine I've spent several thousand in parts with you over
> the years which proves that I'm not just out to give you a bad name. I
> like you and like doing business with you I just feel like you sold me
> short on that engine.
>
> 7. At the end of the day the seal has been replaced at least 5 times,
> some by me, some by Bob and some by Greg all with copious amounts of
> silicone...it's not the seal, the case itself doesn't mesh well.
>
> In Conclusion:
> ---------------
> After spending nearly $2K with you on the engine and accessories I
> expected more, more service, better quality. I was perfectly willing to
> travel to you and the van was in Natick at least 2-3 times a year for 2-3
> weeks at a time during the last 4 years. I have documentation of our
> phone conversations in addition to emails. More telling is your pitch
> below where you specifically note "the right parts to make the engine
> last a long time run at the right temp and not leak oil. I am not cutting
> corners to save money or get the job out the door faster." We both
> agreed as did Greg, a mechanic we both trust, that this thing leaks a
> good deal.
> I wish it was different and it was tested better or something but for
> that reason every time someone asks me my opinion on a Boston Engine I
> have to emphatically say I am not pleased with mine. Not only is it a
> nuisance but it screws up the paint job on you tailgate over time. I
> imagine there are happy customers out there but I wasn't done right by
> Boston Engine. So until the engine is fixed or replaced I will continue
> telling people my story, the truth. IMHO the engine is unacceptable, end
> of story.
> Likewise Andrew, don't call someone a liar before you get the facts
> straight.
>
> >let me make the pitch for buying a boston engine I have been building
> >air and water cooled engines for 30 years and thats all I do its not a
> >part time side line. I also supply the ice rinks with air and water
> >cooled zamboni engines for the last 15 years. I have learned a lot from
> >this because it was common for the air cooled engines to only last 6
> >months or a year in the zambonis I now give a 2 year warranty all my
> >zamboni engines in New England and one year on automotive engines. my
> >engines have a lowered compression ratio, and the right parts to make
> >the engine last a long time run at the right temp and not leak oil. I am
> >not cutting corners to save money or get the job out the door faster. I
> >have all the right parts for this job on hand including cases, heads,
> >exhaust parts tinwork and hard to find fuel injection components plus I
> >Bob Donalds assemble all engines. I will also give you any tech support
> >needed to get the job done right.
>
> >Tolga
> > you should go back and look at your emails to me about the oil leak I
was
> >ready and willing to fix the problem and we had a plan worked out and I
> >never heard back from you
> >your the emails are listed below
> > now this pack of lies
> > shame on you
> >Bob Donalds
> >Boston Engine
>
|