Date:         Sat, 18 Sep 2004 14:51:17 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Exhaust Pipe Question / No Question for Me
In-Reply-To:  <29608-414C6B3A-769@storefull-3177.bay.webtv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> I have to agree whole heartily with George on his analogy of
> anything bought after market, be it from JC Whitney, or the
> BD. ... Nothing is better than a factory dispensed replacement
> part,... The factory original equipment pipes lasted 14
> years. I replaced them all last year. They will be good till
> the year 2018.... Why go for the JC Whitney / Bus Depot made in
> Taiwan / Bangladesh / Korea pipes that maybe will survive
> just 4 to 5 years at best? ... And for a muffler that fits perfect,
has
> a lifetime warrantee, the Walker muffler is the best deal available.



Now I'm utterly confused.

You state unequivocably that "nothing is better than a factory dispensed
replacement part", and that buying anything else result in poor fit and
quality. Then you proceed to wholeheartedly recommend a Walker muffler -
which is aftermarket - saying that it "fits perfect" (sic) and is "the
best deal available."  (I'm sure it does fit perfectly. There are
several excellent replacement mufflers available for the Vanagons, all
of which are far cheaper than the dealer one and some of which come from
the same factory.)

You then say that the Bus Depot pipes "will last 4 or 5 years at best"
- having clearly never tried them, since you replaced your original VW
brand pipes with a second set of the same. In fact you haven't even
noticed that they are made in Denmark, which is quite some distance from
"Taiwan / Bangladesh / Korea."  Tell me, how can pass judgement on a
product that you have never tried?

So please do not insult my parts by comparing them to low-end
aftermarket Taiwanese/Bangladeshi/Korean parts which I don't sell. (And
in fact which don't exist at all. There ARE no watercooled Vanagon
exhausts made in Taiwan, Bangladesh, or Korea.)  As hundreds of list
members here can attest to, the parts I sell are of very high quality,
and most come from the original suppliers to Volkswagen. Even your
esteemed Walker cannot make that claim.

This is silly, and I'm done with it. It's ludicrous for me to argue
about this. Here I'm trying to save you money, only to get called names.
If you truly believe that every part that has touched the magical hands
of VW is inherently better, then please, by all means, buy nothing else.
Nobody's trying to shove anything down anyone's throat. In fact I will
make a whole lot more money selling you a $25 genuine VW Multivan cup
holder. instead of the virtually identical American made substitute for
$8. I will make more money selling you a ball joint with the magical VW
logo on it for $75, instead of one from the same factory, with the
German OEM supplier's logo on it instead, for $25. Far be it for me to
have the unmitigated gaul to try to save you money. If you prefer to
spend 2-5 times the price on every part for your Vanagon, and have the
money to burn, who am I to complain?

I'm done with this thread. It is absurd.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT