Date:         Mon, 12 Sep 2005 15:54:15 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Take a look at the new T-5 Camper.
In-Reply-To:  <4325E741.2080101@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> Is this thing for real???? Available in the US of A?


Real? Sure. USA? HAH! Not a chance. We don't even get the regular T5, much 
less the popup. No, VoA wants to be more like BMW and Mercedes, selling high 
end stuff where margin is better. Never mind that the company was built on 
selling remarkably economical feats of rolling engineering in the form of 
the beetle and bus. No, you're supposed to buy a Phaeton now. What? You 
don't have a Phaeton? You've never even SEEN a Phaeton*?
At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I think VW started down the road 
to mediocrity (or at best, tepid acceptability) when they stopped making 
vehicles with engines in the rear. Welcome to dullsville, man, where all 
cars have a hood, and the engine is under it!

* I've seen exactly ONE Phaeton here in the Brentwood/Bel-Air/Bev.Hills area 
where I work, and I see a half dozen Ferraris and Bentleys a week. That says 
something about the Phaeton, I think, and it don't say nuthin' good.