Date:         Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:09:16 -0500
Reply-To:     Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject:      FW: why does everyone treat the list vendors as "BAD GUYS"???
In-Reply-To:  <BFFD8B81.F790%steeles@horizonview.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Like many of you I can remember back in the days of Vanagon ownership when
there was no internet and no solid parts sources out here in the hinterlands
for these crazy Vans that we love.  Even the vaunted dealers shied away from
selling them without a lot of bitchin' and many wouldn't even order Vanagon
parts.   One dealer I visited didn't even know that Vans still used gasoline
auxiliary heaters until I crawled under my '81 with the parts counter guy
and showed him one.

When I had a road debris hit that pierced my gas tank, I had to order a tank
from Denver through a foreign parts dealer three counties away.  The dealer
wanted $800 (IIRC) and I still had to pay half of that for a decent used one
to be shipped 1200 miles.  A reasonably priced replacement radiator for my
first WBX was made of unobtainium until I found this List and its vendors.
I for one am VERY GLAD that the List vendors are here to offer us their
services.

BTW, Two weeks ago I consolidated a parts order for my Westy, son #1's Westy
and son #2's Westy from BD. All parts were received within FOUR DAYS of
ordering and I am in OHIO, where not all  of us complain about List Vendors.

Thanks Ron for giving us an alternative source of parts for keeping these
aging Vans on the road!

Stephen Steele
Chillicothe OH

'90 Carat  "Parts"
'91 Caravelle  "Hans"...awaiting new engine
'74 MGB  My first car...yep, I've kept it since '74
'93 Chevy S-10
'91 Jetta Diesel   My daily driver
'02 Jetta Wagon VR6  Wife's car
Ex Vans/VWs:
'81 Vanagon  from 1985-1990
'84 Westfalia  "Fritz" 2000-2004 now with Son #1
'87 Westfalia  "Franz" 2002-2005  now with Son #2
'88 Jetta GL  1990-1992
'92 Jetta GL  1992-1998
'90 Jetta     1999-2003
'81 Rabbit diesel   1999-2003
'82 Caddy VW Diesel P.U.  1999-2004