Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2006 15:18:17 -0700
Reply-To: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Debunking GoWesty!
In-Reply-To: <F26A89B2-67EA-4BC7-B8D2-FB19FAEBB3C1@elpasotel.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
http://www.gowesty.com/campermodeloverview2.html
> >
> > According to them:
> >
> > 1) Aircooled Westfalia's are the WORST
> models
> > 2) Thank God they only sold the Diesel
> models for two years
> > 3) Round headlight Westfalias are not
> recommended for sale.
> >
I wouldn't be too upset with these go Westy
opinions.
They aren't meant to insult or belittle or cast
doubt on loyal owners of these cars.
They are selling to a certain first-time buyer
and there is truth in all their statements when
looked at in the context they were given.
It's just Point & Shoot advice:
Sell the customer the vehicle type that THEY are
comfortable with.
They don't like the never -ending repair of the
air-cooled,1.9, and underpowered short lived
1.6 Diesel engines, and they are trying to steer
the buyer to the last revisoned Vanagon models as
these are improved and worth more .
I don't work or sell the old Vanagons either ,
though I do make exceptions for the 1.9. Only
mechanics who work on them day in and out have
the tear -down and assembly order memorized.
For me it been an ordeal of taking everything off
all afternoon I spent all morning putting on
because it all has to go in a certain order .
My first 1.9 reassembly is far more tedious than
my inline -four would be. A Diesel Vanagon with a
1.6 is slow, but depending on where you live, it
might be just fine. Certainly not in southern
Cal.
So then, perspective comes with the territory ,
yet I have to agree that the 2.1 is easier to
deal with, but not better than the inline four
conversion IMHO.
Example: It takes on everage over three hours to
replace the 2.1 waterpump. It can be done on my
inline four in an hour. There all those different
angles to get at the bolts .
With a Golf engine in my Vanagon for 11 years, I
would have to say that it is by far the easiest
of them all besides Diesel to work with.
Waterboxers have a complicated design.
Go-Westy has somewhat perfected it and increased
it's power, so from a marketing standpoint it
makes sense to steer buyers towards the later and
more valuable easier to work on models that they
like.
As for the round headlights- this is just to help
their buyers identify the early models they don't
want to see in their shop.
I personally like the newer models, but they are
all getting old and I like all of them, but I
would only own a early one that was upgraded.
Which is what I did to mine in 11 years.
Power steering, better springs and shocks,
rear-anti-sway bar, 5-speed trans, 115 hp Golf
engine.
Now if I have offended any of you , well there
isn't any parking across the street here!
Have a good Labor Day weekend,
Robert
1982 Westfalia
--- David Johnson <davidj@ELPASOTEL.NET> wrote:
> Well, after watching this thread for a bit, I
> have to weigh in, too.
> I love my '80 Westy, and other than 1 head
> popping off right after I
> got it, and operator error (me) on an air
> filter change, I have had
> zero problems with it. It starts right up, and
> while it is
> definitely pokey, it gets me where I need to
> go. I just gotta take
> the GW website with a grain of salt, as I would
> any other vendor's
> propaganda.
>
> David
> '80 Westy (Blue Midget)
>
>
> On Sep 2, 2006, at 10:48 AM, Mike Rouby wrote:
>
> > Anyone who has read GoWesty's catalog or
> website, will get to the
> > info in this link:
> >
> >
>
http://www.gowesty.com/campermodeloverview2.html
> >
> > According to them:
> >
> > 1) Aircooled Westfalia's are the WORST
> models
> > 2) Thank God they only sold the Diesel
> models for two years
> > 3) Round headlight Westfalias are not
> recommended for sale.
> >
>
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