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Date:         Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:27:27 -0600
Reply-To:     Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Subie Power
Comments: To: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <985424.26932.qm@web33509.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

FWIW, Back in VW's heyday, maybe even today?, a German Master Mechanic program apprenticeship took 8 years.

Tom B.-are most of those volks gone?

On Apr 18, 2007, at 11:14 AM, Robert Keezer wrote:

> "European mechanics, and especially German ones, > are better trained > than mechanics here in the states, by far." > > Bull.. Bunk.. and YNSHO > (your-no-so-humble-opinion) > > > Robert > > 1982 Westy > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- Matthias Kuster <matthiaskuster@VERIZON.NET> > wrote: > >> Ok, so I finally jump in here also, and here is >> what I have to say (I >> have 2 SubieVanagon, one Wolfy and one Westy, >> both 84s, manual tranny: >> >> Subaru's EJ22 absolutely rocks in terms of >> simplicity, reliability, >> design, power and sound. As for the 2.5 DOHC, >> might be better to stay >> away, the 2.5 SOHC again seems to be >> bulletproof. Mind you however >> that it is a lot of work and fiddling with >> variables and unknowns, no >> matter what. That's why they are expensive, yet >> cheap in the long run. >> Even so I did blow a rod bearing on my first >> install, at 180000 >> miles, partly maybe because I had overlooked >> the o-ring on oil pick >> up tube, and it was burning oil the whole time. >> Still lasted 20k >> miles before it went. This first EJ22 also was >> an 89, which are >> rumored to have oil control ring issues. Still >> this is a used engine >> of unknown origin, me regularly going 80mph and >> loaded up. Then had >> to go to the junkyard, find a donor, do >> compression test, and swap >> out long block, which took about 3 days (with >> experience). I'm good >> to go again with a resealed engine that has >> 115k miles on it. >> I don't agree with the Subie being quieter: At >> idle yes, tooling >> around town it is definitely louder, and I have >> the VW WBX exhaust >> setup. At freeway travelling speeds it's about >> the same. The rumble >> is very "boxer", and sounds even better than a >> WBX (as well as WRX) >> me thinks. Mine are also louder because I >> opened up the intake. I >> have done a lot of soundproofing on the Westy >> and it is quieter now >> than any Vanagon I have ever driven. Will set >> off car alarms when >> accelerating, easily. >> Bottom line is: If you can stick to the >> original WBXers and get them >> reliable, my hat is off to you. I went through >> 2 years of absolute >> nightmares with my 1.9l, two different shops, >> both recommended on >> this list at the time, my Wolfy was in the shop >> constantly, and they >> both claimed everytime this time it was fixed >> (under warranty, which >> means you have to let the same deadbeats get >> their hands on it >> again). It sucked. One shop I sued and they >> ended up selling the shop >> before I could collect on a possible judgement. >> Absolute deadbeats, >> both of them. >> European mechanics, and especially German ones, >> are better trained >> than mechanics here in the states, by far. They >> have to be. (I know >> this is a generalization, and there certainly >> are exceptions). Add to >> that a finicky design by Oettinger, which >> slapped plumbing on an >> aircooled engine and added rubber gaskets, for >> chrissake, and you >> have your work cut out for yourself. >> The Vanagon is an amazing piece of automobile, >> from the days when >> Volkswagen still had a spic left of imagination >> and innovation. >> Thesedays VW only has those qualities regarding >> marketing. Their >> products have been inferior since at least the >> mid 90s, and Toyota >> and Honda (especially) whoop their bums. The >> Honda Element or Toyota >> Prius are cars VW might have come up with in >> their glory days, >> certainly now they seem lost with all their >> involvement in Bugatti, >> Bentley. They lost touch with their roots. >> Maybe Porsche can sort >> them out, but I doubt they will ever be what >> they once were again. I >> doubt there will ever be a book "How to Keep >> Your Volkswagen Alive" >> again. Tons of internal company memos however, >> without a doubt, will >> bear that title in the next couple years. >> So for you die hard Vanagonauts, keep up the >> good work. After all our >> Vanagons are from a time worth remembering, >> and keeping them >> original makes sense also. >> >> UNITY - RESPECT >> >> Matthias >> > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com


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