Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:19:04 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: VW vs Subaru (picture)
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2007042021592752@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Ben,
Your web site has - over time - been a huge help to me in dealing with
many of my problems with maintenance. Though I am so far away it is not
practical for me to engage your services - I thank you very much for
use of your web site.
My deal down here in the Deep South - is not so much to do every bit of
my maintenance myself - I can't do that any more. Over the years I seem
to have developed a significant case of "old bones". So, I do what I can
- oil changes, new filter, light bulbs, etc, etc. The light stuff, but
the heavy stuff I leave to the pro's. However, there are few Vanagon
pro's in my area - at least those I would trust. Dealerships are
strictly verboten so far as I am concerned. So, I study the problem,
read the Bentley, read the Haynes, query "The List", view the web sites
- particularly that of "Benoit" and then go find a shop whose mechanic
is willing to recognize that I know more specifics about that vanagon
than he does, but he has the general mechanics skills and experience
that I don't - plus the tools. I take him my manuals, any pictures from
the web that might help, and together we get the job done. He gets paid
cash, I get a van whose problem is fixed and I am satisfied it was done
right the first time. Having done it this way for a very long time, I
have never had a problem with the job or the mechanic. As with all
things mechanical, sometimes there can be some minor thing, but that
always has gotten taken care of with no fuss. To me it is a matter of
education - education of the mechanic to me, and me to him. After that -
no problems.
Keep up the good work. I know it is appreciated by one heck of a lot of
folks. And if you do decide to do that video after all, Please put me on
your customer list!
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Chelsea, AL
Benny boy wrote:
> Vanaru, Hans and John have worked hard over the years to get what i would
> call a near perfect conversion... now, it as to pay!!! i'm sure everyone
> understand that. So if i put everything online, the way i do (details
> pictures), thay will loose potential cutomers. BUT, they have a
> Do-it-Yourself "kit" comming out soon, now, this is different. This COMPLETE
> kit will be WAY more afortable and will include everything except the engine
> and i think a few parts from the donor car.
>
> In that case,a video/web section/book could be available. I would be glad to
> help.
>
> I have learn one thing with my web site ( and you don't see a lot of stuff
> only in the french section), by putting FREE stuff online, you gain way more
> customers than you loose. You also gain recpect! and they know you can do
> the job.
>
> EX:
> http://www.benplace.com/fuel_line.htm
>
> This section itself bring me a lot of customers (and some nice "Tank you"
> e-mail from people that did the job themself) that have seen the "how to do
> it", they understand why to do so, they believe it's important to do it but
> some just don't have the skills to do it... but one thing is for sure, it's
> always good for me! Even if i loose a few, i gain 10 time more then if i had
> NO such section.
>
> The English side of it... it's for you guys! and with that, i got new
> friends! and that is way more important than money!
>
> Regards, Ben
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> You said you weren't going to post in detail the installation, but enough to
> get the picture. Don't know if you have thought of this before, but I would
> be willing to bet there are a lot of guys, myself included, who would be
> willing to pay money for a well documented conversion installation CD. Food
> for thought, maybe?? Since you are doing the work anyway, now may be the
> time.
>
>
>
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