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Date:         Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:21:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: recommend good shop- Oceanside(san diego) CA?
Comments: To: Syncronicity1 <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <10865C89597E44CA92C016078236D04B@Syncronicity>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi Roland, I'm glad they did good work on your synchro.

I had a very bad experience with VW Paradise a few years ago, and I personally would not use them again even to have a headlight changed.

W/o going into a lot of boring history, my 71 T2's PO had them install a 1776cc engines that they had built. It had "VW Paradise" stamped into the case. After I had the bus for a few months, I took it to them for a carb transplant. On the way home, the coil fell out of its mount -- they hadn't tightened it down. OK, anyone can make mistakes. However, a month or so later, the gen belt broke (not their fault) and before my wife noticed the gen lamp, the engine had been baked.

I hoped to rebuild the engine. With help from a lot of guys on rec.autos.makes.vw.aircooled (RAMVA), and even more help from Bob Hoover (including some loaner tools), I proceeded to take it apart. As I did so, I discovered one horrible lazy, thoughtless cost-cutting monkey-boy mess of mis-matched parts, stripped bolts, and desultory assembly after another. I fished out spare hardware they had left in the bottom of the case. I also found a turned piston rod bearing -- no telling how much additional damage the overheating had caused. So it was pretty clear to me that the damage we'd caused combined with the miserable quality of the engine to start with was probably not going to result in a really reliable engine given my meager mechanical skills. I threw in the towel and bought a new factory stock 1600DP engine from an authorized VW dealer in Tijuana. The Wonderbus has been running just fine since.

I am not saying that my experience with VW Paradise is any example of the majority of their workmanship, but it certainly put me off them. Their store was oriented toward kiddie stuff, chrome and performance, with no indication that thoughtful, careful work was appreciated. The shop was noisy, more grab-ass than good work. Things may have changed.

By contrast, Hugos European Car Service 10 miles down the highway in Encinitas, is quiet, very clean, a place where quality workmanship seems to be valued. Everything they've done on Mellow Yellow

This is not meant to be a "bash the vendor" post. Just a description of my experience with this one shop. The 2003/2004 archives of RAMVA will contain the details of the endless woes I experienced at the the hand -- and foot -- of the VW Paradise craftsman.

-- Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano KG6RCR

Syncronicity1 typed: > Ryan, > > Try VW Paradise in San Marcos on Grand Avenue, (760) 744-9081, probably > about 5 miles from Oceanside. I thought they were more bug/aircooled > oriented, but it turns out their lot / service bay is very full of Vanagons. > They did the R&R on my Syncro for my recent trans rebuild. > > Roland > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Michael Elliott > Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 3:29 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: recommend good shop- Oceanside(san diego) CA? > > Hi Ryan, > > In Oceanside I don't know. I have have good work done in Encinitas at > > Hugo's European Car Service. > 110 N. Coast Hwy 101 > Encinitas, CA 92024 > (760)436-7862 > > Good luck! > > -- > Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott > 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus > 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") > 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano > KG6RCR > > > > Ryan Haagensen typed: >> Hi all, >> >> I am at my wits end. I bought a 1983.5 Vanagon that had been sitting for > about 8 years (seized motor). I bought a 'good' used 1.9l motor, installed > it, got it running- for awhile, and now it will not start. I have checked > everything- I think. I want to tow it to an experienced Vanagon repair shop > in the Oceanside (North San Diego area) and get them to see what is wrong. I > figure pay for 2 hours of labor rather than waste 8 hours of mine. Any > recommendations? Thanks in advance. >> Ryan Haagensen >> >> > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.7/868 - Release Date: 6/25/2007 > 12:20 PM > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.7/868 - Release Date: 6/25/2007 > 12:20 PM >


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