Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:25:43 -0700
Reply-To: Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Arrogance
In-Reply-To: <C02B01584A89467B866E2ADBEEBA3531@Guenther>
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Yup, there is a lot of truth in this. Riding on the reputation of previous
generations. But it applies even to the American products sometimes.
That is the same reason why a lot of people who buy Eurovans will sell and
buy Vanagons again, so they can fix them by themselves and get the parts
cheaper.
At least the Vanagon is fixable by the owner, being user friendly. And this
list is a wonderful help to us all. I just feel sorry for all those who
can't fix it by themselves and rely on the shops only. That's expensive.
Interestingly, I did not know that the Portugese are getting paid so much
less than the rest of Europe. That would make them travel to Gemany and the
other countries for better paid work. But being a Southern European country
with nice beaches, I'm sure they have a lot of tourists all year round.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Arkady Mirvis" <arkadymirvis@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 12:05 AM
Subject: Arrogance
Using credit earned by previous generations, German auto firms like to use
the term " GERMAN ENGINEERING ".
VW became prominent thanks to Ferdinand Porsche and geniuses around him.
They were the ones not only designers of Beetle, but great managers.
Borrowing from USA mass production technology, adding to that german
craftsmanship and industrial engineering, in a very short time germans were
able to build a huge factory. As long as the spirit was alive, VW filled the
roads with millions of cars. Already during Nordhoff era VW became to be
above all concerned with bottom line. The whole world was moving to front
wheel drive, VW was stubbornly pushing rear engined vehicles. And not only
that! Up until 1984 aircooled engines.
Instead of doing engineering, VW was suing left and right anyone using VW
logos. I will not deny that VW had great advertising. How many know that it
was american made advertising? VW name is a joke, a mockery today. Is the VW
built vehicle made for a commoner? The idea was to give every family a cheap
car costing same as a motorcycle, around 900 DM. And what it is now? Please
sit down. Here are the prices In Portugal:
Golf - 42-45000, Jetta up to 58,000 dollars. Tuareg is in stratosphere!
Portuguese is happy to earn (dollars per hour): construction 4 - 7, sales
person in the store - 4, teacher earns 600 per month.....The retiree must
survive on not even $300 per month. Remember Portugal is an european
country.
Our Vanagon list is filled with messages describing problems. It looks that
there is no system without serious problems. And try to maintain Westy. Cost
of spares is outrageous!
You think BMW, Mercedes is better? Both use the reputation earned by great
engineers of the thirties. Look around in USA. Do you see many BMW and MB's
older than 10 years? Longevity was not built in these cars!
And who is old enough must remember the scandal with run-away AUDI's.
Instead, as Toyota is doing now, at least doing good publicity, AUDI
arrogantly denied everything. And what? Its sales in USA did drop almost to
zero.
I recall VW answers to my letter to the company. The letter was written one
year after purchasing my 87 Westy. I, an mechanical engineer then since
1960, listed 20 facts of bad design and craftsmanship. And what was the
answer. "We built millions of vehicles and everyone is happy".
One needed to look at Consumer Report and see that VW was at the bottom of
the list! VW apparently was blind! Isn't it an archarrogance?
Original Continental tires on my Westy had massive cracks in 5 years! I
still have new spare tires for the 1972 Beetle. They look new and with no
cracks. When I complained to Continental, they didn't bother to answer.
How about belts made by Continental? Junk compared to ones made by american
Gates.
What shall be the answer? I never came to my managers with the problem. I
was coming with a solution in my hands.
Complain, complain...................To US Transportation and Safety Board
and put the German's rears on fire.
I wish after Toyota they will be the next.
Ark.
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