Date:         Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:24:12 -0700
Reply-To:     bernie <1234bjs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         bernie <1234bjs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Chatting with German VW Guy Working in USA
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Vancouver BC

I was having a coffee minding my own business
when I heard the sounds of the German language
next to me. I asked where they might be from
in Germany and the wife responded Hanover.
There are on holiday as he is presently stationed
in the US. They are renting a motorhome
and traveling down the coast. I explained that I had
just returned from the coast in my trusty 1985
Vanagon Westfalia. That brought a smile to
their faces as he is gainfully employed by VW
in a capacity that he did not fully share but
it would certainly be a significant position.
I indicated that the VW community was watching
with interest when the VW concept vehicle was
announced in 2002.
I indicated that many of us were unimpressed
by the look and appearance of it though we would
most certainly like to see a new bus.
He said he was on the committee and that it "had
to be designed that way".
His wife disagreed.
She said the concept model had no link or
real feel and connection to the memory of prior models.
It lacked a link to the spirit of the prior VW's buses.
Furthermore she felt that a successful bus would
be one that had a link to the past  and that also was "hip" to a whole new
group of customers.
I shared with how much we all love our old buses.
When I shared with him that I was at Buses by the
Bridge this year and there were 400 buses he looked unimpressed.
I felt he was looking at my age, 68, and thinking
so what a group of old eccentrics get  together in the desert what has that
got to do with the price of eggs?
Bottom line he said VW did not have the kind of money needed to invest in
this very expensive project at that particular time.
Then he asked me the kicker:
"What would I pay for a new bus"?
Of course, I guess that is what it all comes down to
is that they don't think there is a market at
what they would have to price the thing at.
I asked if he thought the idea of a new bus was dead and he replied.
"No the idea of a new bus is not dead but by
the time we build it you may be!"
Ok I made the last part up but there may be hope.
We shall see.

Bernie
Vancouver