Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:31:15 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Shout out to Ken and Dennis The RARE vW bus vender The war
against our vehicles and the services to support them.
In-Reply-To: <CAFdLW6nY+KObEp5S9SPP_cYEm_HapX5ia_xCrgvj-9QKqbyrCA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi folks,
Not sure about the article.
Something nice related to gas stations near me.
Our VT area has welcomed and supported a large number of immigrants. Over 100 in my small town alone.
Along with filling many open jobs some have created businesses. And some have reopened run down gas stations. In some cases making them very nice and often the most affordable for miles around.
So, no issue finding great gas stations in southern VT.
Though as we are averaging about 169 miles per gallon with our plug in hybrid, we don’t go all that often. 4 fill ups since October 2022.
Eric Caron
Currently still trying to tune up engines to get best mileage.
84 and 85 Westfalias
> On Mar 21, 2023, at 5:56 PM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> They ban new gas stations...soon they will remove old ones... then nothing
> left :-)
>
> On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 1:55 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>> https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-city-wants-ban-new-gas-auto-service-stations-climate-change
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of John
>> Rodgers
>> Sent: Friday, March 17, 2023 7:58 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Shout out to Ken and Dennis The RARE vW bus vender
>>
>> Unfortunately, I'm so old and decrepit I can't do my own work on my van
>> any more so probably won't have to worry about parts and service much
>> longer. But for now service is already a problem. Recently I needed my fuel
>> tank resealed and crossover pipe installed and could find nobody in the
>> City of Birmingham who would touch it except one shop which specializes in
>> servicing the really exotic European iron. They ate my lunch but got it
>> done.
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 6:38 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Get everything fixed than needs fixing while parts and mechanics are
>>> still around. Plain and simple.
>>>
>>> On Friday, March 17, 2023 at 03:17:14 PM PDT, David McNeely <
>>> davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Of course, the young ones are not interested in learning Vanagons (or
>> any
>>> particular "obsolete" vehicle). It just doesn't make economic sense
>> from
>>> their standpoint. There are lots of Toyotas, Fords, modern VWs ........
>> .
>>> Few of our old vehicles. Heck, I even found that the local junior
>>> college auto tech program won't take in any vehicle over five years
>>> old. That includes my Toyota Prius, which is why I found out.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 11:51 AM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> *"And from my perspective, would the person servicing it be
>>>> capable?"*
>>>>
>>>> Well... they will say they are capable because they have the Bentley
>>>> book on the shelf... and the real capable mechanic is busy jumping
>>>> from one
>>> van
>>>> to another to help solve the problems...
>>>>
>>>> I have a story... my daughter was travelling recently with her '90
>>>> tintop from Oregon to Arizona. In Tucson a little rubber hose
>>>> connected to the thermostat tower blew. She found a shop in Tucson
>>>> and waited for 3 days
>>> to
>>>> have a spot for repairs. They replaced the hose and some other
>>> unnecessary
>>>> stuff. On her way back to Oregon, some hundred miles north of
>>>> Tucson, the coolant light blinked (not overheated). I told her to
>>>> check the coolant level in the expansion reservoir, it's very low
>>>> (they didn't bleed properly)... she filled it up. Some hundred miles
>>>> later, the same thing happened. I told her to check the level every
>>>> morning before hitting the road. She happened near the GW store so I
>>>> told to get a new blue cap and have the cooling system bleed well.
>>>> No one had a spot for her and GW
>>> didn't
>>>> do it. So I have to instruct her how to bleed over the phone and email.
>>> She
>>>> did it with the help of her boyfriend. They made it home safely.
>>>>
>>>> So... yes... There are still some good mechanics with experiences on
>>>> vanagon out there... BUT... how many young ones want to learn to
>>>> replace them after they are gone?
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 11:03 AM David McNeely
>>>> <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> In part, this is a matter of "aging out." If these folks are to
>>>>> stay in business, they must hire young folks into their shops.
>>>>> There just
>>> aren't
>>>>> enough old folks who know our vehicles still around. Just this
>>>>> past
>>> week,
>>>>> I tried to set up a shop visit for my camper. Best shop locally by
>>>>> reputation is one called European Auto Haus. Best tech there used
>>>>> to be "Obie," who was trained in Germany on VWs back in the day.
>>>>> He was
>>> super.
>>>>> But Obie of course could not work forever. He had to move on to
>>>>> retirement, well deserved. Sadly, European Auto Haus responded by
>>> saying
>>>>> that there are six Vanagons in shop currently for work, but none of
>>>>> them will get serviced before summer, and that they could not
>>>>> promise a date for my van earlier than August. And from my
>>>>> perspective, would the person servicing it be capable? mcneely
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 10:52 AM Eric Caron
>>>>> <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> The recent post about why do you purchase from Amazon reminded me
>>>>>> of
>>> the
>>>>>> good old days of purchasing from our venders like Vanagain. One
>>>>>> of
>>> the
>>>>>> best things was that I could ask questions about the products
>>> especially
>>>>>> about correct fit or how to install.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I realize that now, Ken is the only vender that I can
>>>>>> still do that with. He is incredibly generous with his time. I
>>>>>> really don’t
>>>>> know
>>>>>> how he does it and runs a family business as well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In tech emergencies I have called Ken and he has answered the
>>>>>> phone
>>> and
>>>>>> helped. Last time was when a friend was helping to install Ken’s
>>> power
>>>>>> steering rack. It was a simple thing but we would not have
>>>>>> figured it
>>>>> out
>>>>>> without Ken answering the call.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I try not to call unless I need to. Another time when a
>>>>>> friend was here we were stuck and called Dennis. And sure enough
>>>>>> he talked
>>> us
>>>>>> through the problem.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In the old days I used to talk to folks at Bus depot, but though
>>>>>> I
>>>>> really
>>>>>> appreciate the business, and I hope to drop in to visit one day,
>>>>>> the
>>>>> folks
>>>>>> on the phone can’t help with issues, as they don’t know VW buses.
>>> And,
>>>>>> sadly the site is very hard for me to use. They do however, have
>>>>>> a lot
>>>>> of
>>>>>> great bus items and nice to have them on my coast!
>>>>>> Van Cafe, was great before it was sold. Peter and others there
>>>>>> talked
>>>>> me
>>>>>> through many part installations.But, that ended.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I even once got tech help from GW, but they don’t seem to do work
>>> there
>>>>>> any longer. Though to be fair, They were very helpful in emailing
>>>>>> information back about specific products like how to update the
>>>>>> engine management system.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, I really appreciate that Ken sends out help videos, has
>>>>>> useful articles and info on his site, and I don’t know how he
>>>>>> does it, but
>>> even
>>>>>> answered the phone and gave help directly.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do miss the days of calling the different venders to make
>>>>>> orders,
>>> and
>>>>>> get personal direction on the products.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think they mean well, but other then Ken I don’t think vanagon
>>>>>> or VW
>>>>> bus
>>>>>> people answer the phone, or can directly assist.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hang in they're Ken.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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