Date:         Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:42:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1999 Eurovan Video is here!
Comments: To: Wolfsburg <wolfsburg@CENTURYINTER.NET>, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 2:59 PM 6/21/98, Wolfsburg wrote:
>Eurovan lovers,
>
>The 1999 Eurovan video is here!  I called VWOA at 800-822-VWUS and
>requested the video. It's 20 minutes long and shows features of the '99
>Eurovan.

        Will it show such details as the lack of a latch to hold open
        the sliding side door, which, by the way, is quite heavy compared to
        its predecessors? I discovered this missing feature while
        inspecting the 99EV GLS at a local dealer...or how to replace the
        front 3 sparkplugs...or how to lower the "full-size spare" (*2* bolts
        need to be unscrewed from underneath it (unlike the spare tire carrier
        in my Villager which has a clever winching arrangement using the
        lugwrench on a recessed shaft-head inside the tailgate).

        Will it discuss what 2year/24000miles "no-charge" scheduled
        maintenance means in the context of modern vehicles that generally
        require no other scheduled maintenance than fluid/filter changes
        at periodic intervals...like VW isn't going to change the plugs
        at 24K miles, I'll bet. This sounds like a max of 3 oil&filter
        changes... wonder what happens when the customer insists on using
        a synthetic oil like Mobil1?

        My impression of the 99EV GLS is that it's a more refined, less
        powerful van than an AstroVan at a higher price without such available
        options as 4WD. Compared to a Ford ClubWagon Chateu that also seats
        seven but with captain's chairs in the middle row, trick audio
        options, and a rearbench that makes into a bed, the $30K EV loses
        on price  against the 230hp 5.4 liter SOHC powered Ford ($28K) that's
        23inches longer, 4inches taller and 7inches wider...of course the
        Fords really a truck :-(.




      OLTECO                         Ari Ollikainen
      P.O. BOX 3688                  Networking Technology and Architecture
      Stanford, CA                   Ari@OLTECO.com
      94309-3688                     415.517.3519