"AND IN A FIT OF PIQUE A PREVIOUSLY SANE MAN PURCHASES A KOREAN PIECE OF
CRAP." The Korean policy of purchasing market share and pseudo glitz is
doomed to failure.

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2000 9:36 PM
Subject: Good Bye - Traded Westy for Kia

> Hi All,
>
> It is with great regret that I write this. After 7 years of residing on
> this list, I am leaving. Its been a rough 9 months or so as far as VW's
are
> concerned. You might recall that in September, my 93 EV MV set itself on
> fire. It took more than four months to get the insurance company to total
it.
>
> At the end of January I purchased an '87 Westy. It seemed like the ideal
> purchase, low mileage, former California van, hardly used as a camper,
etc.
> Now that spring has arrived I've been trying to get the camper ready for
> our first camping expedition.
>
> Yesterday, after soliciting and receiving advise from the list on how to
> get the gas fridge to work, I spent 4 hours trying to get the damned thing
> to light. IT WILL NOT LIGHT!!!
>
> Is it too much to ask to have cold beers available when I drive?? I mean
> come on now!
>
> My next shock to reality came while I was under the 87 trying to putter
> around with the propane tank I noticed that the heater boxes on the engine
> are shot! How the hell am I supposed to have heat when I'm driving.
>
> Then came the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back....the
reduction
> boxes on the rear axle were gone! I don't mean broken...I mean GONE...like
> not there.
>
> That scared the crap out of me!! I decided then and there to get rid of
the
> Westy.  There is a new Kia dealership that opened in town two weeks ago,
> and they have been advertising new Kias for $1 above sticker. So half an
> hour later I was at the Kia dealership bargaining with some
> wet-behind-the-ears saleskid.
>
> After much intense negotiation, I parted with $3000 cash and my Westy and
> drove off with a brand spanking new Kia Sephia and a smile on my face. The
> dealership is stuck with an 87 Westy that doesn't have a working gas
> fridge, bad heater boxes and missing axle reduction boxes. Boy did I stick
> it to them!
>
> So, my friends, in closing I'd like to say the past 7 years has been an
> experience...I've enjoyed meeting a few of you in person...but its time to
> move on. Maybe there is a Kia list that is as friendly as this list. I
> can't wait to put a Kia list sticker on the back of the Sephia!
>
> In closing I'd like to say farewell, safe travels, and most importantly
> enjoy today - April Fools Day!!   :-)
>
>
> Ric
>
>
>
> PS. Kia...doesn't that stand for Killed in Action????  ;-)