Bjorn,
A few summers ago just after I bought my Syncro I stopped at Harbourview VW
to get some coolant as it was down a little.  After paying around $18 for
the 4L jug of coolant, I asked the parts department guy how do I know where
there is enough coolant in there (remember I was still VERY green to the
boxer engine at that time).  Basically after he sold me the coolant and
knew I wasn't going to buy anything else he wouldn't give me the time of
day and said all the mechanics were too busy to help... at this point **I
knew** I was CERTANLY NOT going to buy anything else from them.  I later
drove to my friends house and he showed me the correct procedure.

Looks like their sales people suck just as much as their parts department.

To put a happy(er) glow on the bad dealer saga - I can not recommend Hub
City Motors in Prince George enough!  The parts guys are great and service
guys are great - sales people, well their OK :)

Next time I am in Nanaimo I will make a point of going in and give them a
hard time over this.  Perhaps I should fax this email to them and tell them
THOUSANDS of people have seen what kind of jerks they are... 

At 11:41 PM 10/10/2000 -0700, Bjorn Ratjen wrote:
>Hello Volks,
>
>Friends of mine who are retired and are just selling their house were
>looking for a good car to travel and live in. They owned a 1986 Syncro
>Crewcab (rebuild engine) and a 1990 Westfalia Vanagon (175000 kms)
>Automatic. They would really like a good Syncro Westie.
>
>The VW dealership in Nanaimo, BC (Harbourview) sold them a 1997 Winnebago
>Eurovan with VR6 (37900 kms) for can$46995. They took both of their
>vehicles in trade for a total of can$20500. After tax and extended warranty
>this left their bill at can$33000. (Note: the same vehicle is currently
>offered at the Victoria dealership for can$41900).
>
>They tried the Winnebago Eurovan for almost two weeks and did not like it.
>In the meantime the dealer had done repairs to their Westfalia totalling
>can$7200 retail (engine replacement, new tires, new sliding door) with
>another can$2000 still to come for paint jobs. Their Syncro had all CV
>joints replaced and new brakes (I would estimate this at about $2000). 
>
>My friends offered to pay can$12000 for all repairs plus can$3000 for use
>of the Eurovan in order to reverse the trade. The dealer offered a return
>value af the Eurovan at can$36000 and they could buy their Vanagon back
>valued at can$18500 and they would get can$17500 back from their cheque.
>This would basically mean that they would pay can$15500 (33000-17500) for
>repairs totalling less than can$10000 and loose their Syncro crewcab. The
>owner of the dealership insists that he is now owning the Syncro Crewcab
>and he proudly said that he intends to fully restore it. (He knows that he
>will make money on that one.)
>
>When I heard the story I was quite offended and offered help with
>negotiations. After about three hours and ridiculous posturing and inuendo
>on the salesman's part, twists and turns where they wanted to sell their
>version as a good deal, they basically said: too bad. I have to say that my
>friends are very honest people who do not have much experience with dealing
>and wheeling. It was very hard on them as they also are giving up their
>home and were under time pressure.
>
>After a couple more pushes the dealer finally suggested an alternate
>option: to guarantee a buyback value of can$38000 as a trade in and first
>dibs on a Westfalia Vanagon when available. (That's where the whole game
>will start again of course when values are inflated as needed.) 
>
>Apart from the financial loss it also leaves the bad taste, when honest
>elderly people - who are maybe not up to speed when it comes to negotiating
>and are not always aware of the pitfalls - are being taken for a ride for
>someone else's profit.
>
>I just wanted to vent this and hopefully this serves as warning for others
>in dealing with car dealerships. Forget customer satisfaction and all the
>advertised lies, prepare for a trip through the jungle.
>
>Bj�rn
>
>
>
>Bj�rn Ratjen
>Mill Bay, B.C.
>
>1987 Vanagon Syncro est alia (self camperized, TDI wannabe)
>1978 VW Bulli (self camperized)
>1995 Passat TD Wagon (hers)
>1970 VW Beetle (son's)
>
>

-- David Marshall - Volkswagen Enthusiast - Quesnel, BC, Canada   --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 79 VW Iltis, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westfalia        --
-- 85 VW Cabriolet, 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page        http://www.volkswagen.org  --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning  http://www.fastforward.ca  --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list)  --