Boy, do I like a balanced viewpoint.   Kind of gives me faith in 'mer'ka.

Now don't go asking what kind of car I drive when I want to be sure I'll get
there, with good gas mileage and AC and all that other neat stuff.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: Flat Four <aircooledvw77t1@ENGINEER.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 1:59 AM
Subject: nothing to laugh about

> ~Vintage Volkswagen vrs. Geo Metro~
>
> Would the average licensed driver be better of with the modern
> econobox over an older Volkswagen?  Maybe yes since with the Geo metro
> has no points to replace, no valves to adjust.  Instead of 7 Bolts to
> take on and off during an oil change there's only 1 + a filter.  The
> Toyota Prius could do 70 all day long up and down hills without a
> whimper but the VW would struggle to even make it there, not too good
> for the engine and tranny right?  After all that Focus is so much more
> comfortable to drive with a quieter interior.  Why not all of us VW
> gurus bit the dust and agree that we should toss our VW's aside and go
> buy a car that is far more advanced in just about every respect?
>
> Absolutely not, on the contrary.  The average licensed driver is
> always better off with the 60's VW because all maintenance can be done
> him/herself.  With that ugly looking Toyota Echo the wheel bearings
> are sealed, there is no maintenance in that "BUT" what happens if it
> does break?  True, a "lot" of parts on the modern econobox can only be
> serviced by the dealers you buy them from.  There are no replacing
> those bearings on the Echo, it wasn't designed to be removed since
> it's expected to go on for 500,000+mi more then the expected life of
> the car.
>
> With that in mind simplicity is bliss.  Say the average driver is on a
> long trip in the middle of nowhere.  If something goes wrong, that
> simple VW can be easily fixed on the spot, that civic cannot.
>
> The problem here is the average licensed driver has never picked up a
> wrench before.  The truth is the licensed driver that has no clue what
> happens to the gas after every time you fill er up at the gas station
> has absolutely no business behind the wheel.  All drivers should know,
> should understand the typical automobile through and through so that
> in emergency situations he/she would know exactly what to do.
>
> If that were so there would be no more excuses for all the deaths
> associated with the automobile.  Everyone should have a good
> understanding of mechanics, of vehicle maintenance, of highway safety
> and of the laws of physics.  The Automobile is no miracle.  There are
> explanations to how a car works, there is absolutely "no" magic
> involved.
>
> So yes, absolutely.  By all means, every licensed driver across the
> world should know that, Forget about the other car brands out there
> (Mitsubishi, Ford, Subaru, Hyundai, Chevy, etc...).  "EVERYONE"
> Everyone should be driving an aircooled Volkswagen.  All the rest of
> the cars on the planet that are not, including water cooled
> Volkswagens should be torn apart and recycled so more better far more
> advanced aircooled Volkswagens can be made reusing the same material.
> More Aircooled VW's being made everywhere today still utilizing that
> all too familiar elegant simplicity theme of course.  Yes, the ACVW
> could still use some more development beyond Y2K  But advancements
> that "maintain" the original simplicity and long lasting durability.
>
> That's the beauty with simplicity.  Why make things more complicated
> then they need to be?  A most wonderful place this world would be
> indeed if everyone drove ACVW's.
>
> Another reason why a world of only ACVW's would be the best solution
> is that the typical all stock ACVW driver is none aggressive.  The
> world doesn't need aggressive drivers to terrorize our streets killing
> not only themselves but other innocent people.
>
> Think about it - how many old Ladies driving Yacht sized Caddilacs
> know how to change the oil?
>
> And so YES, that Ford Factory needs to be converted so it can assemble
> ACVW's instead.
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> FREE Personalized Email at Mail.com
> Sign up at http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup
>