Ken is right.  There is another lesson that closely follows Wilford's sermon.
I have learned in 40 years is that trying to "cheap out" all the time by
putting off needed work, jerry-rigging broken parts (notice I didn't say
the other southern form of rigging) and skimping on maintenance in general
is no economy.  It comes back to haunt you 99.9 percent of the time.  I
don't mean go to the dealerschipp for everything.  I don't mean spending
the maximum dollars just for spending's sake.  I don't mean not checking
around for different prices.  What  I mean is not doing the job right leads
to other problems.  Not fixing the vibration that has cropped up in the
last month will lead to something else loosening, or failing, or in any
case cause *some* other problems however cleverly they may be masked now.
Cheaping out on cheap-o belts when Continentals should be used.  Bad idea.
Putting in crappy coolant.  (Please don't start another head corrosion
thread!!!! See archives)  Shodding your wheels with crappy tires.  It will
cost extra, but go ahead and do the best you can -- you get what you pay
for, really.  You will extend your life with peace of mind and serenity.

This does not discount in any way the sheer creativity and genuis of  the
Ace(s) of Aces like Darrell Boehler, Mark Drillock, David Beierl, Karl
Mullendore, Ken Wilford; you guys and (girls) who attack problems
face-to-face without throwing up your hands and whining, inventing creative
technical (sometimes simple) ways to solve problems just as well as the
book *if not better!*  Not to mention Bob Donalds, Ron Salmon, Detlev and
all of you guys in the trenches out there battling 24 hours a day in the
name of VW in order to try to make an honest living.  And I know I've
forgotten many people, but early Alzheimers is my excuse.

 I ALSO include in my personal genuis list Terry Kay, Mike Miller, Ben T,
Bernie Campoli, Mtn. Gal -- (THE expert on dielectric grease), Karl Wolz ,
Bill Davidson, R.A. Alexander, DVM, Joel Walker (Poetic Genuis), John
Rodgers, Chris "JordanVW", Martin Jager-"meister"-sand, Dominique Cormann
-- (The Master of All Oil); all of you pioneers who bravely installed a
Subaru motor; anyone who tackles a head-gasket job for the first time armed
only with enthusiasm, 2 cups of coffee, and a Bentley; and of course our
leader and creator, Coyote -- (I haven't said "gun" in over a year, aren't
you proud of me?) and who could forget the one and only Robert Lilley (The
Master of Horsepower), as well as the inestimable Herr Doktor Tim (The
Master of Political Fallacy and Deutsche Methode), may he return to our
fold one day.  And lastly automatically deemed an *incredible* genuis is
anyone who laughs at my jokes  . . .

Thanks to all who have made my life more enjoyable with your creativity and
effort,
HK