Well this has just made it through the test.  And it is a fast car too.
They said it was going 150km/h, that is about 95mph.  Not that I was happy
to hear that they were running it too fast...
And yes, it did cost an other $900 to get it ready for the test, but I think
it was well worth it.  And it is there for the list to use it as a vacation
vehicle in Europe.  Enjoy it.  Having one will really cut costs down to a
fraction.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aristotle Sagan" <killer_jupiter@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: Westfalia Van in Germany

> >They do not take it lightly. It's because of the T�V that most cars in
> >Germany end
> >up in junkyards, not because they don't run anymore.
> >A car that does not have the T�V approval sticker on the license plate
can
> >not be legally driven or even registered.
> >To get a '82 vanagon that was driven in Germany for its lifespan,
> >with all the salt on the roads causing rust, through the T�V might not
> >be a small feat, even if you live there.
> >Sometimes extensive welding and structural repairs of the undercarriage
> >are required by the rigourous inspectors.
> >The cost for required repairs sometimes exceeds the value of the car
> >multifold.
> >That's why people just give the vehicles away when they don't get T�V
> >approval.
>
> Or sell them to American GI's whos cars needed to be inspected, just not
to
> TUV standards.
>
> I wish I would had a camper like that when I was stationed in W. Germany.
>
> tim o'brien
>
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