as posting the link had been rejected twice now the complete letter as plain 
text:

Volkswagen AG 
CEO Mr. Bernd Pischetsrieder 
WOB / Germany 

Dear Sir, 
recent publications concerning a syncro 16" version of the T4 EuroVan have 
brought a term back into focus which is strongly linked to the legendary T3 
Vanagon syncro of the 1980s. Maybe the current offer is a perfect hotel 
shuttle or taxi at ski resorts, for sure big and wealthy families will 
appreciate the syncro Panamericana. Nonetheless - for those who ever 
travelled in an "original" syncro 16" several questions remain unsolved. 

For more than five decades the Volkswagen Microbus / Vanagon / EuroVan has 
been enjoying an outstanding position, with private customers, with 
authorities and commercial users. Discussions have been continuing among most 
buyers - for almost one decade now - which vehicle once might be able to 
replace a T3 syncro. The advantages of the Vanagon syncro (convenient 
external dimensions, comfort on Limousine level, optimal interior size, 
superior 4WD system, options like: 16"-packege, 100%-diff-locks at front and 
rear axle) have led to an unique position of this vehicle at international 
markets. No other VOLKSWAGEN or competitor, whatsoever would be able to cover 
all opportunities of application a T3 syncro offers. 

It is amazing that such a market segment can be ignored by VOLKSWAGEN since 
the time when T3 syncro production has been decided to discontinue. Therefore 
in recent years more and more potential buyers of new cars, covered their 
needs with used T3 syncros. Since the last Vanagon came off the production 
line in 1992, a substantial lack of vehicles in a decent shape occurred. Even 
properly maintained T3 Vanagons do not really match today's standards. So 
customers budgets vanish not only into overpriced used vehicles but also into 
expensive modifications e.g. with modern engines and reinforced 
transmissions, which however remain unsatisfying in their technical and 
economical results. Surely you agree with us, that this money could be used 
very well for purchasing factory new vehicles instead. 

Meanwhile the international vehicle markets have changed dramatically: Sports 
Activity -, Sports Utility or Multi-Purpose Vehicle concepts tend to be 
top-sellers in sales statistics of most manufacturers. And who could deny the 
fact, that the syncro idea was far ahead of its time and initially "paved" 
the road for one of the best performing market segments at present. 

This makes it hard to believe that the former innovator VW will accept to be 
urged into an imitator's position, particularly since the technical basics 
would be available even easier today than they were 17 years before. The 
original T3 - due to several modifications over the years - remains popular 
in South Africa; the T4 EuroVan indicates today's engineering standards even 
in its 11th year of production; to say nothing about an expected T5. Just 
think about a fascinating combination of the AUDI allroad quattro 4WD concept 
and a Vanagon or Microbus body. 

So today we have decided to start activities of procurement for the following 
reasons: 
� expensive revisions of used T3 syncro result from the very lack of an 
appropriate successor and can no longer be accepted as a substitute to a 
vehicle engineered to the standard of the 21st century 
� within the segment of all-wheel-driven Vehicles we see a substantial market 
volume for Minivans 
� VOLKSWAGEN internationally is one of the most valuable and important 
brandnames in vehicles for leisure time use 
� the age and income of most of the organized syncro T3 drivers world-wide, 
indicates to sufficient financial resources for plenty of demand on a 
follow-up project for the Vanagon syncro. 

To support your efforts for a conclusion about a T3 syncro successor we would 
be glad to offer you our summary of experience from many hundreds of thousand 
kilometers with the T3 syncro. Please feel free to use our contacts into 
several countries in order to poll data for your marketing studies.