At 21:59 28/05/02 -0400, you wrote:
>
>Date:    Tue, 28 May 2002 17:19:53 -0700
>From:    Paul Mayfield <paulmayfield@EARTHLINK.NET>
>Subject: HMHYPFAFEA?
>
>How much have you paid for a front end alignment?
>
>I was quoted $79
>fair?

 Paul et al,

 Are you talking just a front wheel alignment or something more
 than I am missing due to possible different terminology between
 the two hemispheres?

 It's just that a front wheel alignment here in Oz will set you
 back all of about $40Aus which works out at not much more than
 half that,say $25 in greenbacks.That $US79 would translate out at
 approx $150Aus...Gott in Himmel!!!

 Am I missing something...?

 BTW,had to have the front wheel alignment done on my '92 WBX just
 recently as a result of hitting and sadly killing a large mature
 wombat one night.
 These fellas can weigh 100kg+ and hitting as I did at approx 100kph
 put the loaded van pulling a trailer with an (empty) water tank on
 board up on three wheels...as in all left side wheels of van & trailer
 briefly up in the air.It felt like I had just hit two bags of cement
 laying on the road.

 I pulled over immediately assuming front end damage and to see if I
 could do anything for the wombat but mercifully he appeared to have
 been killed outright...probably didn't even know what hit him...

 Then I turned my attention to the van and despite the heavy blow
 right on the front LH wheel I had no discernable damage other than
 a slightly torn front mudflap.
 I continued on my way as part of a 1000km round trip that weekend
 and arrived back home safely with no mechanical problems arising
 as a result of the unfortunate encounter.

 A few weeks later I had the front wheel alignment checked and it
 was knocked out somewhat but nothing that couldn't be put right
 by the normal re-adjustment...and nothing that was at all obvious
 whilst driving.

 These vans are built tough,an atribute that craps all over alleged
 rivals....I wonder if a Toyota would have fared so well? Doubt it...

 Sorry,I think I have digressed somewhat...;)

 Steve O
 Blue Mountains NSW Australia
 '92 Transporter WBX Kombi
 '76 Transporter Double Cab
 '68 Beetle
 '00 Transporter 5Cyl Double Cab (work truck)