This has always been my experience with VolksCafe.  BTW, they currently have
a sale on the Bentley, for those of you looking for one.  $64.95.
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: "Loren A. Busch" <labusch@ARCZIP.COM>
> Reply-To: "Loren A. Busch" <labusch@ARCZIP.COM>
> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 09:17:57 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Plug and Trip Report (Long)
>
> Beware, this is an unabashed plug for VolksCafe in Santa Cruz, Ca..  I
> just returned from a one month, 3100+ miles road trip in my '90 Westy,
> "Garfield".  I had traveld from my home in Lynnwood Wa. (just north of
> Seattle) to southern California to visit friends in the Bay area, Laguna
> Hills and San Diego, and attend a conference at Big Bear over the
> memorial Day weekend. I had planned on returning up Highway 395, inland
> in California, and making several stops along the way. On the way down,
> after stopping for a day in the Berkley area, I made a swing through
> Santa Cruz to check out VolksCafe and especially their very heavy duty
> bumper package for the Vanagon. (www.volkscafe.com)  I was impressed,
> not only with the bumpers, but also with the warm and friendly reception
> I received as a 'visitor'.  After a discussion with Peter, the owner, I
> opted to pass on having the bumpers installed, it would have been a
> budget stretcher at the time.  I continued on with my journey.  After
> spending two weeks visiting in So Cal, I took off on Thursday moring
> before the holiday weekend to head for Big Bear.  Just a couple of miles
> up the road, I pulled off into Tustin to pay a visit to the last duty
> station I served at while in the Marine Corp some 40+ years ago, MCAS
> Tustin, also know as LTA (for Lighter Than Air because it was at one
> time a blimp base).  It is now abandonded but still contains two of the
> largest wooden strucctures ever built, the old blimp hangers.  I wanted
> to take some pictures of these 300 foot high by 800 foot long monsters
> before they are torn down.  As I was driving  down the road that leads
> in front of the base, just before I got there, a mini-pickup just ahead
> of me and in the lane to the right suddenly pulled over into my lane and
> slowed down.  To avoid hitting him I ended up laying down 20 feet of
> skid marks, climbing a center divider, and taking out a street sign on a
> metal post with the front of my Westy. (He was responding to a fire
> truck at the intersection we were aproaching).  As the dust cleared, my
> front fiberglass bumper (that had had some trade in value a few seconds
> before) was history.  I lucked out: no damage to the radiator, grill, or
> windscreen, only the bumper, underlying structure, and a ding in the
> panel between the grill and the windscreen.  Would you believe the other
> driver (that cut me off) stopped and provided ID and info?  Even
> admitted (at least at that time) that he was at fault!  Anyway, after
> the usual with the local police (very polite, very professional, thank
> you Officer Rowe of the Tustin PD), I was back on my way.  Except for
> the ugly void in the middle of the front bumper, and my front license
> plate hanging by only two screws, I had no mechanical problems at all.
> While at the conference at Big Bear, I deceided to change my route home
> and return through Santa Cruz.  I called VolksCafe, they had bumpers in
> stock still, and agreed to hold a pair for me.  I told them I'd be there
> Tuesday or Wednesday after the Holiday.  I took the 'scenic' route up
> Highway 1 through Santa Barbara, Carmel, Montery (beautiful drive for
> the passenger, but narrow and winding road, not much time for the driver
> to enjoy the view).  I arrived at VolksCafe in Santa Cruz in the early
> afternoon, and they were busy as a shop their size can get, both in the
> shop and at the counter.  I talked to Peter, explained my situation, and
> he said "Since you are 'passing through', we will get you out this
> afternoon."  And they did!  I was on the road by about 4:30, just in
> time to miss most of the traffic. BTW, while waiting for the work to be
> done, I saw more Vanagons and Vanagon-Westy's drive by on the street
> than you might see in a year in other places!  Santa Cruz is Vanagon
> Country in spades!  Although the new bumpers (boy are they massive!)
> don't have a place for a front license plate, they were able to come up
> with a very good attachemnt method without having to mess up the new
> bumpers, extra effort on their part, much appreciated.  Bottom line is
> simple:  based on my personal experience as a neady pilgim 'passing
> through', I can give my strong endorsement for the service and the
> business practices of VolksCafe in Santa Cruz.  As to the new bumpers,
> the next mini-pickup that cuts me off may just get creamed!  If I had
> had them installed on the way down, the worst I would have encountered
> would probably have been scratched paint.
> Please excuse the cross-post on this, I'm putting it up on both the
> Vanagon list and WetWesties.
> Pictures available on request, going up on my Website soon.
>