In a message dated 12/4/03 9:27:01 PM Eastern Standard Time,
ziegler@PRINCETON.OILFIELD.SLB.COM writes:

>
> All prices  w/o sales tax. $1.2/Euro - maybe the T5 will be available here
> when the Euro drops back to 85c :)
> The dealer did not know of any plans for the US marked - anyone heard
> anything? VW announced a week ago that they are not willing to enter the
> price-war in the US with any model - so I will continue to maintain my 88GL
> for the next years...
>
>

"The Death of the VW Van"

Just stopped by my local VW dealer tonite..    peeked in the showroom,amongst
the new Toe-rags - there were 2 Phaetons in there.   one a V8, the other a
W12.   the W12 was priced at $88,000.   yep.
that's EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND FREAKING DOLLARS....      who the F**k is going
to buy these things???
I asked the sales rep where the Eurovans were - i hadn't seen one there on
the lot for months..   he said they were gone..   as in hasta la vista baby...
NO MORE. ever.  No more weekenders, no more MV's, No more Eurovan winnebago
Campers. No more vw vans to be sold in the USA.   if you see a lonely '03 EV on
your dealer's lot, once it's sold there will be no more to take its place.
the next thing out will be the "microbus" minivan in a few years..   and i
stress the word "mini".  it will be about the size of a Nissan Quest..basically
useless other than a soccer mom minivan..  wont be offered w/ a camper interior
cuz theres no room for it in there.  Dont even think about trying to fit a 4x8
sheet of plywood in there either,  like i can in my vanagon..     VWOA dug
its own grave with the Eurovan..   it was overpriced, and unmarketed, so they
didnt sell.
Why keep a practical, useful vehicle  - one of a kind, biggest cargo space in
its class  - vehicle on the market, when they can sell overpriced mini SUV's
and $90k luxo-liners with fancy names?

yea well..  ill just try to make my vanagon last as long as it can..

chris