This was the cover car on the current issue (June 2004) of Excellence
Magazine - a Porsche only rag. I took their remark on page 68, "Boost
controller and a decidedly exotic variation on the Porsche crest both let
you know the LM is something special. VW Vanagon taillights are perhaps a
little less than special, however" as something of a slam.

Do the tail lights work properly? Well, yes. Are they functional? Well, yes.
Are they readily available (just in case you get rear-ended)? Well, yes. Are
they cost effective? Well, yes. Are they TUV approved (and DOT for that
matter)? Well, yes.

So what is the problem? I used to work at an independent European car repair
shop. Mostly high end stuff. We had a Lamborghini Diablo that pretty much
just lived there. On that car, the reverse lights would melt with the engine
just idling! And they did so pretty regularly (that is, when the car was
running - it was amazing how it could break just standing still).
Replacement lenses, just lenses, were bout $50 EACH if I recall correctly.
Of course, they usually melted in pairs. And of course, the Lambo importer
at that time rarely, if ever, actually had any in the country.

Not that you want to cut corners on a 251 mph supercar, but I think that
Dauer should be applauded for finding a cost effective solution rather than
designing something themselves, or grafting on some other Porsche part just
because it is Porsche (and I have Porsche blood running through my veins). I
can't think of any Porsche taillights that would match the lines of the car.

Thumbs up to Dauer. Now if I could just figure out how to get one of their
962 engines into my Vanagon (yes, my Carrera conversion is very nearly
complete, yes, I'll keep you all updated). That would really make my GL
scream, not to mention the passengers!

Cheers,
Bruce

>From: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
>Reply-To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: 251mph Vanagon
>Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 12:08:28 -0400
>
>OK it isn't the whole Vanagon but check out the tailights on
>this Dauer-Porsche 962LM.
>
>http://www.0-100.it/supercars/dauer962/album/dauer21.jpg
>http://www.0-100.it/supercars/dauer962/album/dauer2.jpg
>
>Happy Friday!
>Chris

_________________________________________________________________
Watch LIVE baseball games on your computer with MLB.TV, included with MSN
Premium!
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/mlb&pgmarket=en-us/go/onm00200439ave/direct/01/