You're preaching to the choir here.  I've owned or been materially involved
in automotive repair shops since I was 16 yrs old.  Grew up in the business.
Even when I was at university I was running an after-hours repair shop to
make ends meet.

And $4K is still way too high...

Cheers,

Jeff
www.vanagonparts.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Daniel Stevens
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 7:21 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: costs of syncro tranny R&R

I'm pretty sure that with adding in Labor for the removal, transport and
pallet for freight to AA transaxle for a full rebuild (say $2600)
then freight back, transport back to shop, install and some extra
mark-up because mechanics just love to work on VWs and have plenty of
time for all the shipping hassel to a rebuilder the customer specifies
or just likes..

I can see it reaching a $4k bill quickly.. too many of us do our own
work, and assume everyone does thier own work..
mechanics have to make a living.. and garages a profit.. costs of
fuel,electric, and insurances, trained mechanics can and are quite
pricey...

_________________________________________
From:    Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon mentioned on Car Talk today

$4K for a syncro tranny???  Smoke dope.

Good used ones go for $1,200 - $1,500 and I can get rebuilt units
outright
(i.e., no core) for $2,600.  And it's not like I have the monopoly on
syncro
trannies.

Happy, happy, joy, joy,

Jeff