Zoltan,

First, I want to wish you a Happy New Year. You need it.

Second, I wish to point out that  this sad set of events took place last
year - and you have a clear, new year ahead of you, hopefully free of
difficulties. There is some hope there.

And finally I'll say "Sh*t Happens!". And like it or not, sometimes the
best  option is  simply  to move on, and consider the lessons learned.

My ol'Granny was a wise old lady. Lived to be 99 year and 9 months. She
had a favorite saying for which she was famous - "Leave it alone. A
stirred turd just smells  as worse.!"

Best regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Zolly wrote:
> Well, it's Zoltan here for a change.
>
> I did read and printed out the GoWesty report, which I read with more
> amusement than most of you.  The story teller is liberally trashing the
> previous seller, me, while admitting later that everything was fine
> really.
> Listing items I installed, as if they did, like reconditioned
> transmission,
> expensive stereo, ceramic coated exhausts, etc.
> And some not listed as new heads, new fuel lines with SS clamps, new fuel
> level sensor (expensive), cables, etc.
> The funniest of them all was the assumption that I cut out the Syncro
> labels
> myself when they sold me the set, as if they did not know it.
> No seam rust at all.  Period.  Many pictures were provided to the
> buyer way
> before the purchase, about the process of the cleaning behind the kitchen
> unit, behind the rear window washer and the outsides of those places with
> POR 15 and anywhere where applicable.  That car took me over six
> months to
> finish, lots of new parts from GoWesty was installed.  I sold it in a
> condition that is as close to new as possible.  And GoWesty sold it in
> the
> same condition, only added a lot of merchandise that helped the
> invoice to
> go up to $70k.  The bid difference there was the time spent to make
> money.
> It seems, the honest guys who work real hard and do the dirty work taking
> forever, get paid the least.  While those who take the fruits sell it
> with
> some nice package and beautifully printed invoice in air conditioned
> offices
> for a great price in a few more days of attention added only.
>
> Business is business.  We, the humble ones, work for it with pride,
> accepting reasonable rewards.  Others do it in different style for
> different
> amount.
>
> But the sadest of the story is the fleecing of poor Doug and his
> wife.  Not
> only they lost about $10k in a hurry, but they probably paid $50k for the
> next one a week later from the big guys.
>
> This was a nice van I got from an artist couple who moved to Boston from
> Colorado, where the car spent most of its life, not East Coast.  Had only
> 60k miles plus on it.  Very well maintained all its life.  Pampered.  The
> lady made sure she is not home when its gone, because she could not
> take it
> seeing it go.  Wrote a very emotional letter to the new owner.  They were
> the first owners.
> It drove immaculately all the way from Boston to Seattle with great power
> and gusto.  Did not feel like it had that extra few hundres pounds of
> Syncro
> stuff on it.  I did take the engine out, cleaned everything, painted them
> all, change the gaskets also to make sure, the guarantee I'll give
> will last
> for a long time.
> Engine painted with silver POR 15, and the parts on the engine black or
> silver as needed.  It is something I recommend to aleviate the aluminum
> chalking and oxide, making the surface slick and easy to wash, having it
> look new for a long time.  It is an absolute beauty when its done.  It
> takes
> a long time for all the small parts individually painted and having it
> dried
> on hooks, but its a job well deserving to a great vehicle as these are.
> I had in stock a nice ceramic coated Syncro headers and put them on
> with the
> new muffler and tail pipe from GoWesty.
> Note that the story teller did not say that they had to work on the
> engine
> at all, other than "service" putting new oil in there and stufff.
> Even the
> A/C was changed to the new gas and works great.
>
> I was waiting for this van to reappear from GoWesty.  I knew, that
> Doug sold
> it to them soon after he bought it from me, and knew that they will
> make a
> ton of money on it.  Only I did not expect any trashing for all that
> exceptional great work I have done on it.  It was a masterpiece.
> Maybe the
> fact, that it was way above their possible level of quality, prompted the
> Story Teller to lower my flag.  But, I guess, that is part of the way the
> money is made there.  Show business.  Let them enjoy making money.
> Make no
> mistake, they will stand behind their sales.  They can afford it and
> there
> is always more stuff to sell.
>
> Yes, I agree, it was not necessary to bring up Zoltan's name, especially
> because he was the one who made that van new again.  GoWesy only hung
> a few
> gadgets on it and sold their own propriatery engine or other things
> that no
> dealer would touch, I think.
>
> Long story, lots of money made on one guy.  Even Zoltan took a loss by
> working his butt off on it and not making $2 per hour on the long
> run.  No
> more of those until I'll be GoWesty myself, which is not likely since
> it is
> only a hobby to keep the Vanagon Westfalias, my second love, alive.
> But suggesting that anyone is inclined to cut out the Syncro logos
> himself,
> probably will be one of the best jokes for a long time.  Especially
> when I
> bought new ones from him.
>
> I sleep very well when I finish a job.  Most of them are sold before they
> are finished.  Sadly, only a couple is done a year.  And my
> perfectionalist
> nature makes it longer every time.
>
> I wish a very happe New Year to all on this list in good spirit and
> health.
>
> Zoltan Kuthy
> 425 773 4646
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Allan Streib" <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 11:42 AM
> Subject: Re: A 2009 Heads Up
>
>
>> On Thu, 1 Jan 2009 12:30:38 -0500, "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET> said:
>>
>>> "Long story not so long, by the time "the buyer" and "The Seller" get
>>> through the paperwork, it had gotten pretty dark so "the Buyer"
>>> could not
>>> really get a good look."
>>>
>>> Well, I don't know about you, but I always check out the vehicle before
>>> proceeding to do paperwork!
>>
>> More fishy than that, is that for any vehicle I've ever sold privately,
>> the "paperwork" between the buyer and seller takes about 10 seconds.
>> The buyer gives cash to the seller, the seller signs the title and gives
>> it to the buyer.  Does not take any "time" at all really.
>>
>> Allan
>> --
>> 1983 300D
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG.
>> Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1871 - Release Date:
>> 1/1/2009
>> 5:01 PM
>>
>>
>
>