re
VW didn't understand plastics and plastics engineering as well
as they thought they did.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>

perhaps more a matter of cost, becaue they DID get some very good plastic in
vanagons ..
like the insturment cluster cover ...
I have seen exactly *one* broken one ever ...
they got some very, very good plastic in that part.

perhaps the details ...like need for screw holes n' such dictated a less
robust plastic for the guage housings or something like that ..
or 'for the cost' that's what they felt compelled to do ..but many of the
plastic parts are quite good on vanagons.

I think overall .............the Vanagon is one of the best built VW
body/chassis there is, that they've ever made even.
An A1 Rabbit, for example...is a tin can compared to a Vanagon, and square
headlight US -built rabbits ..
they are noticeable cheaper throughout than vanagons are. by far.

Overall I'll have to give VW very high marks for 'almost everything' except
the insturments housing.  They sure could have gotten that part better all
right.  Almost time for a reproduction upgraded unit - for someone to make
and sell them.