They ban new gas stations...soon they will remove old ones... then nothing
left :-)

On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 1:55 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
> https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-city-wants-ban-new-gas-auto-service-stations-climate-change
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of John
> Rodgers
> Sent: Friday, March 17, 2023 7:58 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Shout out to Ken and Dennis The RARE vW bus vender
>
> Unfortunately, I'm so old and decrepit I can't do my own work on my van
> any more so probably won't have to worry about parts and service much
> longer. But for now service is already a problem. Recently I needed my fuel
> tank resealed and crossover pipe installed and could find nobody in the
> City of Birmingham who would touch it except one shop  which specializes in
> servicing the really exotic European iron. They ate my lunch but got it
> done.
>
> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 6:38 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
> wrote:
>
> >  Get everything fixed than needs fixing while parts and mechanics are
> > still around.  Plain and simple.
> >
> >     On Friday, March 17, 2023 at 03:17:14 PM PDT, David McNeely <
> > davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >  Of course, the young ones are not interested in learning Vanagons (or
> any
> > particular "obsolete" vehicle).    It just doesn't make economic sense
> from
> > their standpoint.  There are lots of Toyotas, Fords, modern VWs ........
> .
> > Few of our old vehicles.  Heck, I even found that the local junior
> > college auto tech program won't take in any vehicle over five years
> > old.  That includes my Toyota Prius, which is why I found out.
> >
> > On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 11:51 AM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > *"And from my perspective, would the person servicing it be
> > > capable?"*
> > >
> > > Well... they will say they are capable because they have the Bentley
> > > book on the shelf... and the real capable mechanic is busy jumping
> > > from one
> > van
> > > to another to help solve the problems...
> > >
> > > I have a story... my daughter was travelling recently with her '90
> > > tintop from Oregon to Arizona. In Tucson a little rubber hose
> > > connected to the thermostat tower blew. She found a shop in Tucson
> > > and waited for 3 days
> > to
> > > have a spot for repairs. They replaced the hose and some other
> > unnecessary
> > > stuff. On her way back to Oregon, some hundred miles north of
> > > Tucson, the coolant light blinked (not overheated). I told her to
> > > check the coolant level in the expansion reservoir, it's very low
> > > (they didn't bleed properly)... she filled it up. Some hundred miles
> > > later, the same thing happened. I told her to check the level every
> > > morning before hitting the road. She happened near the GW store so I
> > > told to get a new blue cap and have the cooling system bleed well.
> > > No one had a spot for her and GW
> > didn't
> > > do it. So I have to instruct her how to bleed over the phone and email.
> > She
> > > did it with the help of her boyfriend. They made it home safely.
> > >
> > > So... yes... There are still some good mechanics with experiences on
> > > vanagon out there... BUT... how many young ones want to learn to
> > > replace them after they are gone?
> > >
> > > On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 11:03 AM David McNeely
> > > <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> In part, this is a matter of "aging out."  If these folks are to
> > >> stay in business, they must hire young folks into their shops.
> > >> There just
> > aren't
> > >> enough old folks who know our vehicles still around.  Just this
> > >> past
> > week,
> > >> I tried to set up a shop visit for my camper.  Best shop locally by
> > >> reputation is one called European Auto Haus.  Best tech there used
> > >> to be "Obie," who was trained in Germany on VWs back in the day.
> > >> He was
> > super.
> > >> But Obie of course could not work forever.  He had to move on to
> > >> retirement, well deserved.  Sadly, European Auto Haus responded by
> > saying
> > >> that there are six Vanagons in shop currently for work, but none of
> > >> them will get serviced before summer, and that they could not
> > >> promise a date for my van earlier than August.  And from my
> > >> perspective, would the person servicing it be capable?  mcneely
> > >>
> > >> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 10:52 AM Eric Caron
> > >> <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > The recent post about why do you purchase from Amazon reminded me
> > >> > of
> > the
> > >> > good old days of purchasing from our venders like Vanagain.  One
> > >> > of
> > the
> > >> > best things was that I could ask questions about the products
> > especially
> > >> > about correct fit or how to install.
> > >> >
> > >> >        I realize that now, Ken is the only vender that I can
> > >> > still do that with.  He is incredibly generous with his time.  I
> > >> > really don’t
> > >> know
> > >> > how he does it and runs a family business as well.
> > >> >
> > >> > In tech emergencies I have called Ken and he has answered the
> > >> > phone
> > and
> > >> > helped.  Last time was when a friend was helping to install Ken’s
> > power
> > >> > steering rack. It was a simple thing but we would not have
> > >> > figured it
> > >> out
> > >> > without Ken answering the call.
> > >> >
> > >> >        I try not to call unless I need to.  Another time when a
> > >> > friend was here we were stuck and called Dennis.  And sure enough
> > >> > he talked
> > us
> > >> > through the problem.
> > >> >
> > >> > In the old days I used to talk to folks at Bus depot, but though
> > >> > I
> > >> really
> > >> > appreciate the business, and I hope to drop in to visit one day,
> > >> > the
> > >> folks
> > >> > on the phone can’t help with issues, as they don’t know VW buses.
> > And,
> > >> > sadly the site is very hard for me to use. They do however, have
> > >> > a lot
> > >> of
> > >> > great bus items and nice to have them on my coast!
> > >> > Van Cafe, was great before it was sold.  Peter and others there
> > >> > talked
> > >> me
> > >> > through many part installations.But, that ended.
> > >> >
> > >> > I even once got tech help from GW, but they don’t seem to do work
> > there
> > >> > any longer. Though to be fair, They were very helpful in emailing
> > >> > information back about specific products like how to update the
> > >> > engine management system.
> > >> >
> > >> > So, I really appreciate that Ken sends out help videos, has
> > >> > useful articles and info on his site, and I don’t know how he
> > >> > does it, but
> > even
> > >> > answered the phone and gave help directly.
> > >> >
> > >> > I do miss the days of calling the different venders to make
> > >> > orders,
> > and
> > >> > get personal direction on the products.
> > >> >
> > >> > I think they mean well, but other then Ken I don’t think vanagon
> > >> > or VW
> > >> bus
> > >> > people answer the phone, or can directly assist.
> > >> >
> > >> > Hang in they're Ken.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Eric Caron
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >
> >
> >
>