> When I bought my '86 Vanagon GL, it had little star stickers on the 
center of
> the wheel covers.  One day I peeled one off - to my horror I discovered an
> embossed (gasp) Chevrolet bow tie logo.  Thinking quickly, and with no regard
> to my own safety, I pulled the other wheel covers off and rammed them into the
> trash can.
> 
>  My wife, watching from the window, commented: "Now it looks like hell.  Why
> did you do that?"
> 
>  "Karma," I replied, "bad karma to leave a situation like that to fester. 
> Volkswagen vehicle requires Volkswagen wheel covers to insure safe operation."
> Wife stared at me for a long time, finally said nothing and closed the window.
> 
>  It took about two weeks to find original wheel covers and now all is well.
> 
>  But to my question.  What is Karma?  I've tossed that phrase off over the
> years without really knowing what it means.  How does one maintain good Karma?
> How does one eliminate bad Karma?  Is Karma like Luck?  Is Karma like a bank
> account? Can you build up good Karma by helping old ladies across the street
> and use it later when driving home after a few beers?
> 
>  More specifically, what is VW Karma?

Sounds very much like when we got our 85 Jetta - it had cheap fake 
chrome wheel covers, which I promptly removed. But I was pleasantly 
surprised to find the original VW centre caps underneath, which had 
been sprayed black! A few hours work with Autosol cleaner and her 
Karma was restored! Why anyone would paint & hide stainless steel 
caps is beyond me. 

As for defining VW karma, I won't even try. I just pity those poor 
souls who have never experienced it...

Shawn Wright (VWnut@smus.bc.ca)
'88 Westy (336k)
'85 Jetta TD (358k)
'69 Wife
'97 1st child (! :)