Just wanted everyone to know (that's on this mailing list), that I forwarded
this email to the head of VW sales and advertizing (I happened to know one
important person sorry I can't use any names) but at least the right VW
personel is hearing VW enthusists oppinions.  Michael.

<< VW hardly caters to its prospective BUYERS, much less vintage owners. So I
 wonder:  Does anyone know why VW _*barely*_ advertises in the US? This
 mystifies me. They have fantastic vehicles, but don't bother TELLING folks
 about them.

 There is an advertising technique, TOMA, Top Of Mind Advertising, that most
 companies use. It requires repitition and frequency. An ad firm develops a
 theme, and everywhere the prospective buyer goes, they hear or see the theme.
 When I say "The best part of waking up..." your mind is dying to sing "...is
 FOLGERS in your cup," because of TOMA.

 The airwaves are loaded with ads for Buicks; Saturn does a good job of
drawing
 interest from the un-Saturn-fied.  Almost no ads for the new Passat, a few
for
 the Jetta/Golf Trek. And here is VW, with an unbelievable motor (the TDi)
that
 will go 700 well-powered miles on $12.00 fuel...have you seen or heard ONE ad
 for the new TDi Jetta? Did you ever see a TV ad for the Euro-bago, ever? If
 you weren't VW savvy, you'ld never know about these things.

 Why do you have to go to the dealer to find out about a VW?

 I hold this lack of advertising greatly responsible for the demise of our
 beloved VW "Camper", be it Westy or other. By far, one of the neatest
vehicles
 ever built, the Synchro Westy, is virtually unknown to the car-buying public.
 I'm VW savvy, and only learned through this list about VW's 4-WD camper. Ugh!

 Currently, VW is missing a HUGE chunk of the car-buying population: the folks
 that drool over SUVs. All SUV ads use the same theme..."Overworked in your
 horrible urban/suburban life? Buy our SUV and you can take Fridays and
Mondays
 off to stand in a stream, fly fishing in remote Montana."

 What they forget to mention is what a pain in the kiester camping is. Think
 you're over worked now: take up this new hobby, camping with your family out
 of your Explorer!!!  Sort, load, and tote all of your camping gear, get where
 you are going on 12 mpg. Spend the next few hours setting up places to sleep,
 cook, wash, etc. When you are done, clean, mothball, and store your gear for
 the next time. Foggetaboutit. You can HAVE all the SUV's. Ugh.

 The VW Camper, was the salvation for this quandery. Self contained. Sleeps
 four. Goes almost ANYWHERE (New Lunagon goes even farther!). Looks nice. Gets
 good milege.

 But God-forbid VW tell anyone about a great idea. Import it quietly, then
 scratch your German heads (Kopf?) when things don't sell so good. Then stop
 importing them, just when folks are finding out about them. Dumbkopf.

 A smart man once told me that starting a great business without advertising
 it, is like winking at a pretty girl in a dark room. So why doesn't VW
 advertise here???

 gmbulley
 cary, nc
 Prov.17:22 >>