While we were on our trip, the clutch on our '87 syncro Quantum fell to
the floor of the car and wouldn't get up.  We pulled into a mechanics
parkinglot in Doylestown, Pa.  The mechanic fixed the old clutch for
$600 and the car was back on the road in a few days.  The mechanic was
rather crotchety and said that most VolksWagen people think their cars
are worth more than they are. When I paid that six hundred, I didn't ask
for his pretentious opinion.  Anyway, I drove the syncro back to
Cincinnati and picked up the Westy from the dealer's mechanic's bay,
yesterday.  So far the fixed airconditioning and the rebuilt gear shift
(from The Parts Place) are working fine.  Or at least the
airconditioning is working as well as it ever did, which was never very
good.  After I talk over some stuff with the Parts Place, I'll let you
know my business with them has been decent.

And one more thing about the syncro Quantum, the mechanic said the fire
wall behind the engine is corroded and flexes everytime I push in the
clutch.  He said I can get some sheet metal welded in place. Anybody
else have this problem and/or any advice for me?  The mechanic told me
to get rid of the car, and I told him he was a little pompous and
arrogant.

Regards,
Valerie Chandler