I know you can get rebuilt 4 speeds for about $1800 CAD with a one year
warranty.  Using the very high shop rates in town here, if it took them all
day to install it 8h x $65 = $520 CAD for labour for the removal and
reinstallation.  I would estimate $200 for stuff like a new throw out
bearing, clutch disc and maybe a pressure plate, but this would bring the
total bill to aprox $2500 CAD.  Personally I think your are dealing with
'Friz die Wasserratte" mechanic - find another place!

At 22:16 26/05/1999 -0400, Kate McLaughlin wrote:
>I was driving home yesterday, and all was well. I was taking it easy in
>3rd.  As traffic moved on I attempted to shift to 4th, but my VW didn't
>want to shift.  She liked 3rd so much, she decided to stay there.  This
>morning I had my sick Vanagon towed to a place that "only works on
>VW's".  Well I mechanic wanted to put in a new transmission.  I asked
>him for a quote.  He told me he called the dealer, and it would be
>$3,000 for the trans and $2,500 for the work.  In the past I have have
>had the engine rebuilt.  The trans was fine until last night, not a pop,
>grind, or leak.  So here I am no VW.  I'm leery about putting in a new
>trans.  The mechanic said that it would be easier and cost less if we
>popped in a new one, maybe easier for him, not for me $$$.  Has anyone
>ever had this happen to their Vanagon?  The mechanics haven't opened her
>yet. They put her on the lift and that was it.  I have heard that there
>were some problems with the gears breaking in the model.  It's an 86.
>My poor Stella.  I miss her already!
>
>

--   David Marshall - Vanagon List Admin - Quesnel, BC, Canada   --
--    78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet   --
--       87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab      --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page        http://www.volkswagen.org --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning  http://www.fastforward.ca --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --