They sure do love those parts mark-ups, though!

John wrote:
>
> List members,
>
> Following up my comments on the new Vanagon owner's spark plug blowing
> out of the head, I remembered (at least) two other notable instances.
>
> 1) Two years ago I needed an engine and went shopping (I settled for a
> VW Canada remanufactured long block). When I talked with engine
> suppliers, I asked to talk with their head technical guy to discuss WHAT
> goes into their reman motors. When I talked with the GEX tech guy, I
> noticed on the list of new components, 2.1L con rod bolts were not
> listed. When I asked about the absense of new con rod bolts, the GEX
> tech guy asked "why should we replace them"?
>
> People like the GEX guy are contributing to the Vanagon poor reliability
> reputation while draining the purses of the Vanagon owners! Many Vanagon
> owners who endure the cost of a so called remanufactured motor that
> "granades" will usually sell the Vanagon as-is believing that high
> mileage Vanagons are just not reliable when the engine builder's product
> ignorance is the real problem. This is probably why the few competent
> and professional engine builders (Boston Engine, etc.) have almost a
> mythical reputation.
>
> 2) A while ago, on the advice of national VW customer relations, I
> visted an authorized VW service department for some information. What I
> found was wide-spread Vanagon product ignorance and a genuine distaste
> for the Vanagon. One particularly negative technician openly berated the
> Vanagon product in front of service advisers and other employees. When I
> asked his qualifcations, I found the following:
>
> 1) He never attended any Vanagon technical training
>
> 2) He rarely works on Vanagons because "they're junk"
>
> 3) "Everybody" knows how poorly designed the Vanagon is
>
> With an attitude like this, this dealer and other like-minded repair
> facilities are UNFIT to put their hands on the Vanagon product. If they
> do, either their product ignorance or their poor opinion of the Vanagon
> will endanger the longevity of the repair.
>
> Thanks for listening,     JP