In a message dated 10/29/99 11:54:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
bryan459@PACBELL.NET writes:

<< The VW dealer says it needs a new windshield, new rubber weather
 stripping around the pop top, a new radio (maybe just an antenna), some
 repair to the dent on the drivers side midpanel, new hoses from radiator
 to engine, a new rack and pinion unit, and it really needs a good
 detailing inside and out.  Oh, and it needs a new engine, too.  How's
 the tranny?  Honestly?  I don't know.
  >>

DONT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER!!!!   what do you expect...
do you have insurance? say a rock broke your windshield , and get your
insurance to pay for it.  ron sells the poptop seal for like $40 or less, i
believe. (dont EVEN tell me you were thinking about buying the seal from the
DEALER???!!!)
radio? geez.. how many do you want? the vanagon is a std size, and any std
size radio will fit the hole. you can get antennas from pep boys.
dents?  pop it out yourself from behind, or live with it.
have you seen your radiator hoses leaking?
you can get rebuilt ps racks for under $300.
detailing???  you would pay to have someone else clean your car for you?
this, for me, is one of the many things i enjoy. spending an nice saturday
afternoon detailing the van, then stand back and be proud of what youve done..

"oh...and it needs a new engine too"???
how ya figger that?  does it run?
not being mechanically inclined, doesnt mean you dont have to have a clue as
to whats going on with your vehicle, and believe everything the dealer$hip
tells you..
The only people who take their vanagons to the dealer (or any 10+ year old
car, for that matter) are people who are not interested in saving money.

chris