In other words stick to the motto," Buy the best and only cry once!"

Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
-----Original Message-----
From: Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, December 02, 1999 6:31 AM
Subject: Re: Transmission rebuilders (AAtransaxles)

>At 12:32 AM 12/02/1999 EST, you wrote:
>>Hello All,
>>
>>Looking for a rebuilt transmission for my '68 bus.  Saw a webpage for AA
>>transaxle in  Duvall, WA (Seattle area).  Their prices are kind of high
>($600
>>vs. $450 at Bus depot and others), but they advertise a 3 year unlimited
>>mileage warranty.  Does anyone have any experience with this shop and/or
its
>>products?
>>
>>Markus Bahnemann
>>'68 Bus awaiting engine and transmission transplant
>
>I met Daryl (AA trans) a few weeks ago to pick up a trans from him. He is
>of the DM attitude, ie genuine German bearing, seals, syncros and
>procedures. The case was clean, not painted over dirt like the cheap
>wannabes. He is a one man show, cautious of his reputation. On a Monday, he
>assembled a tranny for me. He couldn't put his finger on it, but had a
>hunch that something might not be right. He spent the next day to do a
>complete other tranny to be certain of correctness. That's the kind of
>dedication that only a small volume, uncompromising attitude can provide.
>
>When you talk to Daryl, your talking to the ape who actually assembles your
>tranny, not the sales desk ape who doesn't know a sycro from a shift fork.
>
>Consider that Bus Depot is a middle man, adding a margin to the price they
>pay for the rebuild, meaning the rebuilder is putting less than $400 in
>that tranny. How can they do that??? By reusing syncros, not new, and using
>Chinese seals and bearings designed to be cheap, by not cleaning the case
>but for the big chunks and painting over with cheap paint, and any other
>compromise they can think of that will reduce cost/value so they can troll
>for the penny smart and pound foolish who represent the majority of fools
>in the cheap fix market with flashy ads that claim to be the real deal but
>are, of course, a well constructed facade.
>
>It always takes more time/money/skill to do the job right than to pretend
>to do the job right. If you haven't got the time/money/skill to do the job
>right the first time, when will you find the time/money/skill to do the job
>over??? Pay the price for excellance to receive the value of excellent
>results.
>
>
>Doktor Tim
>Maintenance Repair and Restoration of European Vehicles
>San Juan Island, WA