I have learned a lot from the web sites and email lists about my car and
love to teach the new comers how to care for and maintain their cars. They
may use the VW symbol, but for the most part, it is only used to identify
and promote. I have never seen a dedicated VW site detract from the quality
or concepts designed & owned by VW.
By shutting these sites down, you are endeavoring to kill the camaraderie,
the sense of belonging to an exclusive group. These people, since the first
VW arrived in the US, have taken YOUR product and propelled it to the
forefront of the mass production automobile industry. Because of these
people, you were able to break the record of the most mass produced car
since the Ford Model T. This car was the '72 Bug...
When you left the air cooled world and entered the water cooled, they
followed you, still buying, playing and promoting YOUR product.
What the hell are you guys doing? Have you stopped thinking or have the
lawyers taken control? Who is more important to you. Your lawyers (that suck
up a lot of everyones money and don't drive a VW I bet) or your faithful
buyers who give you money for the products you produce...
As you can see by the signature, I am a proud VW owner. I am a 43 year old
woman who enjoys her hobby. Since my first '69 Bug and '71 Bus, I have
maintained and repaired them myself. I have run these cars for over 20
years. All this was done with the same design ideas Dr.Porch had in mind
when the first of the people's cars were designed.
My daughter wants my '81 8v Scirocco when she gets her license. Several of
the guys I work with have offered me good money for the '81 16v or my GTi.
Sell them? No.
As a web master and designer, place your faith in your faithful. Offer the
web site owners a partnership of sorts. Promote links to other sites, to the
VW parts listings, the use of the logo with restrictions (to keep the
lawyers happy). Ask their opinion, let them play. This is a hobby to them
and all the effort they expend is purely for enjoyment. Tap into this
incredible resourse
Let these people do your advertising for you. After all, they probably know
more about the cars than you do...
Julie Macfarlane
'81-8v/FF Scirocco (Mom)
'81-16v/2h Scirocco (Fronkenstein)
'83-8v/9a Rabbit GTi (Baby)
'95 Passat