Was: Scirocco stuff , now VWs "vision"

[roccit_53 at scirocco.cs.uoguelph.ca (C Boyko)]

On 11:27:27 am 06/09/05 David Utley <fahrvegnugen@cox.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >  From: "GREG DUNN" <greggearhead@adelphia.net>
> >  Date: 2005/06/08 Wed PM 08:00:40 EDT
> I will offer what I know about some of these points...
> >
> >  VW had a Concept VW Bus they showed years ago.  Got RAVE reviews
> >  and people went nuts asking when it was coming out.  Very similar
> >  reaction to the New Beetle/Concept 1 show intros.  They toyed with
> >  the public, then never produced it.  This was probably 5+ years
> ago.
> Yeah.  They are going to build it, but it will not be until '07 for
> some reason.  Something about they want to wait until they can modify
> the new Eurovan platform vs. building it on an aged platform
> (*shrug*)...
>
> >
> >  Ferdinand Piech is known to be a tyrant of a boss, and suggesting
> >  his ideas might be wrong or off base has been proven grounds for
> >  losing your job. That makes for a company that will go wherever
> >  the owner wants, even if it is wrong.
> >
> He left the company IIRC about a year ago.  A man named Piechstrieder
> (sp?) formerly of BMW is now at the helm.  Piech definitely wanted to
> go up market, which was dumb.  They only sold 1300 of the Phaeton,
> which proves how dumb it was.  I doubt they sold that many of them in
> Germany.
> I have not seen any real improvement since the new boss took the job
> on.  I am hopefull there will be some significant changes.  I think the
> man will do well, BMW is the only German brand in the top ten for
> customer satisfaction in Germany (in the equivalent to JD Power)...
> Let us pray...
> David
>
> '83 GTI, Daily Driver...
> '87 16V, parts car
> '82 pickup, 2.0 16V, collecting dust...
>
Well, I can't comment on the upscale stuff, but would love it if they'd
make an equivalent to the Miata, something light and sporty. I'd never be
able to afford it, but I couldn't afford a Scirocco back in 1987 either.

What I will comment on is the ever increasing amount of plastic on the
newer VWs. I cannot tell you how many hours I've spent cursing at plastic
parts on my 99 Beetle. So a few nights ago I got stranded an hour from home
with only two gears to select from, luckily it's a drive I can do with
essentially no full stops, so I hobbled home in 3rd and 4rth. I couldn't
select any other gears. To inspect the problem, I needed tools to remove
the plastic engine cover, which I did tonight, and guess what holds the
cable shift mechanism to the tranny? Yep, plastic. Right in the engine bay,
where it gets hot and fatigued. And in my case,had snapped off. In most
cases, this could be one of the following, expensive, dangerous, or clutch
toasting. And a clutch job would not be a whole lot of fun I'm guessing.

These cars will not age gracefully. I'm sure many less reputable dealers
would steal a car such as mine by suggesting it needed a full transmission
replacement. I imagine other makes are no better, but still, there are
places where metal seems a much better idea. 

That's my rant, and I'm realy enjoying my 88 Ford a lot this week. Having
some Gretchen Wilson moments bonding with my big ol' pickup...


Cathy (Yeee haaaaw)