Well guys and gals, I am not into the VWs either. I spent the better part
of my High School years rebuilding and riding in a buddy's VW Bug. I was
the one that got soaked every time it rained because he only replaced one
of
the missing (rusted out) floor pans. I am sure you can all appreciate the
driver's need to stay in the car, or not fall onto the ground below. I was
able to put my foot through holes in the floor on the passenger side. This
car did help me learn my way around a car and that I don't particularly
care
for German cars all too much (although I am looking for a Porsche). The
point. . . after pushing (due to a fuel gauge problem - the car didn't have
one!!), rebuilding the engine, and body work this German car still bit my
buddy in the butt. It waited 3 years but it finally threw a drum (not sure
if this is the correct phase to use for the drum of the brake and wheel
breaking loose and flying off the car). This mishap ruined the rear
drivers
fender, the drum brake, door, and the swing shaft. . . among other things
including my buddy's buzz and good time. I am a Bug owner (Bugeye) and it
is a lot harder (according to my buddy) to work on, and get parts for.
But,
as one mechanic once told me. . . it has something that VW Bugs don't. . .
character!! I have to say he is right.
----- Original Message -----
> From: "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net>
> To: "William M. Gilroy" <wmgilroy@avaya.com>; "Peter C."
> <nosimport@mailbag.com>
> Cc: "Wm. Severin Thompson" <wsthompson@thicko.com>; "Spridgets"
> <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 6:11 PM
> Subject: Ignorant car episodes....
>
>
> > Okay it's time to tell you folks that haven't heard about Mr Toads wild
> > ride..... So I got a Student who walks up and says... Keith Buy my
> Bug.....
> > I say Okay.... 100 bucks if I can drive it home.... 50 if I can't .....
> > So.... I go over and tow it home.... this is one of those Well Painted (
> > read Spray can's of All Colors ) hippie sorta things....
> >
> > Okay I get a VW dealer 20 miles away to buy it.... for you guess it....
> 300
> > bucks All I got to do is drive it over...wires on the right plugs and I
> got
> > 3 cylinders... Perfect.... Now Brakes.... well they ain't ALL the way on
> the
> > Floor.... Off I go.... coming to a bridge following a little ole Lady...
> we
> > have a Logging truck coming the other way.... Yep... She Parks Just
before
> > the Bridge.... Okay Decision time.... Over the edge into her rear
end....
> or
> > into the truck..... Hmmm Trees didn't look as big as the truck.... which
> was
> > Getting bigger.... off the edge I go... Eyes in the correct position...
> > CLOSED.... realize... I am level and still running... no water in the
> > car.... and I am accross the stream.... Hmmmm still got three good
> > cylinders..... Nail the gas and up the other side I go.... Now we got
> some
> > Laundry Problems here.... but really we only have three more major
> > obstacles..... Traffic signals on our way to the VW shop.... first one
is
> > sorta green.... Read not TOO red..... second one requires a Curb.....
> ahhhh
> > the third.... well it's downhill and not looking daper.... yeppers....
> > choices.... right turn... nahhh I can loose that last little bit on the
> > curb.... so as I roll through the intersection several stunned on
> lookers...
> > Some closer then others Wave....some with a single finger... hmmm
> > anyway.... get to the shop.... shake out pants... the the guy pulls up
> > behind me in a Yellow bug.... He's Laughing hysterically...... he had
> > witnessed the whole thing.... and decided the car was worth MUCH less...
> so
> > I take my 200 bucks and the ride to work... and SWORE OFF VW's at that
> > point.....
> >
> > Keith ( Moral to the story.... Even semi competent mechanic's can do
some
> > Pretty dumb ass things...)
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "William M. Gilroy" <wmgilroy@avaya.com>
> > To: "Peter C." <nosimport@mailbag.com>
> > Cc: "Wm. Severin Thompson" <wsthompson@thicko.com>; "Spridgets"
> > <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 7:29 PM
> > Subject: Re: Fw: Fwd: Selling the Sprite...
> >
> >
> > > "Peter C." wrote:
> > > >
> > > > At 05:14 PM 2/16/2001, Wm. Severin Thompson wrote:
> > > > >The Spitfire was bought in Fox Lake, IL... I paid $400.
> > > > >
> > > > >Other highlights of ownership included...
> > > >
> > > > The doors didn't open when you rounded a corner? Ah, those
> Phlegmfires,
> > > > love'em. My first use of a bungee cord.
> > >
> > >
> > > Or the use of a tall milk crate. Many years ago when working on my
> > > VW Bug I had all the seats out of the car. I had to be somewhere
> > > so boy genius (that's me) decide to use a milk crate as a drivers
> > > seat. So I stood that milk crate on end and drove off. About
> > > 2 miles from my house I encounter a problem with my "plan." I got
> > > to my first left turn. I went around the turn at about 15 MPH and
> > > the milk crate tipped over. Now I am going around the corner with
> > > one hand on the steering wheel and my face on the passenger floor.
> > > I flopped around for a bit, got the crate out of the way and kneeled
> > > so I could see out the front window. This was worse, since now I
> > > could see what was happening but if you are on your knees you
> > > CANNOT work the pedals! To avoid the traffic in front of me I had
> > > to pop the car out of gear and drive over the curb and over the
> > > speed limit sign, as if the laws applied to me. I can you say
> > > "Bill you should have pulled the E-Brake." Think about it, if this
> > > car had no seat, do you really think the E-Brake was working? Of
> > > course not. This was when I was much younger.
> > >
> > > Bill "Stupidity hurts" Gilroy
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