VWoA rants

Edit: This thread was split off from the BAP/CYW topic in the shows forum.

Well I'm guessing the big event will have something to do with the debut of this at the new plant up there.


If I have to be surrounded by a bunch of these turds, it may just make me go to CYW.
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Ok, it won't be that bad , but do VolksFolks really think VWoA gives a crap about us??? I love BAP and will be there regardless, but they are lucky there are two CYW shows or the choice might not have been so easy.

those look better then the other new ones

the shape of this new beetle is closer to the original, but it's still water cooled front engine frontwheel drive car. I know they have to keep up with current times, but, they shouldn't forget what put them where they are.

Yup Sucks.... BAP did this.. ...VWoA could care less about us....

bakertim2 wrote:the shape of this new beetle is closer to the original, but it's still water cooled front engine frontwheel drive car. I know they have to keep up with current times, but, they shouldn't forget what put them where they are.

Exactly my criticism of the New Beetles.

i guess i know how you all feel about my Jetta, with it being one of them new fangled front wheel drive cars that i can depend on EVERYDAY to get me back and forth!! i have said it before and i will say it again...I LOVE VOLKSWAGENS!! all of them, air, water, new, old, runnin or not, this is why i chose to purchase a new one, because VW still puts the same quality in them as they did 60 plus years ago! i know you will argue with me and call them cheap, but i have had NO problems with my Jetta, and i will continue to support VWoA. i hope that you all won't feel that way if a dealer gets involved with YU Buggin...cause if it is gonna cause a problem i would rather not get them involved, so speak up now if this is an issue for you. i am stepping off the podium now.

David, Don't get me wrong I personally have nothing against the "new" VWs. I have worked at a VW dealership, and I liked working on them. But, what ticked me off with VWoA, was all the non support from them with the aftermarket and copyright issues using the VW logo on parts that were made to keep the vehicles, that got them where they are now, going. If I could, I would buy a new VW, but, they don't offer a full size beast of a truck to pull heavy loads like my trusty GMC 2500. I hope they will step up at the dealership and sponser YUBuggin 2011 and on and on.

My issue is in no way related to the cars VW sells nowadays (though I don't like the looks of the new beetles). I know for the most part they are dependable cars. If this is the same Gunther from Florida, they are an independent family owned dealership that has been operating since 1969 (not ran by VWoA) and it's clear from the fact that their showroom is covered with super nice old VW's that they have a passion for the old cars as they have quite a lot of $$ tied up in their display. No problems at all with them being at Y U Buggn, UNLESS they throw some promotion and cause you to have to move the date of the show to the same date as Reynolds. (of course I'd still be at YU, but the principal of the two shows on the same date still applies ).

Of course, nothing has really been said about what the actual BIG event associated with BAP really is, so this all just speculation right now. But the fact remains, both of those shows on the same day is going to make for two shows with poor attendance.

















......and that new beetle is still ugly!

ok ok.. i see you guys point. also realize they have to protect their name/ reputation. this means sometimes restricting the use of their logo or name. i would'nt want my name on some crappy part! now that's outta the way, i agree with the date change. if they ain't down with our schedule...oh well!! i think that CYW should be once a year anyway, but that's just me. i hope i will see you all at BAP and we will have a good time despite the date change!!

Crappy parts is kinda understandable, but they are going after some decent part suppliers and also the people just trying to make a few bucks selling shirts or stickers with anything that remotely resembles the shape of a beetle. If they think they are losing so much money from these sellers they should start producing/selling what we want!

vwtattooed wrote:i think that CYW should be once a year anyway, but that's just me.

That's not just you. Agreed 100%. The southeast shows just don't get the turnout the westcoast shows get. Repeating shows during the year just oversaturates the show season. We'd all love to go to shows every weekend, but truth is, the more shows there are,the sparser the participation is.

Now, back on topic, looking forward to camping at BAP!

Are you guys really mad at VW for not continuing to support a car they made 50 years ago?
Do you think you can get lots of parts for your 57 Chevy at the local GM dealer?
While Aircooled is cool, it isn't possible with today's govt. regulations. You can't blame VW for that.

BKiller wrote:Are you guys really mad at VW for not continuing to support a car they made 50 years ago?

Haha, no not at all. That's totally fine, but they are hassling lots of people who ARE trying to support the cars they made 50 years ago with cease and desist orders and threats of million dollar lawsuits. Try and open a shop called "Brandon's VW Repair", and you will be slapped with a C&D order in no time. Well how the heck is a repair shop that works on old aircooled vw's suppose to let potential customers know that is what they work on, if VWoA won't let them use any variation of VW or likeness of a Beetle in their name or advertisements.

Read there trademark statement here: (just found this through a google search, looks legit, but I can't be 100% sure)
http://www.vwtrademarks.com/vw.aspx?file=vwpolicy.htm

I read most of it as insinuating that people in the aircooled VW hobby are idiots and will without question assume any inferior part with a vw logo was made in a vw plant by vw and that vw must therefore only make crap. You should see the horrible quality of the hubcap I got from CIP1 a while back. It's a complete piece of garbage, but I'm smart enough to know I paid peanuts for it and shouldn't have expected much anyways, and that it's not VW's fault.

I just feel they are taking the whole "protecting our image" thing way to far. Which is completely within their right, but it ain't winning them any fans.


I'm getting flustered and this is getting off topic . When I get a second, I may try and divide this topic up and move the VWoA stuff to the rants so this thread can stay on topic as to which show everyone will be attending.

Well said Eric...

The problem with "law" stuff like that is that there are no shades of gray. If VW is going to protect their name from chinese importers making knock-off stuff but calling it "VW" parts, they also have to protect against everything else, like shop names and whatever.
I have a friend that is a corporate guy at Porsche and they are super aggressive about protecting their name from ANY un-authorized use.

I don't think it is a VW thing, it is just part of our crazy culture being controlled by lawyers.

Turns out they do serve HOT coffee at McDonalds!

BKiller wrote:I don't think it is a VW thing, it is just part of our crazy culture being controlled by lawyers.

!

That was EXACTLY the explaination I have heard as to VWofA being soooo agressive. Lawyers running amuck, wanting to be sure their services appeared worthwhile.

harley davidson is the worst iv ever seen when it comes to coming after people but thats would be like some one making shirts with your pic an selling them an making money off them an not paying you i think it would be cool depending on what the shirt is representing so im just saying i see were they are coming from

Harley Davidson is very protective of their brand, but they license a whole lot of stuff with their name on it. Chevrolet is the same way, just look at a Year One catalog at all the GM licensed stuff. What burns me up is that VW won't produce a part, but also won't give someone a license so they can produce it. Why not control the quality of a reproduction part and make some money on the licensing all the while keeping old VW's on the road??

Harley also tried to copyright (or something like that) their SOUND.

Yeah, I understand it's not just VW doing it and they can't pick and choose their lawsuits, but as a hobbyist who really enjoys the old cars, it's just really frustrating that they do this to us.

Unfortunately, I don't really think it's about "protecting their image" like they say, and it's really just about the $$$. The hubcap I mentioned earlier was bought from CIP1 and has a VW logo on it. I'm assuming since CIP1 is a well known company that VWoA is watching them, and that they and whoever actually made the hubcap did receive permission from VWoA (probably at a steep cost). Well if they are trying to protect their image so much, why did they let this hubcap be sold. If I was as dumb as their trademark statement thinks I am, then I would automatically assume this hubcap was directly related to them, and this hubcap IS a HUGE disappointment. Well, the only reason I can think they would have allowed this crappy reproduction to be sold is because they got paid!

Just makes one think that lining their pockets is all they care about. (and yes I know that's pretty much what all companies think about, but again, that doesn't win you customer loyalty).

I saw some mudflaps once with the V part of the logo embossed in and the W was a separate piece, I guess that's how they got around the trade infringement part. I'm certain everyone that bought those added the W to the bottom of the mudflap. Some of the logo's I've seen have a gap between the letters, or have figured a way around the legal part and continue to produce the piece.

My problem is VW's new beetle is a big giant overpriced turd of a car made in Mexico. VW thinks they're Mercedes now and needs to show their roots (aircooled) a little respect. If they ever get back to making inexpensive cars for the masses (the new Jetta for less than 16k is a start) then I may consider walking into a dealer to purchase a new one some day. As far as Im concerned, they haven't been "VW" since the mid 80s and until they prove otherwise, I'll stick to aircooled and Brazilian parts.

I'll stick to aircooled and Brazilian parts.[/quote]


It would be nice to get some German replacement parts sometime, though

Insert "Brazilian/ Chinese/ Japanese" here

Grifspop wrote: I'll stick to aircooled and Brazilian parts.

It would be nice to get some German replacement parts sometime, though

Insert "Brazilian/ Chinese/ Japanese" here[/quote]

It may be crap but at least someone is providing me replacement stuff. I've heard rumors that Empi is stepping up it's game and I've had good luck with Brazilian brake parts on my cars for years now. German stuff is great and some of it is actually worth the 5x price tag. I'll find out first hand about Empi this month as I have some new 34icts OTW for the square.

bumblebuggy wrote:

Grifspop wrote: I'll stick to aircooled and Brazilian parts.

It would be nice to get some German replacement parts sometime, though

Insert "Brazilian/ Chinese/ Japanese" here

It may be crap but at least someone is providing me replacement stuff. I've heard rumors that Empi is stepping up it's game and I've had good luck with Brazilian brake parts on my cars for years now. German stuff is great and some of it is actually worth the 5x price tag. I'll find out first hand about Empi this month as I have some new 34icts OTW for the square.[/quote]



I had some 34ICT's on my car, they run great (but I was under carbureted), hope the Empi ones work well for you. It looks like a tight squeeze under the engine lid on a type 3.

Type 3 kit with short manifolds and air cleaners. It'll be snug but should fit.