ok, since it's officially Frydaye hereabouts, i was thinking ...
in the new issue of Road & Track magazine, they have an Owner Survey
Questionaire for several models of cars. well, they NEVER have one for
vw buses, i've noticed! so i got to thinking ... why not do one on the
list?

so here's the questions (slightly modified for our bunch of crazies).
what i want you do to is mail the response to ME, not to the list (no
sense in clogging up the server any more than we have to). my
intentions are to type all this claptrap into a file and then write a
dufus little program to sort and classify it by items and percentages
of the respondents (assuming anybody bothers to respond!). :) i ain't
saying i'll get it done quickly, but i'll get it done. i'd like to
have all the responses by, say, the 1st of the year. but if you are
off enjoying a winter holiday and don't get back til after then,
that's ok, too ... send it on in.

you don't have to send the whole mesage back ... just answers. like
this ...
1. 1987
2. a
3. b
and so forth. the last question needs to be answered like this ...
20.
Body parts .. a1, b3, c5
Brakes .. d3
and so on. if you replace something more than once, put it in the
answer twice ..
like this
Brakes ... a1, a5

ok, here goes. i'm probably gonna REALLY regret this, but having been
employed as a data pimp for nearly 40 years now, i fear i can't
resist. ;) and if this works out, and the Eurovan (T4) folks on the
list want to do it, i'll fix up the same thing for them. :)

OWNER SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE
Volkswagen Vanagon, 1979-1992

1. Model Year...

2. Model...
   a. Standard/Transporter/Kombi/Microbus
   b. L/GL/Caravelle
   c. Wolfsburg Limited Edition
   d. Camper
   e. Camper GL
   f. Syncro/Syncro GL
   g. Camper Syncro/Camper Syncro GL
   h. Carat
   i. Multivan
   j. Pickup (single-cab or double-cab)
   k. Tristar
   l. Limited Last Edition
   m. Other (specify ________________)

3. Miles on the bus now...
   a. less than 60,000
   b. 60,001 - 80,000
   c. 80,001 - 100,000
   d. 100,001 - 120,000
   e. 120,001 - 140,000
   f. 140,001 - 160,000
   g. 160,001 - 180,000
   h. 180,001 - 200,000
   i. greater than 200,000

4. Engine ...
   a. 4-cylinder boxer gasoline aircooled
   b. 4-cylinder boxer gasoline watercooled
   c. 4-cylinder inline diesel/diesel turbocharged
   d. Other (specify ________________)
5. Engine is original engine
   or replacement of same size and type
   a. yes
   b. no

6. Transmission ...
   a. manual 4-speed
   b. manual 5-speed
   c. automatic
   d. Other (specify _______________________)

7. What FIVE attributes especially influenced
   your decision to buy the bus?
   a. body configuration (camper, 7-passenger, pickup, etc)
   b. company/country of manufacture
   c. comfortable seats
   d. crashworthiness/safety
   e. dealer service/parts availability
   f. engineering
   g. exterior styling
   h. fuel economy
   i. good value/price
   j. handling
   k. insurance rating
   l. interior styling/ergonomics
   m. interior room
   n. overall size
   o. performance/acceleration
   p. previous experience with make/model
   q. quietness
   r. quality of materials
   s. reliability/durability
   t. resale value
   u. ride
   v. trunk size (cargo space)
   w. ventilation/heating/air conditioning
   x. workmanship
   y. warranty

8. Now that you have owned the bus,
   what do you consider its five BEST
   attributes?
   a. body configuration (camper, 7-passenger, pickup, etc)
   b. company/country of manufacture
   c. comfortable seats
   d. crashworthiness/safety
   e. dealer service/parts availability
   f. engineering
   g. exterior styling
   h. fuel economy
   i. good value/price
   j. handling
   k. insurance rating
   l. interior styling/ergonomics
   m. interior room
   n. overall size
   o. performance/acceleration
   p. previous experience with make/model
   q. quietness
   r. quality of materials
   s. reliability/durability
   t. resale value
   u. ride
   v. trunk size (cargo space)
   w. ventilation/heating/air conditioning
   x. workmanship
   y. warranty

9. Now that you have owned the bus,
   what do you consider its five WORST
   attributes?
   a. body configuration (camper, 7-passenger, pickup, etc)
   b. company/country of manufacture
   c. comfortable seats
   d. crashworthiness/safety
   e. dealer service/parts availability
   f. engineering
   g. exterior styling
   h. fuel economy
   i. good value/price
   j. handling
   k. insurance rating
   l. interior styling/ergonomics
   m. interior room
   n. overall size
   o. performance/acceleration
   p. previous experience with make/model
   q. quietness
   r. quality of materials
   s. reliability/durability
   t. resale value
   u. ride
   v. trunk size (cargo space)
   w. ventilation/heating/air conditioning
   x. workmanship
   y. warranty

10. what changes would you like to see made
   to the car?
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________

11. How would you rate your dealer's SALES
   department?
   a. excellent
   b. good
   c. fair
   d. poor

12. How would you rate your dealer's SERVICE
   department?
   a. excellent
   b. good
   c. fair
   d. poor

13. For any service or repairs not covered by
   warranty, how would you judge the dealer's
   prices for parts and labor?
   a. very reasonable
   b. reasonable
   c. expensive
   d. very expensive

14. Apart from any crash repair,
   has your car ever been out of service
   for more than a day waiting for parts?
   a. yes
   b. no
15. If Yes, how many days?
   a. 1-5
   b. 6-10
   c. 10-30
   d. more than a month

16. During the warranty period, how many times
   did you have to take your bus to the dealer
   because it needed repair (NOT just routine
   maintenance)
   a. none
   b. 1
   c. 2
   d. 3
   e. 4
   f. 5 or more

17. Average fuel economy in miles-per-gallon
   (US gallons):
   a. less than 12
   b. 12-15
   c. 16-18
   d. 19-20
   e. 21-22
   f. more than 22

18. After your experience with this car,
   would you buy another one of the same
   MAKE?
   a. yes
   b. no
   c. undecided
   If not, why not?
   _____________________________________
   _____________________________________
   _____________________________________

19. After your experience with this car,
   would you buy another one of the same
   MODEL?
   a. yes
   b. no
   c. undecided
   If not, why not?
   ______________________________________
   ______________________________________
   ______________________________________

20. Indicate the mileage at which any of
   the following items were repaired or
   replaced ...
   1 = 0-60,000 miles
   2 = 60,001-80,000 miles
   3 = 80,001-100,000 miles
   4 = 100,001 - 120,000 miles
   5 = 120,001 - 140,000 miles
   6 = 140,001 - 160,000 miles
   7 = 160,001 - 180,000 miles
   8 = 180,001 - 200,000 miles
   9 = over 200,000 miles
   Body Parts (NOT crash related)...
     a. exterior body parts/trim
     b. glass/weatherstriping
     c. interior parts
     d. paint
     e. upholstery/carpeting
   Brakes ...
     a. calipers/wheel cylinders
     b. hydraulic lines
     c. master cylinder
     d. pads/shoes
     e. disc rotors
     f. brake booster
   Cooling ...
     a. electric cooling fans
     b. coolant or heater hoses
     c. radiator
     d. water pump
     e. thermostat
     f. plastic tanks
     g. temperature sensors
   Electrical ...
     a. alternator
     b. battery
     c. central door locks
     d. computer sensors
     e. ignition/distributor
     f. dash instruments
     g. exterior lights
     h. sparkplugs
     i. voltage regulator
     j. window lifts/regulators
     k. cruise control
     l. turn signals
   Engine ...
     a. engine case
     b. camshaft
     c. catalytic converter
     d. crankshaft
     e. cylinder head(s)
     f. exhaust system
        (including muffler/tailpipe)
     g. fuel injection
     h. fuel pump
     i. head gaskets
     j. oil pump
     k. pistons
     l. piston rings
     m. valves/valve guides
     n. turbocharger
   Final Drive ...
     a. clutch
     b. clutch master/slave cylinder
     c. differential (front or rear)
     d. cv joints (front or rear)
     e. throwout bearing
     f. transmission
     g. driveshaft (Syncro only)
   Miscellaneous...
     a. air conditioning
     b. oxygen sensor
     c. heater (front or rear)
     d. power steering pump
     e. power steering rack
     f. shock absorbers
     g. steering linkage
        (including tie rods)
     h. tires
     i. wheel alignment
     j. wheel bearings
     k. windshield wipers
     l. sunroof
     m. camper top

Please write any comments you have
regarding the problems and/or joys
of owning your car.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________