1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Hi,
And it kind of sucks to be European too. :-) Let me explain.
So, I wanted to complete my oil shrine, which is now very nigh 2 liters,
which will only get used as "top-off" oil. So, it will last very near
a decade. I wanted to get myself some Delvac 1, and I vaguely remembered
that I could get some from VW dealer parts department.
Well, Dirito Brothers also have a VW dealership. So, I drive to
Dirito Brothers complex (By the way, Saab department outgrew its glorified
closet of a show-room. So, it moved across the street to a nice, shiny,
and commodious place). Anyway, I drive up to the seemingly wrong part of
the complex, and I straighten out the puzzled service person. The people
are pretty nice over there. It's supposed to be their philosophy of
customer care.
When after 10 seconds of getting back in my car so that I don't get
boxed in by VWs being dropped off for service, I walk to the VW Parts
department. I ask the foo in the parts department if he has any Delvac
1. The VW service and parts is the biggest one at Dirito Brothers, but
it's definitely not cavernous. However, as soon as the words "Delvac 1"
left my mouth, I heard a resounding echo. I can only imagine that the
reverberations were within the parts foo's skull because I also noticed
a blank stare on his face (like W when he says the word "Nuculyar").
So, I repeat the word once more to no effect then ask the foo if he knows
what Delvac is. After another 5 seconds of embarassing silence and
shrugging of shoulders on the echo-man's part, I explain to him that
it's an oil used for TDI.
As soon as I mention the word TDI, the foo saunters back (not too
quickly mind you because I don't think the reptilian brain likes to
order up quick movements when the surroundings are dark). After about
twenty seconds of the foo searching at his leisurely pace, he brings
me back a quart. I thought to myself, "Odd ... Delvac 1 only comes in
gallons". Well, when he got closer, I noticed the familiar angular
shape of the new bottle for the much maligned FakeTek (tm) bottle.
Well, like any good disciple of BITOG, I look at the back for "Made
in U.S.A.", and I'm delighted to find "Made in Belgium". I also see
ACEA A3. I think to myself "Woo Hoo! Wait 'til I tell the boys
back at BITOG (the oily folk are 100% male ... sad to say). I found
PAO Syntec 5W-40! (Only PAO Syntec 0W-30 have been known to be spotted
in Canada and parts of the U.S)"
So I thought to myself, "Alright, I came for Delvac, but this is an
o.k. addition to my oil shrine next to my Saab and Mobil 1 line-up.
Besides, I do _not_ want to hear that echo again."
So, I ask the foo how much the bottle is, expecting to pay _max_ of
$5/quart ... I'm not lying, the foo's eyes lit up uncharacteristically
and said "$11 a quart"
I'm telling you ... It sucks to be VW owners and it sucks to be
European.
In _this_ country, we can get ACEA A3 rated oil for $4.25 per quart on
sale at AutoBarn :-), or recently I got a quart of 0W-40 for free!
Jason was green with envy. :-)
Also, Saab fully synthetic 0W-30 with unheard of TBN of 17.5 and
therefore suitable for use in a diesel engine is less than $4 per quart!
If I were you, I'd be even more proud to be American and even more
proud to be Saab owners :-)
thanks
Jae
posted by 172.133.93...
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