TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:35 am

bugnut68 wrote: vw_hank wrote: bugnut68 wrote: vw_hank wrote: The_whingnut wrote: after reading the EPMI / Joe Vittone stories (i sourced several articles) its amazing what ppl would do for money. I was taught EMPI had always been a hack product factory (we only used parts from them if we had not other option i,e till payday). Now i see that it started out with the best of intentions. thank you guys for the info.

EMPI at one time were Gods in the VW world, Thy were top dog the best of the best! but then the almighty dollar took over! thy just had to cut cost and raze profits,, well you know what thy say about the love of money? EMPI sold there soles..

I think you need to look into the history of EMPI, as the only truth in what you say applies to Mr. Bug, who bought the EMPI name, nothing more, nothing less. The original EMPI did not "sell out" due to a "love of money."

What exactly does it mean to "raze" profits/ I know The history very well!! EMPI is A brand name, not A person,, And the company did indeed sellout..

What's your definition of selling out?
The assholes with Mr. Bug that bought and whored out the original EMPI name sold out EMPI by ruining EMPI's good name and reputation with shitty, Taiwan and Chinese parts that don't last worth a shit. They capitalized on all the cheapskates commonplace amongst the air-cooled VW crowd.
If you know the history of EMPI very well, then I'd suggest you take a look at the hassles that Joe Vittone had with VW regarding his GTV cars as well as his performance parts lines, which is part of the reason, if memory serves me correctly, that he sold the company. Dave can confirm or correct me on this element, I'm sure, but it was all downhill from there after Vittone sold the company; there's a big difference between selling a company and selling a company OUT. Wow we do see eye to eye after all! like I seed when I say EMPI I'm talking about the company not one person..

Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:58 am

vw_hank wrote: bugnut68 wrote: vw_hank wrote: bugnut68 wrote: vw_hank wrote: The_whingnut wrote: after reading the EPMI / Joe Vittone stories (i sourced several articles) its amazing what ppl would do for money. I was taught EMPI had always been a hack product factory (we only used parts from them if we had not other option i,e till payday). Now i see that it started out with the best of intentions. thank you guys for the info.

EMPI at one time were Gods in the VW world, Thy were top dog the best of the best! but then the almighty dollar took over! thy just had to cut cost and raze profits,, well you know what thy say about the love of money? EMPI sold there soles..

I think you need to look into the history of EMPI, as the only truth in what you say applies to Mr. Bug, who bought the EMPI name, nothing more, nothing less. The original EMPI did not "sell out" due to a "love of money."

What exactly does it mean to "raze" profits/ I know The history very well!! EMPI is A brand name, not A person,, And the company did indeed sellout..

What's your definition of selling out?
The assholes with Mr. Bug that bought and whored out the original EMPI name sold out EMPI by ruining EMPI's good name and reputation with shitty, Taiwan and Chinese parts that don't last worth a shit. They capitalized on all the cheapskates commonplace amongst the air-cooled VW crowd.
If you know the history of EMPI very well, then I'd suggest you take a look at the hassles that Joe Vittone had with VW regarding his GTV cars as well as his performance parts lines, which is part of the reason, if memory serves me correctly, that he sold the company. Dave can confirm or correct me on this element, I'm sure, but it was all downhill from there after Vittone sold the company; there's a big difference between selling a company and selling a company OUT. Wow we do see eye to eye after all! like I seed when I say EMPI I'm talking about the company not one person..

I'll apologize up front, as it appears we've had a little bit of that infamous online confusion due to semantics here... lol. Too easy for that to happen, it seems. :lol:

Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:39 pm

Okay, everybody, group hug... :D

One of the reasons Joe sold EMPI was that VWoA was on his butt, about selling the EMPI stuff at Economotors, and even having an aftermarket VW parts bizz at all, regardless of the quality of the merchandise. They just didn't want it. They did not, in any way, see the performance potential in the VW that Joe did, even after the success of the Inch Pincher. After all the crap that befell Joe at the hands of VWoA, I do not blame him for selling the headache that it had become.
I stand by what I said- EMPI, *IN THE BEGINNING*, was all about quality. That's why the parts originally manufactured by, or for, EMPI, have stood the test of time. The newer stuff, from Lee Eliminators on, not so much.
Joe did NOT "sell out'.. he sold the company, to people who have "sold out" the original intent of EMPI, which was to produce high-quality parts for the aircooled VW.
If you don't believe me, I'll be happy to trade ANYONE, some new, NOS, still in the box, never used, drop shipped to your door, any current steering wheel, or road wheel, or anything else that the current company markets, in exchange for your ORIGINAL, NOS, never used, still in the box, EMPIGTV Wheel, Coach (VDM) wheel, Sprint Star, 5 or 8 spoke, or BRM wheel. or other like product. I'll give you blue and yellow packages, you give me the Orange and Blue...
Part for part... a brand new steering wheel, direct from your local EMPI distributor, straight across trade, for your brand new, never used, still in the box, complete EMPI GTV wheel. Hell, I'll even pay shipping on both ends... 8)

Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:43 pm

Time to dump a bunch of off topic posts. This was about VW and not EMPI.
Start an EMPI thread somewhere else.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:54 pm

Desertbusman wrote: Time to dump a bunch of off topic posts. This was about VW and not EMPI.
Start an EMPI thread somewhere else.

I'll bring it back full circle. VWOA and the way they treat the classic air-cooled segment absolutely sucks. They share that with EMPI, but yes, VWOA's suckiness and how much they suck is the true heart and soul of this thread. 8)

Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:52 pm

LeviMan2001 wrote: What we need is a product that's not a product of a committee or a bunch of stiffs in suits with financial degrees, we need a car that all it does is be a car (maybe have a radio as well though) that's designed to just work, and do it at a solid quality level. Anyone in on creating this thing? Maybe I'll do that when I get older.
Yes. I have plans. ;)