Congratulations! You've just snagged the car of your dreams: a beautifully restored 1966 Volkwagen Bug with a hot custom paint job! Looks great, but there's just one ?minor? problem: it needs a new engine! You've got your heart set on a killer 2275 cc Dual Port street screamer. Where do you start? Your best bet? Hit the ?Net?!

BUT BEFORE YOU DO, READ THIS ARTICLE! We've all heard ?Buyer Beware? for years (even before the birth of the first Volkswagen). Since the advent of the World Wide Web, while greatly expanding our buying options, we're now subjected to scary things like fraud, identity theft, spyware - you name it, it's out there. So we've all got to be careful.

After many years of being a vendor of rebuilt and custom VW engines, I've heard my share of ?horror stories? from people who've had bad experiences when purchasing engines online (prior to becoming GEX customers, of course!). To help you make an informed decision, I've compiled a Top 10 List of things you should consider when looking for an online Volkswagen engine vendor:

Larry's Top 10 List

1.Check out the website. Is it well organized? Does it look legit? A poorly designed, disorganized website with a bunch of glaring errors is a clue their products and services are likely to be equally disorganized.

2.Watch out for websites that don't provide a phone number and physical address. Even if there's a phone number listed, call it and see what happens. Did it go directly to voice mail? If so, leave a message and see how quickly they respond.

3.How long has the company been in business? Is it proudly stated on their website? There are many startups on the internet. Being around for a long time indicates the company isn't a ?fly-by-night? and can be counted on to be there.

4.Is there a wide selection of engines? Are custom engines available? Although there are reputable small vendors out there who offer just a few, a comprehensive selection indicates a company's expertise and dedication to their product line.

5.Are the ?extras? included with the engine at no additional charge clearly listed? If they're not listed, that's a red flag. Be sure you know exactly what you're getting before you order!

6.Look closely at the warranty. Is it limited to only Stock engines, or does it include Hi-performance engines as well? Is it in writing? Does it cover parts AND labor? Is it nationwide? Is it for a mere 30 days on performance engines, or 12 months/12,000 miles? Checking out the fine print can be pretty boring, but it's one of the most important things you can do to ensure you're getting the best warranty available.

7.Is there a true production engine rebuilding facility on site? Or is it a 2- man repair shop? Investment in a complete automotive machine shop shows a company's commitment to producing a high quality product.

8.Are all engines hot run, tested under load and completely dialed in before being protective wrapped and crated for delivery to your door?

9.Assure the website's order form is secure before entering sensitive data. You should see https:// in the address bar at the top of your browser before you input your credit card information. There might also be a closed ?padlock? displayed at the bottom of your screen. If the lock is open, it's not secure. Never provide anything other than required info (fields marked with a red asterisk).

10.Print out your order confirmation and a full description of what you ordered. The confirmation should include all of the items you ordered and confirmation number. If the confirmation is emailed to you, print that, too, as well as any correspondence with the company.

You deserve the very best rebuilt VW engine available! Using the tips above will assure that's exactly what you get!

GEX, the Industry Leader, is the largest Volkswagen production engine remanufacturer in North America. At GEX, we believe a successful business must have 3 basic ingredients: The right product, at the right price, with the best possible warranty to back it up. Since 1973, we have gone to great lengths to assure that our customers are getting the very best in PREMIUM REBUILT VW ENGINES & COMPONENTS available. http://www.GEX.com