Date:         Mon, 7 Feb 2000 10:24:17 -0500
Reply-To:     Todd Kaderabek <todd@LARKBOOKS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Kaderabek <todd@LARKBOOKS.COM>
Subject:      still looking
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Thanks for the posts over the weekend, discouraging or otherwise.  Here's
what has happened since Friday.

I bumped into a guy Saturday morning who is selling his '87 Westfalia.  I
drove/inspected it, and here's the scoop:

The good:   strong engine, sweating very little oil
                        smooth auto tranny
                        near perfect interior
                        stove/refrig./sink work, and are spotless
                        everything is there except for one table (the one
behind the driver's seat)
                        Tires in good shape
                        it's located 5 minutes from my house
                        decent paint

The bad:    brakes in very poor condition -- he reports that he replaced the
front pads, and bled the lines, but to get any stopping power from them, you
must pump them several times.  Maybe he need new brakes, maybe he screwed up
the bleed job.
                    one tiny rip in the top, unfortunately in the top front
corner, where it all ties together
                    front blower fan  out (checked fuse, fine)
                    power mirrors don't function -- fuse fine
                    one arm rest broken off
                    rust in the usual places (ex-Chicago bus), pretty bad in
the door sills, some underbody but not much on the frame, some on side
panels
                    body damage to sliding door and underneath -- door
functions, and van rolls straight, so I don't suspect a bent frame
                    rear bumper damage, looks like a back into , not a
rear-end
                    radio not working, needs code (battery replaced)
                    187,000 on the clock

He's asking $6,800, and has a KBB printout in the window listing retail
value at $9,550. Interestingly enough, add the KBB retail value and the KBB
trade in value, divide by two and get exactly $6,800.

Fair value?  Walking into a disaster?  I'm planning to take it to my shop
for an inspection this week, and I think he'd take closer to $6,000.

Any advice/thoughts will be most appreciated.

TJK

--
Todd J. Kaderabek, Director of Production
Lark Books, Fiberarts Magazine, Folkwear Patterns
50 College Street
Asheville, NC   28801
Phone: (828) 253-0467, X 331
Fax: (828) 253-7952
todd@larkbooks.com