Date:         Sat, 18 Mar 2000 14:03:53 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon (and bridge) for sale on eBay
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

For those with as much free time as me I copied this ad from eBay--so read
on. I liked the salesmanship. Turns out the Westy without the kitchen is much
better and more convieient than one with a kitchen. Also allows the the bus
to climb hills faster and more efficiently by taking away the 400 pound (?)
kitchen "It has no trouble on any hill". And of course this Vanagon has that
"normal" valve tapping sound. And sheep skins on the front courderoy seats
(better look under that sheepskin).

Reminds me of the guy that sold me my first Vanagon who told me that whinning
in the transmission was normal for a VW bus of this vintage. "They all do
that" (Don't trust a guy just because he smiles and has gray hair. And if
you're suspicious when he keeps turning up the radio on the test drive it's
probably for a good reason) After I made the purchase the dealer begged to
differ to the tune of $3,500 in parts and labor for a new trans. Don't worry
I did the trans swap myself for about $1,100. I still haven't been able to
get my bus to do that "normal" valve tap like this Wolfsburg, but maybe with
a little more time. And I sure wish I could get my full Westy to go as fast
as 70 MPH. I mean c'mon.

Not to mention the guy publically flogs his wife for denting the thing. I'll
bet he hit the dumpster.

What follows is the seller's notes from eBay:

>Special Wolfsberg Edition Camper. This van has a removable
>refridgerator, a folding table that comes out of the wall, and an extra
>seat behind the driver's seat. It also saves 400 pounds of excess weight
>by not having the HUGE box of a kitchen unit. Without the excess weight
>it scoots around town much easier and faster! It has no trouble on any
>hill and can easily do 70 on the freeway. It also has MUCH more room
>inside.The Wolfsberg Edition has special tan corduroy upholstery and
>"captain's" seats in the front (with sheep skins).Also a sunroof in the
>pop top. Canvas in the pop top is in very good condition. Interior is in
>very good, clean condition. There is a new Sony cassette stereo with 4
>new Kenwood speakers.For the 98% of the time driving around town, the
>lighter, faster van with the extra storage space is much better than
>lugging around that kitchen for the 2% of the time we camped. When we
>did camp, the fridge and a Coleman stove worked just fine. With the
>folding table and extra seat, you can create a very cozy dining area and
>place to hang out.The body has some minor damage. Cosmetic only. My wife
>scraped the sliding door side against a dumpster. Most of the damage is
>on the sliding door with a little on the body panel behind it. I looked
>into a new door from a wrecking yard. They said that, if I was a little
>patient, they could get me one in the same color (desert beige) for
>about $250. The body doesn't look that bad. I put some touch-up paint on
>it. You may want to invest in a new door. It's around $50 labor to put
>it on.This is a high milage van. It has 199K miles on it but MUCH major
>work. In descending order: Both side head gaskets @198K, new clutch and
>transmission @186K, new water pump @181K, new front and rear brakes
>@178K, new catalytic converter and muffler at 165K, valve job @121K.
>Plus regular servicing. I am second owner. Have all paperwork.This car
>is in good running order. The lifters make that characteristic "ticking"
>sound but I understand that is quit


(this is where the ad ended on eBay. If anyone's interested it's at eBay.com
then search Vanagon. if the seller is a listee I'm prepared to be flamed. But
I mean c'mon. The price so far is $1,000 and there are no photos)

Jeff
83.5 Westy
NYC