Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 09:38:24 -0800
Reply-To: il cikaspers <cikasper@MAIL.CRUZIO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: il cikaspers <cikasper@MAIL.CRUZIO.COM>
Subject: Re: Fw: buying cars sight unseen
In-Reply-To: <02f401c17fd8$cc989620$61b10842@hawaii.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>> > People buy cars they haven't seen all over the world. In many countries,
>> you
>> > buy a car then they build it.
>
> I bought my 1989 syncro westy a year and a half ago without driving it or
> seeing it in person.
i did the same thing with my '87 syncro westfalia this past spring. not
even a picture until after i'd put $1K down on it. i did drill the seller
about what it was like, all questions asked with the help of the list
standing behind me. but when you get a deal like i did (no gory details
for the squeamish) you have to jump or it will disappear.
i had the van shipped from north carolina to santa cruz for $1K, and it was
worth it. it had just 5000 miles on it since '92, though it was worked
hard before that (120K mi from 87-92). the right head has a slight weep,
the lower end is pretty tired, one of the long coolant pipes is now cracked
(5000 miles later), and the transmission leaks from two seals (very
slowly). it was dirtier inside than described, but cleaned up very well.
had one dent on the rear panel behind the air scoop on the driver's side
that had been pretty well removed, and no rust.
i've changed the transmission/differential fluid (redline MT90 in the rear
and MTL in the front), the oil twice, replaced the fuel injection hoses and
seals, got a k&n air filter, new expansion bottle and sender for the
coolant light, new belts, new alternator, new poptop seal, and new domestic
water hoses. i pulled the interior and completely cleaned it to the paint,
and then did a half-bulley with asphaltic mastic sheets on the sheet metal
from the back deck all the way to the front seats. and i cut through the
main plywood floor and put in tracks for a single captain's chair, and we
got the captain's chair.
next project? replacing the long coolant hoses with the shields marine wet
exhaust hose, flushing the cooling system, and getting those tranny leaks
solved.
would i do it again? in a minute. i got a '87 syncro westy for the price
of a good deal on an '87 westy and it already has become a family favorite.
and it introduced me to the people of this list, and i have already had the
great pleasure of meeting not a few of you. without exception we're
eccentric people who have great passion for living and for our vans.
having not said thanks in a while, i say thank you to all who have helped...
bill
'87 syncro westfalia
santa cruz, ca
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