Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 11:40:21 -0600
Reply-To: Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
Subject: Re: Should I buy a 1989 WOLFSBURG?
In-Reply-To: <37C96599293CB041A874A9C4EA4AC84A161F70@dalex.kimley-horn.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Andy,
That sounds like a great plan -- buying a Vanagon with a bad engine to put a
wonderful VW I-4 in it. It maybe just the cheapskate in me, but $2200
sounds just a little high for a vehicle that needs that much work.
The spare tire is located under the front of the Vanagon and it rests on a
round metal tray you lower for access. The jack in my Vanagon is under the
rear seat in the storage bin.
Chris.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Andy Yarnell
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 10:50 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Should I buy a 1989 WOLFSBURG?
Dear list Gurus,
I think I may have found the Vanagon I have been looking for, but I have
some questions for those on the list who have experience in buying used
Vanagons. It is a 1989 Wolfsburg, 103k, with gray/blue interior. All the
power stuff works, windows, door locks, and mirrors, all the fans work,
a/c seems good, and no signs of the tunnel falling down.
The rear heater core is probably shot, I gives off that coolant smell
when you run the fan. The right rear tail light is broken out, I am
hoping he will replace it before I drive it off the lot. I was unable to
get the cruise control to work, how hard is that to trouble shoot?
Windshield and glass in good shape. Interior overall is average, no
major rips, a couple of cig burns here and there. I ran a Carfax, and
the only flaw was a failed E-test last year. The dealer has a current
passed E-test, so I am not too worried about that. The mileage is below
average. According to the Carfax, it is a two owner vehicle.
This is a dumb question, but, where is the spare tire and jack located?
I need to make sure that there is one, and in decent shape.
The engine is shot, leaking coolant (hard to tell where from) but on the
test drive the temp gauge was half way, and the light was on most of the
time. I noticed small drips of oil and coolant half way through the test
drive. The oil light did the flickering thing at warm idle, and the
buzzer went off while I was coming to a stop once. The muffler is almost
completely rusted away, and will need replaced with the engine
conversion.
I am planning on doing the Tiico I-4 swap as soon as I get the vanagon,
so the bad engine has been my bargaining tool more than anything.
The used car guy wants $2200. I feel that it is a solid van and I
checked as much as I could on the test drive using the check list off
Vanagon.com. There are a few cosmetic flaws that can be replaced or
fixed cheaply, and I plan on doing the work myself (the engine swap by
me and a mechanic friend, in my garage)
The tires will need replacing, but as far as I could tell the suspension
is good.
The automatic trans seemed smooth, considering the engine was really
having trouble making good HP. It shifted smoothly and consistently.
What is the life span of the automatic trans in the Vanagon, should I be
looking at replacing or rebuild it too?
I guess I am just wanting to get some comments from those who care to
comment, and see if you all think the price is fair, and what I might
try to barter the price down more. I am buying it from a used car lot,
and the guy doesn't know much of anything about Vanagons, and seems
motivated to sell it.
Andy Yarnell
Computer Aided Drafting & Design
Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
1515 Arapahoe Street - Tower 1, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 228-2300
Fax: (303) 446-8678
Email: andrew.yarnell@kimley-horn.com
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