Date:         Thu, 30 May 2002 23:02:02 -0700
Reply-To:     lamusicamellama@JUNO.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Les Shiaman <lamusicamellama@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Thanks for the advice on the 87.  I'm running away from it.
Content-Type: text/plain

Vanagonites -

Thanks for the useful advice and criticisms on my tendencies to go for an
overpriced money pit of a Westy.  I guess you have to follow your gut.  I
wonder though sometimes:  it's not easy to find Westies in good shape in
the first place.  Then I narrow it down because I would like an 87 or
later model. From there I want to see good evidence of preventive
maintenance; yearly coolant flushes, periodic tranny fluid
changes(redline in the manuals), Mahle filters, etc.  Is it too much to
ask to find good owners who are parting with their vans?   I had an 84
for a while, learned a lot but what a hassle.  I fixed it up for the next
owner.  I just have it in my mind that a later model would be more
reliable.

One thing I like to consider is this:  is low mileage really such a good
thing?  When I bought the 84 it had 75, 000 mi.  I bet the PO's let it
sit a lot with that kind of mileage on a 17 year old van.  Then I came
along, drove it 6-7k miles and many problems cropped up.  So maybe it's
better to go for higher mileage(not too high) so that some bugs will be
worked out, not waiting to show up.  I plan to ask any sellers how much
driving they have done in the last 2 years with it.

Well hopefully I'll acquire a westy sometime this year.  One thing's for
sure, I'm not going to rush into any kind of deal.

Thanks again!

Les
Trek 800

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