Date:         Wed, 29 May 2002 00:19:20 -0700
Reply-To:     R Blake <blake@OAKHARBOR.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         R Blake <blake@OAKHARBOR.NET>
Subject:      87 westy buying advice
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

New guy on the hunt for westy.  I know this has been asked a few 100 times here on the list.
Looking for words of wisdom on an 87 GL 
with 113000miles I found for $7200.  Interior clean and everything 
functional.  Exterior has many small scratches and a few dinks.  Upper 
seals are ok but will need replaced in next couple years probably.  
Windshield frame has a few small rust spots behind seal lip.  1 head has 

been changed recently and both head gaskets.  Water pump changed.  New 
hoses and belts.  No obvious leakage from engine.  Idles a bit lopey but 

not all the time (suspect ISV needs cleaned).  Runs good on the road and 

drives ok but suspension feels a bit squishy, (I usually drive a 88 GTi 
so squishy is probably normal).  Has auto trans and good a/c.

I've done some research and have seen various pricings for these 
vehicles and it is hard to pinpoint a good price for any given specimen. 

The blue book values don't seem to mean much to sellers and buyers with 
these things.  The really clean/restored ones are 10k and above it 
seems.  This one seems little above average and probably will need some 
major TLC after a couple more years.  Advice on if this is a fair deal or 
what else to look for would be appreciated.

Rich Blake
88 GTi16v
88 Jetta=20
01 NB 1.8t
85 Quantum
84 Rabbit
???westy???