Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 21:50:24 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Help! Need Advice for Westy Purchase
In-Reply-To: <20030715020845.1F85E48B0@sitemail.everyone.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Sinner saved by His grace wrote:
A tip!!! Vanagons/Westy's are assemblies of parts that are going to wear
out. That is a given that must be accepted. If you can accept that fact,
and are willing to deal with the consequences of that wear they you are
on your way to having an enjoyable relationship with a Vanagon based
vehicle.
Find a vehicle that is basically sound......as good as you can get it,
and then be prepared to spend money, time and effort to bring up to best
condition. Once done you will have a very reliable vehicle. Do not think
for one minute, however, that you will not have to do anything more to
it. The process of maintenance is, quite naturally for any machine, and
ongoing thing. It never ends. But as long as you take care of things
when required or on a prevention schedule you will be able to operate
your vehicle with a minimum of down time.
Get a Bentley's Service Manual, a copy of the ETKA CD, and read
everyting you can in the archives about these machines, visit the web
sites listed on the 'Net for Vanagons, and learn, learn, learn and you
will be a happy camper most of the time.
Good luck,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver (Vanagon #2)
>Dear Vanagon Owners/Experts,
>
>I am new to this forum, and I was wondering if anyone on the vanagon.com mailing list can help me. I am seriously considering the purchase of an '84 Westy, which is located a mere two hours from my home (I actually would prefer an '86 or better Westy, but this is what is nearby). It has only 68K original miles, the body/interior is in excellent condition, and the owner indicated that he will take $3700 for it. However, there are some mechanical problems: it will not go into first gear, there is an oil leak, as well as an exhaust leak. The owner believes that, fixed up, it would sell for over $7000.
>
>I am looking for a functional, economical, and reliable vehicle which I
>can use on trips (I live in the Chicago area, and am originally from the east). My "first love", back in my teenage years (20+ years ago), was for the VW busses. My first vehicle, purchased in 1981, was a '70
>Beetle, which was, unfortunately, a big mistake (many problems--such as
>a bad engine, bad trans, and bad body--likely due to very high mileage); and that had turned me off of VWs for many years. However, I realize that this particular vehicle was a "fluke", so I have not totally given up on them.
>
>Anyway, I feel that the Westy Vanagon would be an ideal purchase for me, as not only would I use it for trips/camping, but since I work for the railroad, and am called in at rather obscene hours (2:30 in the morning to work 12 hours :-0 ), I would also use it for occasional commuting at those hours in case I am too tired to drive home at the end of my day.
>
>What scares me about these vehicles are reports of head gasket problems,("Wasserleakers"?), oil leaks requiring major engine dissassembly, and rebuilt engines selling for $2000 plus labor, and higher-than-average labor costs for VW specialists (though I may be able to work with a friend of mine who has his own shop). Regarding this particular vehicle, it will quite possibly need a tranny rebuild, and since the tranny is out, I may as well have the engine done, so I would be spending $3000, plus labor, just for the powertrain (the AC also needs work).
>
>On the plus side, it has only 68K miles, the body, interior, and camper features are in excellent shape, and if I do have the engine and tranny redone, I would hopefully have a pretty solid vehicle. However, I do not want to overspend, and I was wondering if $3700 would be too much for such a project. Obviously, it would be a keeper once it is all done, but I do not want to go over the "money spent vs. vehicle's value" curve.
>
>Any advice that you can give would be greatly appreciated. You are also welcome to place this on the vanagon.com members' forum (edited for clarity), and/or share this e-mail with other trustworthy owners/mechanics who can give objective advice.
>
>Thank you very much for the favour of your kind assistance with this
>special request.
>
>
>Yours Faithfully,
>
>Sean-Thomas Bickerton
>
>
>_____________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
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