Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 23:04:04 -0700
Reply-To: wilden1@JUNO.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Help! Need Advice for Westy Purchase
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I can remember when I bought my Westy.
It was parked with two passenger wheels up on the curb and covered with
tree sap.
This was about Westy #10 that I had looked at over about twelve months.
You'd really be surprised what the first nine looked like.
The term 'It just needs a rebuilt engine' became such a frequent + factor
in describing these Westy that when the seller on #10 Westy produced a
receipt for a new engine rebuilt by VW of Canada and receipts for
installation by a VW dealer, I was truly impressed.
After some tire kicking and cupboard inspections the owner had his wife
open the top.
Once this thing blossomed to it's full glory I just had to have it.
They had meticulously listed all the little needed repairs and produced a
sizable binder with every receipt they had ever received for Westy
maintenance.
They got me sitting at their kitchen table giving me the third degree
about my VW experience and stated "we want the van to go to somebody that
will care for it properly".
I successfully passed their pre-adoption interview and started counting
out fresh $100.00 bills.
After making a nice neat stack, I didn't know whether to push it across
the table towards the husband or wife. Turns out she gave me the proper
eye response so it went to the lady of the house.
It didn't take me long to make the thirty mile trip home even with a stop
at the car wash to see what was under all the tree sap.
You know what I found?
A really shiny green paint that had been garaged for fifteen years and a
van that had all the love and attention that anyone could ever give a
Westy.
They certainly kept it nice for me ................. Thanks Guys.
I kept it for eight years, I was a good adoptive Westy owner.
Stan Wilder
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 21:50:24 -0500 John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
writes:
> 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
> >
> >
> >_____________________________________________________________
> >Sign up for FREE email from JesusPeople.com at
> http://www.jesuspeople.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!
| 
