Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 02:26:44 -0600
Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: F.S. '88 Westy, 53K orig., $8,500
In-Reply-To: <001a01c4c2df$77e7ec00$2731b83f@computer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Gerald:
Certainly the biggest consideration is the mileage. that low mileage
means something. Good care, no wear or damage is a big deal, too.
Is the heater a Trumatic? There are a couple of other brands, too.
My brother got the same head deal from VW on an 87 he had, so it sounds
believable to me. VW musta put the wrong antifreeze in it!
Somewhere I read that when you see great art, you can tell it, not by
the mind, but rather by the feeling you get in your gut.
I'm a great believer in buying cars for similar reasons, not logic. If
you feel it in your GUT- go for it.
(If you need objective reasons, go read Consumer Reports, get a Dattoy
Honhun. I also don't give a rat's for what the Magliocchi bros say.)
Al Brase
Gerald Masar wrote:
>URGENT! Please help me make up my mind on this. I am not selling it, but just came
>back from looking at it. I REALLY have never wanted to get into owning a stable of
>Vanagons.
>Current and only vehicle is '90 Westy with 165K.
>It really does look like that mileage is correct. Some soil on upholstery. Outside
>like new.
>It has been well cleaned and the engine cleaned like new, so it was impossible to tell
>about leaks. Thing I noticed right off, the overflow tank was down to the intake tube.
>But then I noticed the braided hose from right head to the coolant ring around top of
>engine compartment was kinked and damp right at the connection to the plastic pipe. It
>had been attached there with a nylon wire tie. I fixed that for the guy and filled his
>overflow tank.
>I think that may have been the leak. He was not aware of the tank being dry. He
>doesn't do his own work.
>More info on the van. Dark blue (Orly?), auto trans, all power options plus alarm
>system (disconnected). Alloys with good tread on Big O brand 205/70 m&s.
>Right side
> power window wasn't working, so he already had it at his mech who has the panel off
>and a part on order from "the big city". We're out in the sticks here.
>Propane fired forced air furnace in the bottom compartment next to the water tank,
>uses OUTSIDE air and is vented to outside. No aux. battery so he uses a power -pack to
>run it.
>Second propane tank under the right side. Gray water holding tank under the left side.
>
>After fixing the leak, I drove it. Handled well and certainly quieter than mine. But I
>was watching the temp gauge and it went to half way between the LED and top mark, but
>no more. Didn't hear the fan, but the outside temp was only about 68º. Also, I was not
>used to driving an automatic.
>
>One question for me. Looking at the front of engine compartment, at what I think is
>the torque conv., there is an opening in the top, about 4" wide. You can see the thing
>spinning. Is there supposed to be a cover over that?
>
>So, what do you think about the price? I am afraid I was too enthusiastic, so he
>probably won't come down.
>NOW, if I don't buy it, I will post the contact info to the list tomorrow probably
>after noon MST. The bad news, you better have your plane ticket ready. The van is in
>rural Arizona.
>
>Sorry for the long msg, but I am stoked and it could be a once-in-a-lifetime deal.
>
>Jerry
>P.S. Just thought of more. I have some pics but it was getting dark so don't know how
>they will be. The A/C works and is still R12 and has new compressor.
>The van came from Ohio where it was garaged and been garaged here.
>At 20K miles (don't know the year) he said the heads developed some cracks and even
>though it was out of warranty, VW replaced them.
>All new v-belts. New skylight.
>Okay, the owners are originally from Germany and on trips, they brought the furnace
>(more than $500), the new skylight and insect screen for sliding door with them.
>
>Did I say I was exdcited?
>
>
>
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