Date:         Wed, 29 Dec 2004 20:54:29 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: '88 Westy value?
In-Reply-To:  <3872334.1104373383273.JavaMail.jrunberg@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I'm tending toward shawn's point of view. I have a 90 carat in
near-perfect shape except for a couple of minor body mishaps and some
fiberglass bumpers that need work. I'm thinking of selling it and
putting the money into perfecting the diesel westy, upgrading to a
turbo, etc. I drive it all the time. I am about to drive to NY with a
load of my daughter's furniture, and the Carat's the best hauler
because it's bigger. But the diesel is really the most fun to drive,
and definitely the most fun to work on. I'm replacing the head gaskets
on my waterboxer starting this weekend... Grrrrrr.

And if your diesel's maxing out at 50, it sounds like something is
wrong. I easily drive 65 and don't go any faster because I've been told
it would shorten the engine life, not because it won't go any faster.
Is it slow? Sure, about like my old aircooled '69. But it keeps up
pretty well, and when you put them both on the continuum of automotive
performance that's out there today, they're both pretty much on the
same spot.

Jim

Jim

On Dec 29, 2004, at 8:23 PM, John Runberg wrote:

> Shawn,
>
> I'll chime in here. Owned a 82 diesel for a little while, have an 84
> westy now and refuse to give up my 90 which I don't have time to work
> on.
>
> There are HUGE differences between your two vans. Here are a couple
> that stick in my mind:
> - soundproofing is good on the 88, almost non-existant on the 82. You
> can add it back (and do better) but why? That diesel is *loud* too.
> - power steering is useful. I wish my 84 had it since it makes
> negotiating small spaces at low speed easy.
> - interior bits are much better in the 88. This includes all the
> plastic bits, dash, cabinets, etc...
> - engine options: a stock diesel is a capable engine, but anemic.
> You'll get there, but with a max speed of 50mph it'll take awhile. You
> can always put a diesel into your 88 -- and it'll be better.
>
> I'd drive the 82 for awhile and see if you like it. We sold our diesel
> since we didn't use it and the increased fuel economy was not worth
> all the drawbacks. You might disagree.
>
> john
>