Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:21:53 -0700
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Finally, I spotted a Westy in my own driveway.
In-Reply-To: <dad0e8a40608182100j501defa1i5791e138f430e71@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>where are you located?
Richmond, Virginia.
--- Florian Speier <groups.florian@gmail.com> wrote:
> Welcome and congratulations!
>
> Sounds like you found a wonderful Westy that fits
> your needs. Hope you have
> many fun holidays in it...... BTW, where are you
> located?
>
> Florian
> ...driving another charcoal grey '87 GL fourspeed
> Westy
>
>
>
> On 8/18/06, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > And it's a beauty! An '87 GL full camper in
> charcoal
> > grey with grey interior, it's a van I've been
> seeing
> > in town for a few years and which I have long
> admired.
> > I never spoke with the owner or left a note, but
> > while on the way to do some errand last Sunday I
> saw
> > it parked on a main thoroughfare with a For Sale
> sign
> > in the kitchen window. I bounced in my seat and
> said,
> > "She's selling it," and swooped to the curb for a
> > look.
> >
> > For a van in such good shape and so obviously well
> > cared for, it seemed unlikely that I'd be the
> first
> > person to call about it, but I was. The initial
> > inspection showed a van in great condition with a
> > spotless interior, no dents or scrapes, no rust
> and no
> > leaks. A test drive, my first ride in a Vanagon,
> > revealed smooth but leisurely 4-speed performance
> that
> > will require a change in my approach to driving,
> but
> > I'll adjust.
> >
> > It's not perfect; the A/C needs to be charged, the
> > canvas has a couple of worn spots, and the hatch
> > struts require broomstick assistance, but there
> are
> > some thoughtful mods like the closet door mod to
> clear
> > the rear table, and the like. The pre-buy
> inspection
> > revealed green coolant instead of blue, and
> there's an
> > intermittent no-start issue that will require
> further
> > diagnosis, but overall I don't think there's a
> better
> > van out there for the money; certainly not for a
> van
> > that moved from across town to within 3 blocks of
> my
> > house before going on sale. It came to find me.
> How
> > could I not buy it?
> >
> > The seller has owned it since '92 and she bought
> it
> > with 23K miles. The odometer is broken but her
> > meticulous records in a spiral-bound "life book"
> > document every fill up, every repair, probably
> every
> > strange noise. The sale includes a Bentley manual
> and
> > every record since new, and the van has all
> screens
> > and even the Munchkin ice cube trays. My wife,
> who
> > has been a witness to the development of this
> Vanagon
> > fascination for the last few years, is even
> beginning
> > to be interested in it herself, planning what
> supplies
> > and accoutrements will fit where.
> >
> > At this point I'd like to thank everyone on this
> list
> > for all the wisdom you've shared, which has
> permitted
> > me to know what to look for and make what I'm sure
> is
> > a good choice on my first Vanagon purchase. I'm
> sure
> > I'll have plenty more questions as the miles and
> days
> > of Westy ownership accumulate. We'll see you out
> > there.
> >
> > Stephen & Karen
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> >
>
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