Date:         Wed, 29 Nov 2006 06:04:10 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: What to do: Keep or Sell?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

Think of it like this: How much work/improvement could you have done for the
$1250 you've lost from the sale you had if you do manage to sell it at $8K?
I'm thinking that selling these vans (the Westys, anyway) is more like
flipping a house than it is selling a car.
You need to figure out what you could expect to get for it in a given
condition, how much it would cost to get it in that condition, and how much
you would expect to gain at sale from the 'investment'.
This is, of course, basically ignoring what you already have in it- I
realize the analogy doesn't necessarily stretch so far as to actually making
a profit, unless you're GoWesty or Poptopwhatever.
And like Eric the Joe says, it helps tremendously to do as much work
yourself as you can. A monkey ought to be able to swap out a cat/muffler
(and for a good bit less than $600).
If you've undervalued it as much as Chris thinks you have it may well be
worth taking the time and effort to at least correct those obvious red
flags.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "-------------" <VW4X4@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 5:43 AM
Subject: Re: What to do: Keep or Sell?


> If you look at the cost of repair of the vanagon in general
> (not doing the work yourself)  Vanagon are in no way cost
> effective.   You have to come up with some real good other
> reasons to drive a vanagon other than cost.  Now start doing
> your own work, and they are much more financially justifiable.
>
> You have to come up with other reason other than cost
> to keep a vanagon around.
>                                   Joe. W
>
>
>
> dusty edwards wrote:
>
>> I haven't posted here in a long time, but i need some good advice.
>>
>> The pickle is as follows:
>> After much thought, I've decided to sell my beloved 1990 Westy.  I just
>> moved to California and have taken a high-responsibility job that
>> occupies much of my time - not to mention the 8 month old baby that my
>> wife and i have.  It only made sense to sell our westy in hopes of
>> buying another one someday.  I posted the westy to craigslist at a
>> reasonable price of $9250.
>>
>> I HAD a buyer from out of state.  This was good b/c the westy wouldn't
>> have to pass CA SMOG.  I had a deposit on the vehicle and finaly got it
>> into a mechanic for him to make sure that it's ready for the trek back
>> to his home state.  The mechanics report came back somewhat negative,
>> reporting many leaks and pointing out rust underneath.  My buyer has
>> backed out.
>>
>> Although I'd love to just stop pursing the sale of the vehicle, i kind
>> of had my heart set on replacing it with a motorcycle and saving some
>> money on payments and insurance.  The biggest problem here is timing;
>> not only is my CO registration running out (in december), but the westy
>> will have to pass CA SMOG to be registered in CA.  It won't pass b/c
>> the muffler has a hole in it; it and the cat would need to be replaced
>> - i'm guess-timating about $600 in work.
>>
>> All that said, the vehicle runs GREAT!  But, i know it's a matter of
>> time before more money will need to be dumped into it, which i'm NOT
>> excited about doing, nor do i have the money to do.  I'm thinking that,
>> at this point, i should just drop the price to $8K and post it to
>> craigslist again.  Part of me says that it would just make more sense
>> to keep it, but then i remember how nice it would be to wash my hands
>> clean of it.
>>
>> Any advice?  You guys have always been so helpful and insightful in
>> times like these.  Thanks!
>> dusty.
>>  |___|_|_|__\
>>  |___|__-|-__|
>>  "(o)-----(o)--"
>>
>>