Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 22:38:47 -0800
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Newbie considering purchase of 88 "Transporter"
In-Reply-To: <c53.cc43e19.32d2153b@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Just to chime in here on this particular Doka.......
Up until recently, I was in serious negotiations with this Doka owner about
buying it and did not have any issues with the price (hey, it's a Doka
remember?). However, he was very reluctant to and finally adamant about not
having it road tested and a full inspection by a very trusted mechanic
friend. He would only allow it to be "viewed" and "looked at" and to be
taken for a drive with my mechanic as a rider in a parking lot only. I
respectfully withdrew as I was not going to make this kind of purchase from
such a long distance without having it fully road tested and inspected as I
have always done with ANY vehicle for the past 4 decades. This Doka is on
the East Coast and I'm in Southern California, so I wasn't about to shell
out some serious cabbage to drive it home without checking it out first.
He did follow through with an adequate carfax. His quote however "That is,
these were imported and estimates range from 40-70 trucks TOTAL in the
USA." is a bit inaccurate since all them went into Canada in the first place
and then they made their way across the border because many of them did have
the USDOT stuff already on 'em. The carfax shows it spent it's first ten
years in Canada (Quebec I think), a couple of years in PA and few years in
GA. (BTW, if anyone on the list wishes to see this carfax, please pmail me
and I will forward it to you).
A few other details - The owner resides in Waynesboro, VA, but the Doka is
in storage in Dublin, just south of Roanoke, VA. He has had a concurrent ad
on the Samba for this since last March.
After my encounter with him, I would really be "gun shy" about recommending
this Doka.
My nickel's worth.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
*See You At Buses By The Bridge XI*
**********************************
On 1/7/07, JordanVw@aol.com <JordanVw@aol.com> wrote:
>
> In a message dated 1/6/07 8:59:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU writes:
>
>
> > Stumbled across this on autotrader.com, it is a Vanagon "Transporter"
> > which is just quirky enough to grab my interest. The seating and
> > configuration in this one would be ideal for my needs.
> >
> > Price seems insane, I guess owing to the scarcity of this particular
> > configuration, but still... what did they sell for new? Could not
> > have been a lot more than that.
> >
> > I've been advised it's a money pit due to the engine and the exhaust.
> > I've never owned a Vanagon before; I did own a '91 Jetta which I
> > bought new and it was very trouble-free for the nearly 190,000 miles I
> > owned it.
> >
> > http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=206174920
> >
> >
>
> the doublecabs ("Dokas") and singlecabs were never officially sold in the
> USA. that one is most likely a canadian model. notice the rear reflectors
> and
> the north american front turn signals, means its a north american model,
> not a
> european model. actually that color - tornado red - is very rare for a
> non-tri-star doka..(Tri-Stars were fancy dokas) its also got power mirrors
> which are
> rare for a doka., the factory alloys were probably added but they make a
> nice
> touch.
> thats a sweet truck... and the price is reasonable. reason it prolly
> hasnt
> sold is alot of people are scared off about the owners claims of it being
> a
> "domestic version"
>
> to my knowlege VWOA never officially imported any into the USA, though i
> could be wrong. it could have been special ordered for a VW dealer (thus
> the
> color) ..who knows..
>
> there are alot of people on this list who have been scared by the
> prospects
> of bringing in a vehicle from another country. then there are the folks
> who
> arent scared, and they own Transporter trucks and are enjoying them.
>
> if you like it, buy it.. the trucks are definately attention getters
> because
> of their rarity.. i like the trucks too, and i bought one as well and
> brought
> it in from canada.
>
> chris
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