Date:         Mon, 2 Apr 2007 09:21:51 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Blue Book pricing reliable?
Comments: To: James Creech <jacreech@starband.net>
In-Reply-To:  <000001c77531$bc7fae00$357f0a00$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

>   I'm wondering what stats KBB would be using to set their average
> prices, with so few of these vehicles being sold.


As I understand it, they have a fairly sophisticated formula that adjusts
for local price variations and condition, and gives you a pretty accurate
price for "normal" vehicles. It says my 1990 non-westy is worth about $2800,
which is a pretty good guess for a vehicle with 210,000 miles. Mine's worth
a bit more than that, but they only know that it has 210,000 miles, so they
assume it has all the original factory parts that are ready to die. That's
really the weakness of Kelley Blue Book: uses mileage as a "wear gauge". A
meticulously maintained Vanagon with rebuilt engine and tranny and new hoses
and radiator is worth significantly more. The "touchy" nature of Vanagon
engines is such that there are only two kinds: those that have been rebuilt
and maintained properly, and those that are about to die. KBB kind of
averages between the two and quotes a price that isn't exactly appropriate
for either. In the first two years I dumped about $10K in parts alone (I do
my own labor) into my Vanagon. Nearly all the critical wear parts have been
repaired or replaced. At 210K miles I have a better, more reliable vehicle
than ANY of the ones I've seen for sale locally with ~100K miles. By KBB, I
figure my Vanagon is the equivalent of a "regular" car with 60K miles on it.

And when it comes to RARE vehicles, KBB is totally off the reservation. It
says an '87 Westy with 100K miles is $6,600 or so, and that the "4WD" option
only makes it worth $8,850!

Basically, it's a good place to start. Try  You might also poke around ebay,
Craig's List, and theSamba just to get a range of what people are asking.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"