Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:49:06 -0400
Reply-To: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: The two kinds of Vanagon owner..
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70704250931w48e200c2h95fce2ee2de1a731@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Jeff,
As an educated economist... all I can say is "Price is driven by Supply and
Demand". As the supply of 20+ year old Vanagons continue to diminish, and
the demand is kept high from all those want-a-be owners (and prior owners
who are replacing due to various reasons), you will continue to see a rise
in price. As we have all come to love these machines... it is hard to be
without them. I can't imagine not having my Vanagon, which I have owned
since 1987. It was really hard while it was down for the engine
replacement. Now that I have it back, I realize how much I have missed.
And, in fact my excitement was contagious, as our best friends purchased a
91 Vanagon Westy, with 51k miles on it, for a price much greater than listed
below... and they couldn't be happier!
So, my advise to everyone, look at your Vanagon as an investment in an
appreciating asset! Take great care of it, and keep the excitement up! Who
knows, in 10 years, we may be adding a "0" to the numbers listed below!
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff Lincoln
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 12:31 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The two kinds of Vanagon owner..
Oh I have a third kind of Vanagon owner (or want to be Vanagon owner). THis
is the type that is getting extemely exasperated by the inflated prices
people are asking for Vanagons and Westys in Classified adds. You know the
standard 7 passenger with dents and other issues for $3000 - or the Westy
with the ripped canvas, rust, dents, and non-running for $5500 - Or the nice
Westy that is just that "nice" nothing special but a good Westy that the
person expects to get every penny they ever put into it back out and are
asking $12,000.
People please! Unless these 20 year old vehicles have been gone over ala
Benny Boy or Go Westy is there really any reason to ask this mmuch for these
things? I could be way off base but this to me seems absolutely crazy. I'm
not just talking listings on the Samba either - ebay, Cars.com, westy owners
classifieds, etc. People are doing it everywhere.
Don't get me wrong some of these vans are well worth it - new engine, new
trans, all kind of upgrades and doo dads - fine. But it is getting where
even the classic fixer upper is over priced.
Ok I'm done ranting - Again I could be very wrong and expect a beating here
but it just seems to me that asking prices are very inflated.
Later,
Jeff Lincoln
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