Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:23:30 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Opinions-More Thoughts
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"; reply-type=original
sounds a bit grim to me....this van.
All I can say is .......
I have an extremely strong feeling that it will 'want money' for quite a
long while.
you don't seem concerned about the engine , yet coolant was low, maybe it
needs head gaskets ( I always do a valve job at the same time ) ...and
exhaust work, which if you buy new pipes and all, can really add up.
I have checked out hundreds of cars and vanagons over the years,
professionally ..
on this one I would say ...
first, just think about it.
if someone else gets it ...it will be their pile of problems and you will be
relieved of all that.
if you 'really' like the van, or can visulize owing it and making it right
..
sit down and make a list of all the repairs you know of it needs...
price them as though you were paying someone to fix it right ....
then add those numbers up.
then you say to the seller.....
well, I like the van, but after checking on some things I see where I could
easily spend 1,500 up to whatever, like up to 3,000 on it ( ...you mentioned
low brake pedal..
you could easily drive that van to a shop, get a full brake inspection, and
hear back that it needs both ends fully redone plus master cylinder....like
800 bucks or more )
so add all those up,
explain if you want to, nicely, to the seller it's as much as $ 4K down from
being a fully roadworthy and safe 85 Woflsburg Weekender...
really ....sounds more like an 1,800 dollar van *tops* needing 2 to 4K work
done to it, in the end, by the time everything is fully back to full spec
and worthiness and safety.
not trying to sell you my 85 Westy GL ..
( has that good GL uphostery too, not shredomatic ) ..
it's manual trans, AC's been removed, has good PS ....good tent, excellent
fiberglass on top ...
scratches, dings, no big dents, and zero rust throughout. Stove/sink/fridge
and propane tank all removed by the DPO ..and it's that brown , sorry !
but when I am done....there will be nothing that needs attention soon...
doing head gaskets, and valve job now, exhaust will all be stock, and
restored, solid, tight etc. ..
the whole van will be very roadworthy and serviced and fine-tuned
throughout.
as I said early, just getting correct front springs on it is worth up to 500
bucks, and that's done already.
anyway, this Faux Weekedner, which is currently registered and insured, and
a dailly driver except for a few days while I remove the old engine and
install this freshened up one ...anyway, she'll be $ 6K something ...
actually ...it's a 1,200 dollar so 85 Westy GL with about 5K in repairns and
refurbishing done to it throughout.
I would have an automatic myself, but for cost of fuel...
I have to go with a manual trans on vanagons these days.
I have a plan even, 'someday' when I find time to engineer it all...
to have a deal where you use the clutch pedal to start out, but once moving,
declutching is by a push-botton on the shift lever. 'almost'
semi-automatic that way.
and ...
there are two early semi-automatic transmissions...pre-electronics era, that
I could put into a vanagon ...
one is a Stick-shift VW Bug trans ...it's 3 speed manual, but no clutch
pedal at all...
kinda slick actually.
the other is a Porsche 911 ( about 1969 or 70 ) autostick trans ..same
exact technology ..but 4 forward gears, and I bet pretty nice tall gearing
too. I would love to put on of those into a 2WD vanagon.
anyway ..
whatever you so, is my suggestion..
don't pay the asking price , not in this case.
My hunch is it needs a lot.
stuff that the PO should have paid for during the last several years. No
sense you forking out bucks he should have ...so just explain that nicely
and see where he is on the price. And seam rust ...any seam rust can be
very bad news indeed..like tip of the iceburg,
and these vans are totally worth saving and preserving ....just don't be
paying twice for say the brake work...dollars to the seller he should have
spent on it, and dollars out of your pocket fixing that stuff.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "J Stewart" <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 6:18 AM
Subject: Opinions-More Thoughts
OK, well I had a night to sleep on it. I appreciate all the responses from
everyone. I think on the way home last night I had convinced myself I was
going to buy it. I emailed the pics I took of it with my cell phone to
myself so I could open them up on my laptop when I got home to show my wife.
She called it a big brown turd. (something else the seller and I have in
common, his wife doesn't like it either) I think my wife is afraid it will
be a(nother) money pit. If I buy this one, it will be my 10th VW bus
(probably 25th+ VW in total, I can't remember) Even though my wife wants me
to get another one, she wants me to find one that needs no work and is in
excellent condition. With what I have to spend that ain't happening. Now I
have in the past worn the numbers down on my credit cards over these things.
I've paid all that off now, but I think my wife thinks I'll do it again.
I've been to the Bus Depot website and figured out that it needs about
$250.00 in parts right away, exhaust is toast (needs new muffler and
tailpipe, and I'm betting the cat is shot as well). I'd also like to do the
pop top seals as well. Rear hatch struts need replacing too. As for the
upholstery, I'm OK with the seat covers for now. Sewfine? Yeah, absolutely.
I'll get an envelope, hide it in my sock drawer and start squirreling away
5-10 bucks a week until I've saved up enough to recover the seats. I've
learned my lesson on the credit cards. The interest alone that I used to pay
in a year would be enough to restore this Vanagon. Back to the Vanagon
itself: I like the fact that it is a Weekender. After owning a few Bays and
Vanagons that were full Westys, I rarely used the stove/sink. I used the
fridge for dry storage. I also like the fact that it is an automatic, so my
wife and daughter can drive it. I like that it has air conditioning that I
*might* be able to get working again (I had an '84 with air that I fixed) I
don't like the power steering, but then again if I want my wife and daughter
to drive it that may be a good thing. So, immediate needs: brakes and
exhaust. In N. Virginia I have to face emissions and safety inspections, but
short term I can register it as an antique and get around those. Still got
some thinking to do... Jeff
Forgot-One more good karma thing. It has a sticker on the dash of a guitar,
and a Fender guitar sticker on the back. My wife is learning to play the
guitar and is getting quite good, too. I'm trying as well (with my First Act
VW guitar, of course) but, well, I stink.
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