Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:38:56 -0800
Reply-To: "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Subject: Re: Slightly Overpriced GL on The Samba
In-Reply-To: <4D0F71F5.8030207@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Ken,
NJ isn't the Northeast. Have you seen what cars look like in
Massachusetts?
You are of course right about the rubber and so forth. But the real
question is what is the opportunity cost to buying a Vanagon? Sure,
you can take time off from work, fly to Arizona (from Boston), inspect
the vehicle, maybe do this a couple of times because the ads are
"optimistic," buy something like this for $4000, try to drive it home,
have the hoses fail in Oklahoma, destroy the engine, hire a hauler to
get the thing to Massachusetts, and then start restoring. I don't know
if all of that is equal to $7000 or not, but it's getting there.
If someone in Massachusetts or New Hampshire or Maine buys this and
knows what they are doing, and then puts four or five thousand into
it, that's not a bad deal. I would much rather start with a body that
has little rust, no patchwork, and so forth.
I know that you have expertise in this area, and I don't question it.
But sometimes expertise narrows your idea of what makes sense. There
are a number of different ways to end up with a nice, reliable Vanagon.
Mark
On Dec 20, 2010, at 7:10 AM, Ken Wilford wrote:
> I agree with Jeff on this one. I live in the North East. I have
> owned
> vehicles like the one in this picture. You come across them from time
> to time, a little old lady or man who bought this van back in 86 and
> kept it inside, used it very little and then died or went into a home.
> Low mileage, sweet body, etc. However, low mileage means less and
> less
> with these vans. Low mileage means that there has been very little to
> no maintenance done and every part that is rubber or plastic is dry
> rotten and just waiting to fall apart when the next person buys it.
> It
> means that inside the engine, it looks like a rat tried to chew his
> way
> out and almost made it. On top of all of that this is an early GL
> where
> the rear seat does not turn into a bed. So it is only good as a
> people
> hauler, not a day camper. I have had these here and sold them for a
> couple of thousand dollars, maybe a little more if they are extremely
> nice, but this isn't the kind of van that even a collector is looking
> for. They want something cool, special or out of the ordinary. Not
> just a plain jane GL with only option being AC.
>
> To compare this with a Go Westy van or other vans being sold is like
> comparing apples and oranges. The vans for sale there have been gone
> through and restored. That is an expensive process but when you are
> done you should have a vehicle that is almost like a remanufactured
> car. It is ready for the road or to show. The vehicle in question
> will
> need extensive work done after the next owner takes possession because
> it just hasn't been driven daily in years and years. It may look good
> now but start using it every day and within six months all of the
> stuff
> will start falling apart. BTDT on these low mileage vans.
>
> We are entering a new age with our Vanagons. It is the age of
> restoration. If you want a nice van, buy a restored one, or restore
> yours. If you want to be burnt buy a low mileage van that has very
> little to no service history.
>
> Just my advice.
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
> Phone: 856-327-4936
> Fax: 856-327-2242
>
>
>
> On 12/19/2010 11:06 PM, Jeff Schwaia wrote:
>> Poking around the Samba today. saw this '86G:
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1056160
>>
>>
>>
>> Only $11.5k!
>>
>>
>>
>> Sure, it's nice, but $11k? Good luck.
>>
>>
>>
>> Advertiser's name is Foolish Frog. Kind of fits.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeff
>>
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