Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:38:30 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: first time buyer
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimCoL_c-SHWq84uioYudDkNPE0gNEbQfCayjtOH@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Regarding spending more up front: Unless you are a cracker jack VW mechanic, it might be difficult to tell if the more money up front is money well spent. For example, a rebuilt engine, documented, does not mean a good rebuilt engine. Same for transmission. New fuel lines, new coolant lines, new radiator -- all could be less than desired. So ...... .
Just one experience, but I can believe that regardless of what you pay initially, unless you find a way to know the vehicle inside out before committing and can truly trust that it is in top shape, you are going to spend around 15-20K all told, including purchase, repairs, and deferred maintenance before you are happy with what you have. I would be very hesitant to pay that much in purchase price. In fact, I really, really doubt that I would. GoWesty claims even more, but some of the work they would do is renovation that most of us don't need done. Of course, their vehicles sell for upwards of 40K.
My receipts for purchase, repairs, maintenance for two years now total just over $16K. I do minor, easy things myself (minor, easy is defined differently by different folks -- for me, if it is more difficult than an oil change or a fuel filter replacement, it is beyond minor, easy), and hire more difficult work done. Those jobs have included a new gas tank, a new radiator, new coolant hoses all around, new fuel lines all around, some other coolant related work, water pump (two, but I didn't to pay for the second, at least not the full price) ........ .
McNeely
---- Brad Pauly <bpauly@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Hi Doug,
>
> I might be looking at an '84 Westy this week. Thanks for the straight
> advice on what it could cost. I am definitely leaning towards spending
> more money up front. I think I need to take a big step back and add
> some padding in my "what am I willing to spend" calculation to account
> for whatever might need to be done to get the van where I want it to
> be. These numbers are really helpful. I know every van is different,
> but even a ballpark helps.
>
> Cheers,
> Brad
>
> On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 11:15 AM, Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Brad -- welcome to the list. You've already received some good links to
> > peruse. I bought an 84 Westy 12 years ago. My advice is to spend the most
> > money you can upfront to get the best van you can afford. The expresion
> > 'needs a little work' ranks up there with with 'the cheque is in the mail'
> > as one of the big lies in history. If you can't/aren't willing to do the
> > work yourself you're going to be buying your mechanic a Mercedes.
> >
> > One of the replies to your post said you'd be looking at 5 to 10K to get
> > your van in shape. I agree with that. It may not come all at once -- but it
> > will. I paid $6500 to get my van on the road 12 years ago -- since then I
> > estimate I have about $30K invested in it. New engine, new trans, new darn
> > near everything.
> >
> > Took a lot of years to work out but now my van is reliable, looks great and
> > is much less likely to be seen stranded at the side of the road.
> >
> > You can't put a price on the travels, adventures, and places we've seen --
> > but if you were going to it adds up to $250 a month about the price of a car
> > payment or a lease.
> >
> > But it really is best to put the money in upfront rather than dribs and
> > drabs (some of them large) along the way. I bought a cheap fixer-upper
> > because I was unconvinced that my wife would be into the Westy lifestyle.
> > She turned out to be an instant die-hard (who knew).
> >
> > If I was doing it again I would look for a rust-free hulk with a blown
> > engine and trans. Rust-free is very important. Then I'd get someone to put
> > in an engine conversion (I have an I4 in mine) and a rebuilt trans and while
> > that was going on I'd look at stuff like rad/gastank/brakelines. You could
> > probably do that for about 15K --- but you'd have a van that was going to be
> > trouble free for a long time.
> >
> > I wish you good luck and hope to meet you down the road someday.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Doug
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM, Brad Pauly <bpauly@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Everyone,
> >>
> >> I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge. 10 years ago I was
> >> searching pretty seriously but never pulled the trigger. This time I
> >> think I'm ready. I was hoping to get some first time buyer advice.
> >> I've been looking for '86 and newer Westys. Originally I was set on a
> >> full camper, however, I think I'd be really happy with a weekender (at
> >> least at first).
> >>
> >> I'm not really a "car guy." I'm actually an engineer on paper so I can
> >> understand most of that stuff. I do like tinkering, but it's been with
> >> bicycles all my life which are decidedly less complex. I have two main
> >> questions.
> >>
> >> Should I avoid out-of-state vans? Not having experience working on
> >> cars it makes me a little nervous. If I could find a good local
> >> mechanic to make sure things are okay I'd feel much better though.
> >>
> >> What about older vans? Am I needlessly limiting myself with '86 and newer?
> >>
> >> Thanks for any advice or feedback!
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> Brad
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > http://www.dougalcock.com
> >
--
David McNeely
| 
