Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:56:43 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Buying a Van - Parts in L.A.
In-Reply-To: <78769CF1-796C-445C-9A1D-C34C2046C7D2@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Wow, you are homing in on all the good guys very quickly! Yes, they all will keep your ride strong and healthy. Specifically..Interstate...they saved my life one time when I needed a thermostat housing for my 1.9...for the princely price of $25 (Car was at the mechanic..I drove over myself to pick up the part....felt like gold in my hands, impossible to procure otherwise!) Yeah!!! Great resource here in Southern California. A short drive for you.
I've been to GoWesty twice (and a regular customer of theirs online...perfect!!...even if they cost a wee bit more, it's worth it for their expertise), went to Buses by The Depot (yep, in Pennslyvania) once in 2008 (Bus Depot) and bought some good stuff, and personally had the magnificent Ken at VanAgain in New Jersey (while on a cross-country road trip) fix my heater control wire mechanism...he even threw in a clutch system diagnostic and a test drive as part of the deal....they were acting funny. Van Cafe....yep....wished I lived closer to them too....they know the ins and outs of Vanagons (never been on their premises) but their reputation is suburb. They give Famous Amos cookies with an order....mine were crumbs when I got them, but my parts were heavy and large (muffler and catalytic converter).
So, YES!!...all of the vendors you mentioned are excellent! Interstate Auto Dismantlers here in SoCal is very fun to explore and deal with. Worth a Saturday trip.
Get "junkyard" parts here at Lake Elsinore from Interstate (or Chris Jordan, list vendor with lots of cars on his property, bet he can find it!), get "new" parts from the vendors listed....try them all, they are all the reason we are still owning Vanagons and not pulling some trailer or dealing with a pickup-truck camper or motorhome.
Rich
San Diego
--- On Sun, 4/24/11, Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
From: Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Fwd: Buying a Van - Parts in L.A.
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, April 24, 2011, 7:06 PM
Well, I've got the van - already fixed a few little things, but I
need some parts. The top hits of a google search and mention here
shows some internet sources:
Go Westy
BusDepot
Van Cafe
Van Again
I live in L.A. so I was wondering if there were any recommendations
in this area. I did find one used parts place 1 1/2 miles from me:
Interstate Auto Dismantlers
Last question - does VW still make parts for these cars? I get the
impression that they do, though I expect they are expensive. Does VW
still service these cars - once more, I'm willing to do most
everything myself, but in a pinch could I stop at a VW dealership and
get the thing repaired or get parts?
Thanks,
Dan
L.A., CA
'85 Westy Weekender
