Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:51:38 -0700
Reply-To: Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Buying a Van - Parts in L.A.
In-Reply-To: <6B9226AD-7E88-4B39-A3E2-80810AAB1F3B@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Bob and others,
Thanks for the link to roadhaus - I just went over their list of
local mechanics and found some potentially good ones near me.
There's also a guy really close to me who, though not a VW
specialist, is an excellent mechanic (and a true character). I do
want to bring my Van in to a good mechanic who knows vanagons just to
get a safety check, and overview on any mechanical work that needs to
be done by someone who knows the idiosyncrasies of an '85 vanagon.
> A suggestion: change your mind set, or thinking about your "new"
> vehicle. You talk about maintaining it as though it's NOT a 20-
> something y/o vehicle that not many current shops will be willing to
> work on, and CERTAINLY not any VW dealerships, with only
> very rare exceptions. There are, for example, no VW dealerships
> in the city I live in that will consider working on, even an oil
> change,
> for a vanagon.
I hear you all on the dealerships. My other "classic" (a '66 triumph
spitfire) has no dealerships since triumph is defunct, so I'm used to
(and prefer) doing it myself. I didn't really expect VW to want to
deal with it, and I've never liked taking cars to dealerships except
when on warranty. Just checkin the possibilities.
Thanks again for the responses everyone!
Dan
L.A., CA
'85 Westy Weekender
PS - On a side note: I did check the gas lines - most look good, but
I will replace since it's obvious they haven't been in the last few
years. They are scary - sitting right over the exhaust
pipes.... :^O A little design issue there. I'm surprised they
aren't metal tubes over the engine with a rubber one going to the gas
tank to take the vibrations.
On Apr 24, 2011, at 8:05 PM, Robert Stevens wrote:
>>
>> 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?
>
> Has this link been suggested to you yet?
> http://www.roadhaus.com/
>
> Spend a few hours searching all the links at that site, even for shops
> in your area that may be recommended for work on Vanagon's.
>
> http://www.roadhaus.com/shops_advanced_search_results2.php
>
> Bob
| 
