Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2017 10:56:33 -0800
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Regarding raised bar
In-Reply-To: <CAKBchppeH0Cf6jdeEE2XC4CYZaE3UCdLUJt2rqiLqE891m0iLw@mail.gmail.com>
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I bought my camper to use for camping. I could afford it, and it was in
decent shape. I expected to spend money on it. I did not expect inflation
on its value to earn money for me. Were it an investment, I would have
declared to cost to be a tax deduction, and then would expect to pay taxes
on the difference (less expenses) when I sold the investment, just as I do
with other investments.
When I sell it, I will probably get more than I paid for it, and
considerably more than it cost new in 1991. The used Kubota tractor I am
considering buying exhibits the same phenomenon. The price, vetted on
several sources, is about double what it cost new in 1995. That is called
inflation, and on quality used tractors, might be called hyperinflation.
That is what we are seeing with VW campers.
Is one that the current owner has spent a lot of money on "worth" what the
owner wants for it? I guess it may be to someone, but right now, as many
of them as there are around still, though they are cult vehicles, they are
not yet collector's vehicles. Collector's vehicles are kept in protected
conditions, driven only for show. They mostly are in, or the owner attempts
to keep them in, new or like new condition. Originality is important.
Most of us use our VW campers, and if there is a modification we find
useful, we implement it. They have mostly had many after market parts
installed. Restoration is not the same thing as original, at least
according to the collector vehicle market, and is worth less than original.
Well, here's to VW campers. I will be using mine heavily starting this
spring.
mcneely
On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 9:21 AM, bernie <1234bjs@gmail.com> wrote:
> I agree with Jim. Just because we are a very close community does not mean
> that when
> I go to sell mine I can ask 60,000 and hope to get support from this
> community due to the fact that they don't make them anymore. It is worth as
> has been said, what someone will pay. Maybe this one is worth what is asked
> but I don't think so. I would certainly hope that we could share opinions
> on these matters without being accused of not being "being helpful".
> I have just enjoyed reading "Small Wonder: A History of Volkswagen'". Part
> of the appeal of Volkswagen has always been that they were affordable and
> the vehicle of people. I defend his right to spend and modify and ask
> whatever he wants for it. However if you are saying Roger that you don't
> think it appropriate that some of us comment on a price such as this I
> would most certainly disagree. No one really knows what a vehicle like this
> is worth on the used vanagon market. It's the most expensive one I have
> seen.
> As far as this seller getting his asking price increasing the value of the
> average vanagon I don't think so. Did you benefit from increased prices
> when you sold yours Roger? Did you reacquire one?
> I think it perhaps safe to say that most of us love our vanagons for the
> simplicity and utilitarian aspect.
> Would I love mine anymore if I spent 70,000 dollars on him.
> No I would not. I would be afraid of altering who he really is.
> Secondly would I expect to see that 70,000 dollars added to price when I
> sell it?
> No I would not.
> Roger, looking at what we spend on our vehicles calling them an investment
> is a bit of joke.
> Yes the value of them may be increasing but
> they don't meet my definition of investment.
> "The action or process of investing money for profit or material result".
> We love them, we drive and we fix them.
> They are not cheap to keep on the road.
> Most of us do not buy them for investments.
> You have owned two Roger have they been investments for you? Please share
> how they have been investments?
> Perhaps you have some secrets to share with
> us that we could all benefit from.
> We are a helpful and supportive community made up of very independent
> people it will be a sad day indeed when we don't feel we can share an
> opinion for fear of not being "helpful".
>
> Bernie
>
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