Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (November 1994)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 4 Nov 1994 21:55:09 -0800 (PST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         dbax@netcom.com (Donald Baxter)
Subject:      I'm about to buy an '85 Vanagon (maybe)

I drove it tonight, after a few months of casually looking around I found this one in the paper: 1985 Vanagon GL, 124,000 miles, completely rebuilt engine.

Physically, the body and interior appear to be in good shape. The present owner runs a VW repair shop in Tucker, GA. The only problem he warned me about before driving was steering groan--he said this was the power steering pump. After researching the gopher site, I'm wondering if the rack might be bad. At any rate, he has offered to replace the power steering pump.

Also, after reading the list archives, I'm getting concerned about leaking head gaskets and cooling problems. How much of a problem is this exactly? The rebuild has approximately 18,000 miles on it.

The test drive was impressive, the vehicle didn't seem to drive like something with 124K miles. The engine was reasonably quiet (seemed even more quiet than my '92 Passat Wagon) and it made no expensive sounding noises.

The asking price is $2,850. Is this reasonable? Am I about to make the mistake of my life? I had a '71 Bus in college and I've been wanting another one for some time. I have a '92 Passat Variant now, so I should have something to drive while this one isn't running (but I digress into pessimism).

Any advice out there for this one who wants a watered down (or water cooled) reunion with his hippie days at the University of Kansas? Thanks in advance.--

_______________________________________________________________________________ Donald Baxter dbax@netcom.com Atlanta, Georgia USA ________________________________

I'm lying in the shade Of my family tree I'm a branch that broke off What will become of me?

--Laurie Anderson, Bright Red/Tightrope ________________________________


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.