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Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 19:56:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Larry Wissig <lwissig@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Wissig <lwissig@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: 85 vanagon Camper -should I buy? more info.
Comments: To: roy@juno.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Roy was right. I didn't get a second chance. It was sold by the time I got a second look at it.

I got an education and I get to keep my $3700 for a little longer. Still looking, no hurry, now I prefer a later model with AT.

Thanks to all. Larry Wissig

roy@juno.com wrote:

> Lary; > Go with your first impression, BUY THE CAMPER, If I was there you would > not get a second chance because I would have purchased it immediately > upon what you know about it.AS far as the AC being warm, I have sold > almost 300 Westfalia campers in the past four years and have not run > across one with AC that did not need to be recharged, probably only take > a pound of freon, They all leak for lack of use,seals dry up ,but if you > run it each other week for 20 minutes or so you probably will not > encounter that problem, It is not necessary to use the autobahn anti > freeze,as long as you keep the anti freeze fresh and your water > site/overflow bottle bottle remains at the level it should don't worry > about it , sounds like this camper has everything going for it and as I > say if it was in Ca. you would not have gotten a second chance to > considerit. I would own it. PERIOD Don't assume the heads are shot or > even leaking, they all have minor seepage ,give the guy a deposit, spend > 75.00 at a VW FACTORY STORE to have a prepurchase inspection done ,and > then buy it , If you don't let me know where in Fla it is and who to talk > to and I will buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > This is my humble opinion, and hope your answer to what you appear to be > making a dilema > Regards ,Roy > On Sun, 5 Jul 1998 12:02:20 -0700 Larry Wissig <lwissig@MINDSPRING.COM> > writes: > >Thanks to everyone for the help. > >I'm still looking at it. > > > >More info: > >I drove it for a while last week, seems to run good, > >a bit rough at idle but no oil light. > >AC is blowing warm. > >Owner says it worked last summer, > >they have been annually recharging it for a few years. Haven't yet > >this > >year. > > > >So I'm figuring the worst case here, major AC work. > >I have a guy that did a good job on my 91 Mazda so I'll just budget > >for > >the worst. > >Maybe I'll be lucky and get away with a few hundred. > > > >Interior is absolutely spotless. And all the camper stuff works. > >Fridge (3 way) stove, sink, lights, poptop, awning, porto-potty. > >Has after market gas heater. Tables not in van, may be missing. > > > >Body is solid. No rust. One big dent in door. Dark brown with tan top. > > > >Mileage seem right. van is currently driven on a 50 mile commute a few > >times per week. > >Was family camper, family grown up. > >Owners are selling because they are moving and can't take it with > >them. > > > >Here's the scary part. ---> > >Owner didn't know about any special coolant. > >He says he's just been using regular antifreeze at 50%. > >Hasn't changed it much cause he didn't need to.... > >just keeps on topping it off..... > > > >So I got to assume it's leaking at the head. > > > >He keeps it in the driveway and says he's > >seen no leaks, so it's probably going somewhere in the compression > >chamber and burning off. > > > > > >So here's the bottom line. > >I love this camper, it's been well loved and taken care of by people > >who > > > >cleaned polished and waxed it and fixed everything regularly... > >but who thought it was OK to maintain leaky systems (AC, coolant) by > >just adding fluid. > >This will cost me some... > > > >I'm inclined to buy anyway, but to try and get the price down so that > >I will have some cash cushion to fix the AC and engine (at worst case > >new heads) . > >I read Bob Donald's fixit instructions, I could go for it myself but > >time is an issue. > > > >I'm driving it again with the family today and will try to take it to > >a > >mechanic on Monday > > > >Any last words before I plunge? > > > > > >Thanks. > >Larry Wissig. > > > >> > >> I'm looking at an 85 Camper tomorrow. > >> 108K miles and very clean. Looks good, also supposed to drive good. > >> It has after market AC (vital here in FL, 97 degrees today). > >> For sale by original owner who bought it in Germany. > >> Asking $3700. > >> > >> Questions? > >> > >> What is it worth? > >> Will it be reliable? > >> What kind of engine is in it? > >> I've owned a few old buses, > >> including a cherry 67 that looked great but ate up a lot of my cash. > >> Will it be similar to those or is it totally different in character? > >> What should I look out for? > >> > >> Any help appreciated. > >> > >> // Larry Wissig > >> // lwissig@mindspring.com > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. > Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com > Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]


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