Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 15:45:16 -0400
Reply-To: Dave <dmc@CYBURBAN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Dave <dmc@CYBURBAN.COM>
Organization: .
Subject: First ever Vanagon seen
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hi all,
I just this weekend went to see my first Vanagon for sale (they are not
common around here).
A 75 mile journey brought me in front of a gleaming fire engine red 1991
Vanagon Carat. I was in love .... until I looked closer.
The van would not start because of a flat battery. The original owner
muttered it had been standing for a few months. The exterior showed no
dents or rust just a few rub marks and a crack in the moulding at the
base of the sliding door.
Mismatched tires front and rear (though with decent tread), 'P' rated
Dunlops. I did not see the spare. Alloy wheels.
The interior was a big disappointment showing evidence of hard wear and
abuse (Owner said he has three kids). A few tears in the velour side
panels, some oily stains and what looked like pink bubblegum stains on
the upholstery. Rub marks on the overhead duct. Dirt and dust (and other
unameable things) everywhere.
When I asked to look at the engine the hatch was propped open with a
length of pipe. The engine looked .... like an engine, dusty but an
engine. The owner said no major repairs had been done except one head
had been repleced and he could not remember when. When I mentioned that
at 135k miles it might be due for an engine rebuild, he muttered "no,
these will do 250,000 before that is needed".
Eventually with jumpers the engine was started and he took me for a
brief ride about 1/2 mile up and down a private road on his property.
The engine surged and bucked like a wild horse, the brakes worked.
He explained that he could not take it on the road because it had no
plates (true).
The owners asking price was $6,500 and when I stoically said "I think it
needs work", he agreed and say he would let it go for $1000 less.
My questions to all you Vanagon gurus out there is: is $5,500 a
reasonable price for this model in this condition. I really liked the
color and imagine it would be quite difficult to find another in this
color.
I anticipate it will need an engine rebuild or at least some major work,
and a complere interior refurbishment. Are the velour door panels
obtainable for the Carat?
Also, I noticed holes in the top of the rear seat for headrests, but the
owner said it never had headrests on the rear seat, is this true?
Lastly, if there are any knowledgeable Vanagon experts out there on Long
Island, New York would they care to go with me and look at this van
again (I will pay gas and tolls)?
- David
| 
