Date:         Wed, 17 Feb 1999 22:54:58 +0100
Reply-To:     Michael Meier <michael.meier@KNUUT.DE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Meier <michael.meier@KNUUT.DE>
Subject:      unused old VWs (was 4SALE,91 VW WESTFALIA)
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;


>I would be great to have a 91 with only 14k miles wouldn't it?
>Can anyone think of things that would deteriorate from just sitting for 8
>years?


First of all: I don't want to blame or flame anybody.

I just want to tell you of my personal experience with 'low mileage' cars.

Low mileage (for year) on an old car has always been interesting for me.

My first Type 4 had 32.000 km (20kmls) when I bought it 11 years old back in 85.
It had been seldom but regulary used - and serviced. It had very little of the normal rust 
and gave me a wonderful, trouble-free year with another 20kmls before I sold it again.

On the other side I got one of the 'last european edition' beetles (made in 85) three years ago, in '96, 
again the car was 11 years old and had genuine 9.000 km (6kmls). I've got it from a good friend,
who had it from new, used it for two summer-seasons very carefully and stored it all the other years in dry 
showrooms and garages. It was'nt cheap, but I got a rare, very low mileage car for my money.
On my way home, I realised a hot rear brake, the wheel cylinders were leaking, so I installed a new rear brake.
The rear axle sealings were also leaking gear oil into the drums, of course they were renewed.
It passed the german TUEV at once (of course, there was no rust or anything wrong with it).
Two months later the main crank sealing was leaking and I changed it.
One of the rear shockers abnerved me with ratteling, I installed two new ones.
A week later a ground connector failed, no real problem (the battery  was already new). 
Next month the main brake cylinder gave up, so did I - and renewed all remaining old break-parts.
The flexible fuel lines were also renewed.
A week later the speedo cable broke - and was renewed. It broke again within a day, the speedo itself was the
original reason. 
From then on it was a reliable car, except of the old Michelins. They showed no wear at all, but the sidewalls cracked.

The total costs for all spare parts I had to buy were nearly 20% of the price I payed for the car, all work was
done by myself.

Then I bought a  non low mileage '77 westy, 190.000 km (130.000 mls), again well serviced.
I changed the engine when I got a brand new one for very little money- just precaution. The original engine is still running in a friends car
(who never leaves our county with it) and it is still running strong.

Cars are not made for eternity. They need care and service, earlier or later. The Westy earlier, the beetle later.
But it was a good car - it was an 11 years old beetle,  looking perfect, driving as a one year old car, giving me a lot of fun.
I could'nt have restored another one for that price - and with that result.

My 2 Pfennige

Michael Meier
Germany (so please excuse my terrible english)

58 split 
77 westy
74 412








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