Date:         Mon, 28 Jun 1999 20:28:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Adam Culp <aculp2@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Adam Culp <aculp2@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Good Buy? Run to the bank?  Fair Price?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello all,
   I have been on the list for a couple of weeks and have learned a
lot.  Especially things to keep in mind for my purchase.  I have been
looking for a 2.1L Wolfie for some time now.  I think I have found her.

    She is an '87 Wolfie in the Wolfram grey metalic, I do believe(a
dark grahite metalic).  The Body is in EXCELENT shape.  There are no
noticeable scratches, and there is only one silver dollar sized dent
above the slider handle.  Yes, there is NO dent in the infamous spot
near the passanger side rear wheel well/door!  They claim it is all
original paint and tend to believe that(uniform color, no tape marks,
no fesh gaskets or any other signs)  The Interior is in as good as
shape as the original could be.  No tears, rips, stains etc., just some
wear on the floor carpet of the driver and pasanger side.  The Engine
was rebuilt at 100K by the previous owners, and the heads and gasket
have road dirt, but no oil, coolant or gunk.  They say they have never
had problems with overheating or losing coolant.  It was driven by a
mother, but now they have 3 kids and a newly acquired boat, and thought
there wouldn't be enough power so they purchased a Suburban.  It is the
closest thing to a "cream puff" that I have come across in a Vangon, at
least in one for sale.
   But. . .There are a few things that I am unsure of.
   First I noticed that below the driver it feels kinda like a small
unoticed grinding sound.  Kinda like the bearings, or the brakes
adjusted to tight or out of whack.  The owner said that they never
noticed it, which tends me to believe there is something to hide or
they just don't know too much.  Are there any ideas as to what this
might be?  IF it is the bearings, anybody have a ballpark Fig. on
replacement?
   The other thing is the mileage.  There are 173K miles which is 13K a
year, which is a little above average.  The engine has 73k on the
rebuild, with paperwork, although I have not pysically asked for it.  I
plan to rebuild the engine with some performance mods, but right now I
just don't have the $$.  Hopefully in the next 1-3yrs.  I am not
worried about the engine I am just worried that the car and its parts
have expired about 80% of her life.  Whatever I get I plan to keep for
AT LEAST 10 years.  But, the POs have seemingly kept excelent shape of
the vehicel, they seem to be up to my par.  Can this last me another
125-200K, or is that unrealistc(granted some maintanance here and
there).
     I am just curious to see what people think about those two things
before I talk further with them. Before I say the asking price I would
liek to see what the other list members would value this at(yeah i know
its hard without seeing/driving).  But lets play "The Price Is Right."
Thanks in advance!

have fun,
ADAM
'74 Midget
ISO Wolfie
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