Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 09:55:35 -0800
Reply-To: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen1@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen1@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: reality check
In-Reply-To: <012e01bf4d52$fe7c9de0$e5580440@Pangea.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Just had to toss in my $0.02 on this thread...
After getting my Syncro last April, I ran a little comparison. Since I keep
ALL my repair receipts, I added up the total cost of ownership (exclusive of
oil changes) for a '91 Taurus SHO, a '95 Jeep Cherokee, and the Syncro Westy
(since I had ALL of the repair receipts for it including oil changes). I
took the following into account:
1. Cost to purchase new
2. Current resale value
3. Total cost of repairs
I took the depreciation (#1-#2), added #3, and divided by the miles on the
car. Guess what? The Syncro was the least expensive of the three, though
the Cherokee ran a close third. (Cost per mile for the Syncro was about 1/2
the SHO). This is INCLUDING a complete engine replacement on the Syncro last
year! I did not figure fuel into the equation, since they all get about the
same fuel economy.
Granted, this little "study" was skewed in favor of the Syncro due to their
high resale value here in California. (Still worth about 70% of its
original 1989 price), but I was surprised (and encouraged) by it.
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Roy O.
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 6:35 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fw: Re: reality check
|
| << but will my local
| mechanic be driving a Lexus on me ? >>
|
|
| There really is not a concrete way to answer this question. If you get a
van
| that has been taken care of and you take care of it, you shouldn't be in
for
| many surprises other than would normally be found on a 10 or so year old
| vehicle. On the other hand, if you get a van that hasn't been taken care
of
| or you don't take care of it well....
| if you check everything really good and plan for the worst, you'll
definitely
| be happy.
|
| Stefan
|
Just to add a little balance to the conversation...I bought my '87 Westfalia
brand new, followed VW's maintenance schedule religiously and then some. I
'farm'
out some of repairs that are beyond me but do a lot of it myself. Keeping
the
vehicle looking and running good has virtually cost me what I paid for it
way
back in 1987. Maybe my van has bad 'karma, maybe I've got bad 'karma, who
knows?
I agree that maintenance is a good hedge against unexpected high repair
costs
but don't be surprised it the vehicle becomes a money pit in spite of your
well-intentioned efforts. An addendum to Stefan's above comment...'check
everything really good and plan for the worst'...and be financially prepared
for
the worst (when and if it comes).
Roy O.
'87 Westfalia GL
(till death us do part)
