Date:         Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:31:09 -0400
Reply-To:     Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: To Buy or not to Buy? 86 Vanagon Westfalia
In-Reply-To:  <78.7c293c2b.30691419@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Round headlights and water-cooled mean it's between 83.5 and 85 --- the 10th
character of you VIN confirms it's an 85.........
 Cheers,
Doug

 On 9/26/05, Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@aol.com> wrote:
>
> In a message dated 9/26/2005 1:00:54 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> craigmpoole@MAC.COM writes:
>
> I have found an 86 Westy full camper located in a little town in
> texas.
>
>
> I pretty sure it's a 1985.
>
> In a situation like this where there is no history on the vehicle I'd run
> a
> carfax report. It's worth the $20. Not that the carfax is the end all in
> buying a used car. But it can offer glaring "NO" as far as clues--as in
> don't buy.
> You can see if the mileage appears accurate. Where the car lived--I think
> it
> gives you the name of service stations that inspected the vehicles. If
> this
> is the case and there is a consistant service station that inspected the
> vehicle it could be useful. You might consider contacting the service
> station to
> find out any history they're willing to give it to you. I mean this part
> is a
> long shot, but it's a possiblility.
>
> More importantly there are clues to the care of the vehicle in a car fax
> report. If it is inspected at the same joint might imply one owner. If
> it's been
> inspected in a 20 different states--well I'm not sure what that proves.
>
> But the car fax does give some useful clues. It's not neccessarily a sole
> tool to use in making a decision, but can be helpful.
>
> The scary part of this vehicle is you don't have any history on it.
>
> I'm not up on Westfalia prices so hopefully someone else will chime in on
> where this price fits in the spectrum. And not that you can always trust a
> seller, of course, but I'd rather buy a vehicle where I have some idea of
> the
> history. I personally would rather pay a little more for something with
> some
> history than walk into the unknown. But again, the history is only as
> reliable
> as the honesty of the person you're dealing with. And in many cases one
> doesn't have the luxury of knowing they person selling a vehicle. In the
> case
> you've described the seller claims no knowledge of the vehicle for the
> most part.
> And that's not much to go on.
>
> In addition to checking the heads, which you said you've already done, you
> should know the transmissions can be trouble and a little costly on the
> Vanagon. That's not to say they're all bad. But I'd suggest an extra
> listen to the
> transmission with the clutch engaged and disengaged to see if you're
> hearing
> any odd noise that could mean expensive repair.
>
> It's kind of late even here on the West Coast, so my mind isn't all that
> clear and I'm sure my writing is less so. But that's what comes to mind.
>
> Additionally, I don't know your mechanical ability. So depending on your
> skill I'd consider having a mechanic check it out--or yourself--a Vanagon
> specific mechanic would be best if that's possible. A compression test
> comes to
> mind, uhmmm....and I guess whatever else you might find out would be
> useful.
>
> A Westfalia is a great vehicle. So I'm not trying to talk you out of it.
> Just offering my conservative two cents on this one. Hopefully it's some
> help.
>
> I'm sure you'll hear from other listees.
> Best,
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>