Hi--

I'm new to list, and I've been after a Westfalia for 6 months. My only vw
experience was a 67 bug, 1968-78.

I've read a fair amount on this and other sites, but I'd like some advice on
evaluating an 84 Westy that I'm ready to go to Florida from Ithaca to look at
next Saturday.

        Specifically, what possibilities (including the leaking heads problem)
                are there for the following information,
                and how would I check them out?

--Present owner says he had van evaluated a year ago, and consequently had
        both head gaskets and water pump replaced.  Heads NOT re-done.
--He says van never did & does not now leave any puddles of antifreeze, but he
        suspects it has a leak because he had to add coolant regularly when
        he was driving it constantly. Van has been used only occasionally in
        past 6 months, since he got a Jetta.
--He has let the cooling system get low on coolant in the past, and now has
        learned how to bleed the system.
--Van has 97K, engine never replaced, he says.

Other doubts:
1- I'm thinking that this Westy should be in good body shape being in Florida,
but maybe I'm ignoring the salt water corrosion factor?  What's the experience
of Florida Vanagons/Westfalias?
2- Know of a good Vanagon person near Ormond Beach, Florida, who might be
willing to look at a van Sat afternoon, 1/15/00?
3- Maybe I should use the airfare in pursuit of a better $2600 Westy.

Thanks for any thoughts.  If there are archive messages which answer this,
more or less, I haven't been diligent enough to find them.  A hint in the
right direction would be great.

Dave Ritchie