I personally would not pay $4000.00 for a 1980. Why??? because you will find
other problems that you didn't catch. If this westy is in that great of
shape ask the owner for a warranty. A dealer couldn't sell it for that price
and if he did by law he has to give you a 30 day warranty. I bought my 82
westy for $2700.00 and sunk in another $2500.00 and supposelly the engine
was rebuilt. Ask for all receits and documentation before buying. If its
true the engine was new, verify serial numbers on receipt. There are a lot
more westys for sale in California and much cheaper with no rust. Rust
shouldn't be much of a poblem because Vanagons were well designed against
corrosion. Hope this helps.
Andy
Wild Wild Westy 82

-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Jones <jj1@MAIL.TDS.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 5:48 PM
Subject: one more about the '80 Vanagon

>I went and looked at it again today.  There is seriously _no_ rust
>underneath, or in the tire wells.  Where there is rust: under _one_ of the
>side windows - goes all along the bottom of the seal, and on the inside of
>the sliding door - all along the inside of the very bottom lip. That's
>pretty much it.  Are these real bad?  Can a sliding door be replaced?
> Seems like that would be a lot easier than any rust on the body itself.
> How bad is it to have rust underneath a window?
>
>Also -  above the front seats there's like this cardboard, or thin
>press-board, paneling .  It is kind of warped and I can push it up and
>down.  Is this normal?  Otherwise, the inside looks great, barring a few
>dings here and there.
>
> Thanks again, JJ