Tires are a real good indicator of how the rest of the vehicle was
maintained.  I don't think I've ever looked at a bad van with the correct
tires, and it seems that every van with K-Mart tires has other problems as
well.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "t" <vbob@PRIMENET.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 4:30 AM
Subject: Re: last questions on 84 Vanagon

> Ya never know.
> Did you do a compression test on it?
> Did you look at the coolant tank after it warmed up? Are there any
> bubbles?
> Did it start right up cold? Do all the electrics work?
> If you fill it with gas, does it smell like an oil refinery?
> Do you have to double pump the brakes to make it stop?
> When you checked the oil, is it black? Is it full?
> Are there real tires on it? Load rated 6 plys?
>
> All these give you an idea of how it's going to fare in the next six
> months.
>
> Is it worth $1800.00? If all the questions listed above come out in a
> positive direction, yes. You cannot compare prices on 2WD and Syncros.
> Those guys are nuts. Besides... there weren't any Syncros till 1986 I
> believe.
>
> Will it be worth what you payed for it if you hate it?
> 1.) You won't hate it.
> 2.) How long has this one been on the market at that price?
>
> Coolant costs (iffum you do it yourself) about $30.
>
> tim o'brien
> I drive my '84 from San Jose to Emeryville twice a week or so... 120
> miles round trip. At 70-72 MPH.
>
> Jonathan Lee wrote:
> >
> > Last questions -- promise!
> >
> > My back is really against the wall now.  By Tuesday, I MUST have a
> > vehicle with which to move harpsichords.  The alternative van I had in
> > mind simply won't work (for one thing, it won't currently crank).  So,
> > the Vanagon is left as my only option, unless I want to scramble for
> > something else within the next few days.
> >
> > My questions are these:
> > What are my chances that I might buy this Vanagon for $1800, and invest
> > very little money in it between now and May?  Even February might
> > justify the purchase -- I just can't buy a van and invest money in it
> > next week . . . or next month.
> >     Please keep in mind that the daily driving would be quite light.  On
> > the days that I go into San Francisco, the thing would get driven 44
> > miles on the freeway (granted, the morning traffic is stop-and-go).  On
> > the days I don't go in, the Van would get driven about 15 miles a day.
> > So, we're talking 200 miles per month here, plus a few gigs moving
> > instruments 100-200 miles every other month.
> >    So, are my chances in the 90% range?  The 50% range?  The 3% range?
> >    If I choose to buy the Vanagon, how much will a coolant change cost
> > (in Northern California)?
> >    If the head gaskets go, how much will that job cost (in Northern
> > California, again)?
> >    If I choose to buy the Vanagon and hate it, will it sell for $1800 in
> > a few months?  I've noted that, here in Berkeley, somebody is selling an
> > '84 Synchro that needs a new engine for $6,900.  Perhaps they're a bit
> > nuts, but that gives me some hope that the Vanagon I'm considering is at
> > least worth what I'm paying for it. . .
> >
> > best,
> > Jon
> > ---
> > Jonathan Rhodes Lee
> > jrlee@mailandnews.com