HI, you may remember a week ago I asked about long-distance
Westy shopping.  I was looking for an automatic transmission
equipped Vanagon.  Well, I found and bought one without resorting
to long-distance shopping.  Saturday's paper listed an 88 Westy 30
miles away, so I checked it out, liked it, negotiated a fair price, and
took it home.

Seller was original owner with detailed service records which I kept.
 Good body - no rust but with dull paint.  Only one tiny ding on
corner above right rear tail light.

Now my wife can drive on our trips!  And it came with a cruise
control to boot!

Needs some cosmetic work.  Engine has 116000 miles - runs good
but it probably will not last over long term.  There is some smoke
upon starting, though it stops after a short warmup.  My brother
followed me while test driving and saw no smoke after the warmup.
Head gaskets have been done twice since new.  But I figured for
cost of new engine in negotiating price.

So now our driveway looks like a VW fanatic's :

87 bus - out-of-service (head gasket leaking coolant faster than you
can put it in).
89 Westy (stickshift, remanufactured engine w. under 10000 miles)
- probably going on selling block
88 Westy (auto transmission)

Dave L.