It looks like the vanagon's (Joker) T�V approval ran out in Feb. 2001.
T�V is a German goverment safety/road worthiness inspection, and every
car has to pass every 2 years.
Cars are inspected for everything.
Some examples:
Corrosion in the headlight reflectors, lights, brakes, operation of the
engine,
Corrosion on the undercarriage and structural soundness and general
roadworthiness.
They do not take it lightly. It's because of the T�V that most cars in
Germany end
up in junkyards, not because they don't run anymore.
A car that does not have the T�V approval sticker on the license plate can
not be legally driven or even registered.
To get a '82 vanagon that was driven in Germany for its lifespan,
with all the salt on the roads causing rust, through the T�V might not
be a small feat, even if you live there.
Sometimes extensive welding and structural repairs of the undercarriage
are required by the rigourous inspectors.
The cost for required repairs sometimes exceeds the value of the car
multifold.
That's why people just give the vehicles away when they don't get T�V
approval.
Also in Germany you don't have places like Bus Depot and Vanagain to
buy affordable parts. The system is not as set up to keep older cars on the
road.
The pictures on the website looked really nice. But there are no photos of
the
underneath or the engine.
Harald
'90 westy

Zoltan wrote:
This is the new member of our Vanagon Westfalia family.  I bought it in
Germany for my European trips that I plan in most every year.  I even
thought that the list members can use it too.  It is good to know that there
is a good Westy waiting for you on the other side of the Pond.  And I think,
I don't have to tell all the benefits of having a Westy.  And in Europe you
can just park and sleep.  They are not going to call the police if you
happen to be there in front of someone's window.  As long as you are modest
and quiet, and not slamming the doors.  I never used camping there.  They
are also too crowded for us, with too many tents and too close to each
other.  And they are far out of town and can't find them anyway.  Just stay
in town right in front of the major places.
This is an air cooled van with new brakes, windshield, tires, battery.  It
is in Nurnberg, Germany.  So, what do you say?
Zoltan

Title of item:  VW Joker Westfalia Wohnmobil o. T�V f�r 1.-DM
Seller: volker_schanz
Starts: May-22-01 11:49:35 PDT
Ends:   May-27-01 11:49:35 PDT
Price:  Currently DM 2,850.00
To bid on the item, go to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1600360780

Item Description:
        VW Joker Westfalia Wohnmobil  EZ 1.4.82 143000km 51KW/69PS
(Benziner)
T�V+ASU 2/01 Kupplung neu, Bremsen gut, drehbare Sitze. Die Inneneinrichtung
samt dem K�hlschrank befinden sich in einem guten Zustand. M�ngel: Die
Innenseite des Kuppelglasdaches (Doppelverglasung) hat einen Sprung,
Beifahrersitz an der R�ckenlehne besch�digt, Radio fehlt (Anschl�sse jedoch
vorhanden)Das obere Teil der Antenne ist abgebrochen. Der Motor kleppert
etwas, l�uft aber sonst noch gut. Besichtigung m�glich. Terminabsprache
unter Tel. 06257-7620