Hello Listees -

I would like to buy the latest model I can find within my range (<10k).
Here is my latest find:

87 Westy.  169k mi. on orig. 2.1 motor.  Manual tranny rebuilt 9 years
ago (was stuck in 3rd).  Clutch seems ok.  This is the no a/c model.  I
drove it and the power seems good and steady, not what I would expect
from a 15 year old van with 169,000 miles.  Cosmetically -- ok ( a large
dent on propane side, not too noticable, interior has the used look i.e.
dents and scrapes, smokers stains and odor).  I'm mainly concerned with
the power plant.  After getting beneath and a bit greasy I mentioned my
observations to the owner about 1) Oil covering right head cover, 2)
Green coolant.  She fessed up with a pre-purchase check she had done on
her own.  She said she used Prestone coolant and hardly ever changed it
(!)  She even gave me a copy of the check-up paper by a reliable local
shop. Here's the news:

Pop-top weather stripping unglued (no biggie)
Front brake pads at 50%
Rear shoes at 50%
Rear wheel cylinder leak
Exhaust system rusty
Front exhaust pipe cracked
Valve cover gaskets leak (I noticed quite a bit of oil covering the right
valve cover)
Coolant leak (yikes!) - right rear head flange

Compression numbers:
1) 130, 2) 140, 3) 130, 4) 135

I figure I would need to drop a large sum of money.  Maybe even put in a
new engine.  So $5,000 in repairs my first few months of ownership would
be likely.  She's asking $8,850, but  mentioned she would drop to $7,000.
 She later said she would let it go for that.  I don't know what this
list's concensus is, but I'm thinking a lot lower.  Is it really
unreasonable to expect to pay 3-4 thousand for a 15 year old van that
needs engine overhaul/replacement?  Maybe it's all about the
vanagon/westy mystique.

Thanks for any advice.  BTW I am in northern California.   Will be
travelling soon to LA for a couple of weeks, and looking there for
westies probably, undoubtedly, as I am obsessed with these vans!

Les
Trek 800

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