If it's rust-free (and it sounds like it is ) buy it right 
now..................that's what you what to hear isn't it:    :-)

Cheers,
Doug

"Gerald Masar" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sent by: "Vanagon Mailing List" <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
11/04/2004 09:30 PM
Please respond to "Gerald Masar"

 
        To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
        cc: 

        Subject:        F.S. '88 Westy, 53K orig., $8,500

URGENT! Please help me make up my mind on this. I am not selling it, but 
just came
back from looking at it. I REALLY have never wanted to get into owning a 
stable of
Vanagons.
Current and only vehicle is '90 Westy with 165K.
It really does look like that mileage is correct. Some soil on upholstery. 
Outside
like new.
It has been well cleaned and the engine cleaned like new, so it was 
impossible to tell
about leaks. Thing I noticed right off, the overflow tank was down to the 
intake tube.
But then I noticed the braided hose from right head to the coolant ring 
around top of
engine compartment was kinked and damp right at the connection to the 
plastic pipe. It
had been attached there with a nylon wire tie. I fixed that for the guy 
and filled his
overflow tank.
I think that may have been the leak. He was not aware of the tank being 
dry. He
doesn't do his own work.
More info on the van. Dark blue (Orly?), auto trans, all power options 
plus alarm
system (disconnected). Alloys with good tread on Big O brand 205/70 m&s.
Right side
 power window wasn't working, so he already had it at his mech who has the 
panel off
and a part on order from "the big city". We're out in  the sticks here.
Propane fired forced air furnace in the bottom compartment next to the 
water tank,
uses OUTSIDE air and is vented to outside. No aux. battery so he uses a 
power -pack to
run it.
Second propane tank under the right side. Gray water holding tank under 
the left side.

After fixing the leak, I drove it. Handled well and certainly quieter than 
mine. But I
was watching the temp gauge and it went to half way between the LED and 
top mark, but
no more. Didn't hear the fan, but the outside temp was only about 68�. 
Also, I was not
used to driving an automatic.

One question for me. Looking at the front of engine compartment, at what I 
think is
the torque conv., there is an opening in the top, about 4" wide. You can 
see the thing
spinning. Is there supposed to be a cover over that?

So, what do you think about the price? I am afraid I was too enthusiastic, 
so he
probably won't come down.
NOW, if I don't buy it, I will post the contact info to the list tomorrow 
probably
after noon MST. The bad news, you better have your plane ticket ready. The 
van is in
rural Arizona.

Sorry for the long msg, but I am stoked and it could be a 
once-in-a-lifetime deal.

Jerry
P.S. Just thought of more. I have some pics but it was getting dark so 
don't know how
they will be. The A/C works and is still R12 and has new compressor.
The van came from Ohio where it was garaged and been garaged here.
At 20K miles (don't know the year) he said the heads developed some cracks 
and even
though it was out of warranty, VW replaced them.
All new v-belts. New skylight.
Okay, the owners are originally from Germany and on trips, they brought 
the furnace
(more than $500), the new skylight and insect screen for sliding door with 
them.

Did I say I was exdcited?

 
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