It's almost time for a POLL.
I paid $2000.00 for my 83 Westy in 1995.
I paid $500.00 for a 66 Westy (rare thing but it ran great).
I bought several more Westy for $200.00 and several in the $500.00 range
with the full expectorations that I'd be putting engines in them. I also
wrecked out several seven passenger standard Vanagon haulers for parts.
In every case the engine came back to life after I ran my engine cleaning
routine on them and replaced the complete ignition / fuel lines / alternator
belts. Several required at least one new cylinder head before they sold but
I'm OK with that.
I bought and swapped lots of parts from list members / list vendors and
local wrecking yards.
I made money on every Westy I've owned and I don't have any regrets.
I learned lots and I'm still sitting on two complete Type IV engines and a
good supply of spare parts just in case another 80-83 Air Cooled Westy comes
my way in the below $500.00 range.
I saw one last week but somebody had camouflage painted it and really did an
ugly number on it.
It was only $200.00 but butt ugly and not running.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "jbange" <hfinn@INGRATES.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 1:54 PM
Subject: Wilder's Law

> At 09:22 AM 3/11/2005, you wrote:
> >Are you suggesting that "Wilder's Law" says more about people than
Vanagons?
>
> Now that you mention it, it kind of DOES say more about the nut behind the
> steering wheel than the vehicle. Logic would dictate that (say) a $1000
> Vanagon would require more work to get it "up to snuff" than a $10,000
> Vanagon. Wilder's Law, though, says that the more you spend initially, the
> more you will spend later. What this indicates to me is that the amount
> necessary to bring the vehicle up to "satisfactory" condition is entirely
> dependent on the new buyer's financial state. I propose a corollary to
> Wilder's Law: "Vanagon owners will tend to spend the most their disposable
> income will allow on their Vanagons". It's probably something to do with
> this strange contagious  mental illness that is spread via ownership of
> rear-engine VW's. If you'd asked me a year ago what I thought of old VW's,
> I'd have said "Not much; sounds like a lot of trouble I don't need". But
> here I am, pouring thousands of dollars into a 14 year old van and wishing
> I could spend MORE! I expect to reach the $10,000 mark ($2100 purchase
> price included) before I reach the 1 year mark in July. I am clearly sick,
> but I couldn't be happier.
>
> John Bange
> '90 Vanagon "Geldsauger"
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.1 - Release Date: 3/9/2005
>
>