If any of you are bidding, sight-unseen, on this eBay Vanagon in Houston:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4549457554

I test-drove it today - here's what I found:

Louisiana inspection sticker

Power locks dead

Power mirrors dead (couldn't check the defogger feature)

Passenger power window winder dead

Driver window switch wired to wrong side - right side switch opens
driver window

205/70R14 93T tires on OEM alloy rims

tailpipe is rusted away

no ashtray - just a hole

Radio Shack / Realistic radio/cassette

143846 miles - odometer works, so does the tripmeter

Drinkies (cup-holders) on passenger seat pedestal broken
One of three drinkies in the back is broken.

Muted clatter from the engine - this is strange to me.  Not the sharp
!clack! of a hydraulic lifter that's clogged.
   It sounds "inside", if that means anything to you.

The brakes have a pulse in them.

It idles at 1800rpm  in neutral - too high.
While I was writing my notes, it would idle up to 2000 and then
plummet, as if it was going to quit, then catch again and go back to
1800.  It was dramatically low on gas, so it might have been running
out, but I don't think so.

Right headlight is wet inside, but no visible cracks or chips.
Left headlight has at least two rock dings, but is dry inside.

Passenger side mirror is flapping - it spins on the base and doesn't lock.

Looks nice inside.
Appears to be either original paint (blue metallic?) or a very, very
good paint job.
The color is consistent throughout.

The tranny feels good - it pulls strongly when I get on the gas.
If you can deal with the funny engine noise, the weird idle and the
pulsing brakes, it's worth considering.  The body's in nice shape,
just as pictured (one dent on the sliding door).

--

bcnu - Grungy  (Baytown, TX)  opinions are just that.obviously.
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