

| Subject: | Re: Finally, I spotted a Westy in my own driveway. |
| From: | Stephen Grisanti |
| Date: | Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:21:53 -0700 |
>where are you located? Richmond, Virginia. --- Florian Speier <groups.florian@gmail.com> wrote: > Welcome and congratulations! > > Sounds like you found a wonderful Westy that fits > your needs. Hope you have > many fun holidays in it...... BTW, where are you > located? > > Florian > ...driving another charcoal grey '87 GL fourspeed > Westy > > > > On 8/18/06, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com> > wrote: > > > > And it's a beauty! An '87 GL full camper in > charcoal > > grey with grey interior, it's a van I've been > seeing > > in town for a few years and which I have long > admired. > > I never spoke with the owner or left a note, but > > while on the way to do some errand last Sunday I > saw > > it parked on a main thoroughfare with a For Sale > sign > > in the kitchen window. I bounced in my seat and > said, > > "She's selling it," and swooped to the curb for a > > look. > > > > For a van in such good shape and so obviously well > > cared for, it seemed unlikely that I'd be the > first > > person to call about it, but I was. The initial > > inspection showed a van in great condition with a > > spotless interior, no dents or scrapes, no rust > and no > > leaks. A test drive, my first ride in a Vanagon, > > revealed smooth but leisurely 4-speed performance > that > > will require a change in my approach to driving, > but > > I'll adjust. > > > > It's not perfect; the A/C needs to be charged, the > > canvas has a couple of worn spots, and the hatch > > struts require broomstick assistance, but there > are > > some thoughtful mods like the closet door mod to > clear > > the rear table, and the like. The pre-buy > inspection > > revealed green coolant instead of blue, and > there's an > > intermittent no-start issue that will require > further > > diagnosis, but overall I don't think there's a > better > > van out there for the money; certainly not for a > van > > that moved from across town to within 3 blocks of > my > > house before going on sale. It came to find me. > How > > could I not buy it? > > > > The seller has owned it since '92 and she bought > it > > with 23K miles. The odometer is broken but her > > meticulous records in a spiral-bound "life book" > > document every fill up, every repair, probably > every > > strange noise. The sale includes a Bentley manual > and > > every record since new, and the van has all > screens > > and even the Munchkin ice cube trays. My wife, > who > > has been a witness to the development of this > Vanagon > > fascination for the last few years, is even > beginning > > to be interested in it herself, planning what > supplies > > and accoutrements will fit where. > > > > At this point I'd like to thank everyone on this > list > > for all the wisdom you've shared, which has > permitted > > me to know what to look for and make what I'm sure > is > > a good choice on my first Vanagon purchase. I'm > sure > > I'll have plenty more questions as the miles and > days > > of Westy ownership accumulate. We'll see you out > > there. > > > > Stephen & Karen > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
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