> Do you think that "wishful thinking" price has an effect on prices
> overall.
> I mean is there a "false" price value mindest created because people see
> these inflated ads?
>
> Just a thought. I personally think the value all depends on the vehicle
> and
> the person buying it. I have never paid more than $500 for any of mine and
> have had serious offers up to $2000 right off the street for my 85' GL.

Well yeah, that's a given, of course.  "Market value" is just a convenient
fiction  we use to give  us a starting point. In the end, there is only what
the  buyer is willing to give and the seller is willing to accept. Still, we
can usually come up with a rough price range. For example, a brown 1985
westy weekender with shredded corduroy, rust spots, and the original engine
is probably not worth $9k
<http://tinyurl.com/2rewds>
...and a good condition Syncro Westy is definitely worth more than $6k----
even without an engine.

Plain old demand has pushed the Syncro Westy models up into the
stratosphere, but I think the main effect of the "wishful thinking" prices
on 2WD Westy and "plain" models is that it has simply kept a lot of people
from being able to sell their Vanagons. There are a couple obvious
$1500-$2000 vans I've seen listed locally at laughably high prices for
months on end. I suspect a lot of people don't realize that their relative
rarity is countered by their limited fan base. An '84 7-passenger with dull
paint and dings just isn't worth $5000...

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"