I just finished doing some serious shopping for a 
westy along the whole (USA) west coast and into 
Nevada & Idaho (plus I am looking for a Subie 
donor for it). Closer was better and I ended up 
with an '84 Westy from not too far from here. Still looking for a Subie.
There are a LOT of cars on craigslist sold as 
'cars' that you'd have to tow away. Needs a 'head 
gasket', a 'new transmission' or 'some engine 
work' was not unusual. If you ask me those cars 
belong in the "parts" section of craigslist. I do 
love it when one of the questions I have to ask is "can I drive it home?"
I found one 'scam' on thesamba, reported it, 
received a personal response and the ad was 
removed. There were a lot of people who did not respond to questions too.
Like anything you have to pay attention and use 
some care but with the computer, the internet and 
the free ads you can really do some searching. A 
cheap flight to Reno makes a Vanagon in Tahoe a 
real possibility. Still being able to take an 
hours drive to see the van was a big plus.

At  5/10/2008 11:39 PM, Andrew Grebneff wrote:
>>Maybe it is a real ad but the photos are not the year van listed and the
>>price is way low for the van in them.
>
>If a vehicle is advertised with an accompanying photo that is NOT of
>the very same vehicle, then that's fraud.
>
>>I think you must be right. Why else run them. There are also a lot of
>>ads from someone wanting to buy old VWs and it could be the same person
>>setting low expectations to make money reselling.
>
>That is a scam, and it would be nice to find out who is doing it and
>publicize the fact.
>
>
>>My favourite this week is one for a '91 Civic Hatchback.  "Runs great,
>>AirCared, needs head gasket, $1500"
>
>Hey, if anybody's tempted by that one, I have a 94 facelift Camry
>turbodiesel auto for $3000, guaranteed rust-free. All it needs is an
>engine.
>--
>Andrew Grebneff
>Dunedin
>New Zealand
>Fossil preparator
>Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
>� Opinions stated are mine, not those of Otago University
>"There is water at the bottom of the ocean"  - Talking Heads