In a message dated 02/07/2008 5:27:44 P.M. Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Greetings,

First post, here.  I've been lurking, reading  the archives and current
discussions.
Used to drive a plain jane  Mitsubishi L300 with a futon & camping gear
tossed in back and was  sorry to see her go when she developed
electrical problems.

Nothing  like the 85 Westy I'm about to drive 200 miles roundtrip to go
check  out.
This Westy's got 211,000 miles on the original engine and  tranny.
For comparision, another Westy in the vicinity just sold for $6500  with
155,000 miles on the original engine and tranny.

I'm in NorCal  near Chico and would like to drive her out to the coastal
redwoods (4 hr  drive)
and then up through Oregon along the Columbia river gorge.   That means
going East to West across mountain passes, and then some.   But, it
seems to me that's taking an awful chance...
at 211,000 miles,  isn't it waaaaay overdue for a new tranny/engine
overhaul/replacement/blown  head gasket?
Also, the a/c doesn't work. Could be all it needs is freon  recharge...
or new seals.

Other questions:
What can I reasonably  expect to pay a good VW mechanic for engine
overhaul & transmission  work when needed?
Would you pay $7500 for a Westy with 211,000 miles on the  engine if
everything else (not the ac) looks and sounds good?  What's  a
reasonable offer in California?

Felicia, why don't you go have a  look at this van that I posted here a few
weeks ago ?  It's right in your  back yard and still for sale as far as I know.
 I can vouch for it as I  have worked on it some while in Mexico last winter.

I am posting the following Westy for sale add for  my good friends Mike &
Marianne who I met in La Manzannilla, MX while  on our Buses in Zamora trip this
past winter.  The van is now in  California, in excellent condition.  I have
seen and worked on this  van.  They need to sell this van for personal reasons.

For sale: Vanagon  Westfalia
year:            1990
price:             17,500.00
body style:    Westfalia pop top full  camper
exterior colour:   white
interior colour:     grey
engine:          4 cylinder  2.1 water cooled
transmission:   automatic
drive  type:     2 wheel  drive
doors:           3  doors
mileage:         217,000  miles

Vehicle description:
This is a very clean and straight  Westfalia camper. With the full camping
package: pop-up top with 2 beds, 2  burner stove, sink and faucet, closet,
storage cabinets, ext hookups for water,  2 tables, skylight/vent and swivel seats.
Runs and drives great.

We  are only the 2nd owners. Maintenance info on request. All work do by
pro's.  New tranny at 187k.

Contact for more info and pictures:  Mike & Marianne McCombs,  Chico, CA,
559-471-6469, _retiredmccombs@hotmail.com_ (mailto:retiredmccombs@hotmail.com)

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15,  2008