At 01:56 PM 10/3/96 -0500, you wrote:
>To anyone or everyone,
>
>I have stumbled upon an 87 GL wasserboxer Wolfsburg edition that my wife and
>i are very interested in.  I am asking your collective opinion about whether
>you think it is a good deal, a good year/model, and/or a good investment.
>Of course, all of those things go on the backburner compared to how bad I
>really want to own a Vanagon. I have not owned one yet, but both my wife and
>I grew up being carted around the country in VW buses, and we would like to
>continue the tradition.
>
>Specifically, I wondered what opinions are about replacing the head gasket.
>Obviously it needs to be done, usually around 50K, right?  But, does the
>problem reoccur every 50K, or is once good enough, particularly if they do a
>good job--which I am not too clear on.  The guy who is selling says only
>once, but my Dad says it is periodic. who is right?  
>
>Here are specs:
>
>1987 Vanagon Camper (no pop-top, just fold down bed in back) Wolfsburg
Edition, 
>Euro Model (captain chairs and chairs directly behind the front seats),
>New wheels (thick looking ones, don't know what they call them), 
>new brake discs and pads, 
>head gasket replaced at 70,000 miles, 
>exhaust system replaced some time soon after that, 
>2.1 litre water cooled engine,
>automatic transmission 
>am/fm cassette with sweet speakers, 
>power locks and windows and an alarm system that is not currently activated
>but could be,
>air conditioning that apparently works like a charm,
>107,000 miles, mostly in california, no rust to speak of,
>and most importantly, heated mirrors :)
>
>$5,500  (book is 5,900)
>
>opinions?  sorry so long,
>
>Mark St. Andre
>mark@avalon.net
>'87 Jetta GL
>'86 Golf

I don't know of anyone who has replaced the heads twice.  I think the JB
Weld guys have only done the job once. I am at 95k on the original heads. I
have the 86 Wolfsburg w/poptop.  The price seems fair, but not great.  I
would not depend on the AC more than I had to.  I never have been happy with
the AC.

Bill