> If you take a mint syncro with a lot of miles on it, put a new motor in it
>and a clutch, what do you have,  A NEW CAR.  Note, I used to live in the
sorry
>ass mid west, surrounded by a bunch of red necks, and unfortunately VW and
>Audi products sell for about 50% less than what they desirve to be sold
for,
>compared to the west coast.

And now you live with a bunch of idiots who want to keep their vehicle value
inflated.  Redneck, well I done is from WV, but would be hard pressed to be
called a redneck.  Lets see, not that I have ever resorted to name calling,
but I take a car I already want $7500 for which is worth maybe $3500 and am
saying the addition of say a $2500 engine (good price with install) and a
$250 clutch gives me a NEW!! car.  Hmmn, what about a $2000 rebuilt tranny
(about what Weddle wants I think), and what does a VC run now, over $1500,
and front axle shafts assuming average '87 miles, that will set you back
about $500, and center driveshaft, course we just got a rebuilder there but
still $250 or so.  AHA we have the $12000 '87 passenger syncro, I
UNDERSTAND.  I never insulted anyone personally, I simply noted that early
passenger van syncros in excellent condition, with probably as much chance
at proper maintainence as any other of their mileage are frequently going in
the Mid-Atlantic for $3500-$4500 and anyone with half a brain, could use
this list to track down a deal and come out here and buy one for that.  Such
a person could probably get one down into the $2500 range, install the
engine, tranny, VC, driveshafts as needed then truly have a NEW CAR, having
spent about $7000 on making it genuinely NEW in every major running aspect,
I considered this myself and having played the project car game a number of
times realized I'd never get out even half of what I put in if forced to
sell, and those numbers are stacked to hard against me.  A number of other
people have backed up my prices and I'll note, the two I passed in that
range were PRISTINE vehicles, I just decided I didn't need the potential
trouble, I'd been there before.  I have seen perfectly nice appearing
vehicles go at auction for under $3000, interior/exterior gorgeous, no
obvious head leaks, running gear appeared solid, but they were at auction
like all 10+ year old cars.  Sure the value of your vehicle is highly
dependent upon location, but you can always expand your horizons, I bought a
'90 (regular GL) in Texas while on business and drove it back on a whim
because it was a good deal.  The origional $4500 van was a fair deal, and
perhaps one of the west coasters should drive on out, snap it up and make a
$2000+ profit on it reselling back home.

John
vwbus@mindspring.com