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Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:35 pm

Hi.I'm a new guy looking for my first Westy and could use your help,advice,comments,etc.Since I live on the east coast,there's not a big selection,and shipping from the west coast is $900 to $1200 added to the price,plus the fact you buy it without really seeing it first.Than I saw this one
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/index.php?photo+200310201652009775
This is about 4 hours away.The guy says its in super nice shape,no rust,it even has a/c that works.He said it needs tires,a pump for the sink,and the poptop tent has rip.It's got 84k miles,and runs great.He says the rims on it were there when he bought it from the original owner.
So what do you think?I first thought it was too much $,but the nice ones listed here on the samba are going for 5k to 7k,plus shipping.What do you guys say?

Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:49 pm

when buying a classic car such as a vw, you should be prepared maybe have it shpped, towed or driven some distance to get it to your home. Thats quite a bit for an original westy. I have a 69 riviera for sale with full a full dvd/tv system, keyless entry, brand new interior and paint, and soooo much more. The price is flexible, make me an offer if it tickles your fancy! :D You can get a car shipped cross the country for as low as $600. Check it out......

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/index.php?photo+200310142030432654

Sun Nov 30, 2003 1:04 pm

'78 or '79 are desirable years for a bay bus. The price seems high when you add another $400-$500 for tires, but it seems to be in nice shape, and EX California should mean no rust, but no guarantees. Cool color, so much better than our dirt brown beige '78 (which is now '71 Chianti Red & White). If it's in your budget, take a ride and go see it. Any cheap airline tickets on the East coast? You could fly and then drive it home if you like it. :lol:

I would get a mechanic's opinion before you buy anything. It's worth that $100 checkup to not get more problems than you know about.

Sun Nov 30, 2003 1:20 pm

That price seems a tad high. I bought this for $3500 and put another $3000 or so into it (including engine)

Make sure you go and have a mechanic check it out.

Sun Nov 30, 2003 1:49 pm

Quite often original is a heads up that says you'll be spending a lot of money replacing everything 25 years old.

I love it went east coast sellers advertize them as "California campers". You really have to take a look underneath to see if they've survived the local winters.

Those rims don't look original. Where are the photos of the interior?

Sun Nov 30, 2003 5:11 pm

Suggestion:

Take a ride over there and have a look at it. Even if you are just "tire kicking" you can see what is available out there. If you are serious about it, take it to some mechanic who can do a pre-purchase inspection on it to check for the overall condition of the car, from rust to engine/tranny, to suspension and brakes. Don't forget the heating system/fuel system/camping gear. Money well spent, especially if you don't buy it. If you don't know anybody, take it to the VW dealer over there, or to a funky Porsche shop. Look for someone old enough to remember when it was new.

Be realistic though, these cars are over 25 years old and have some miles on them. Things wear out or just get tired whether they are used or not. Condition should matter more than mileage. Those little old ladies that only drove them to church, are all dead by now.

A good bus is worth good money. It is your money however so be choosey. The "usables" (tires, brakes, suspension, engines, canvas) are readily available and, if you are willing to do some of the work yourself, resonably affordable. Personally, I run away from a lot of body work, FI switched to carbs, tranny problems, orange ones, and buses that just don't track or feel well. That's me though, not you.

You are right though, there are not a huge number of good buses here in the Northeast. They rust in LA or BC or even TX. Buses just rust where ever they get used. They can rust in a garage. It cost me over a grand to have mine shipped to Boston from Seattle.

BTW, some of these were delivered to CA and are "79 CA only" (mine is that way). Some different parts. Some 79s have lived there since Reagan, others left after Arnold. It is part of that story line that goes with any car, so don't give it too much credence. Look for a nice happy bus that want to take you somewhere nice.

Happy motoring!

Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:46 am

My personal opinion, buy the best one you can - period. You'll almost ALWAYS spend more restoring something your self. When I went to look at mine, the seller wanted $9K. I just wanted to see what a good restoration looked like - and it was very nice. ended up getting it for alot less. Can't hurt to look.

TJ

Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:37 am

New window seals, gas lines,heat cables,shocks, battery

That stuff can't ad up to more than $525.00.

It needs tires as well, right? There's another $400-500. New Pop top's are around $250.00.

I would have a mechanic look at it before you start talking purchase price. IMHO, $7500 is too much for a Late Westy. Consider too the cost of repairs to that bus in comparison to a pre '72 bus. It looks pretty decent but I too would like to see the inside and those "baja" wheels are not stock.

Mon Dec 01, 2003 1:20 pm

I think it's about $2600 more than I would pay. It's not even a deluxe. Not to mention needs new rear bumper, and mabey its my monitor, but it looks like off-color green touch-up was used around the point where the drivers rear marker is. If so, thats a typical spot for rust, why else would the paint be there? New Window Gaskets but the bus was painted 5 yrs ago? Odd not to replace them then, mabey "new" is 5yrs to some folks. If people continue to buy Bays at prices like these it's just going to get worse. I paid $350 for my 78 deluxe. I have put around 2500 in it. That got me a great running engine, great trans, new cv's, new brakes, new tires, new kyb shocks, a battery, etc, and a good condition parts bus. By the time I spent a total of $7600 I could have new paint, interior, tent, side tent, trailor, and plenty left over. Most of these things are what that overpriced 78 will need soon enough anyway. I guess what I'm saying is there's no way in hell I would pay that kind of price for a bus like that. Even if you're not looking for a project, there are much better deals, shipping is a minor charge in the grand scheme. A bus being close certainly doesn't warrant a $2600 overcharge. IMO keep looking. Dave

Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:55 am

When I was looking for a late bay I did not consider a CA-delivered bus to be a plus. Randy and others know more about the parts availability issues, but more than once when looking at parts diagrams I have been happy I was not looking for some obscure one year only CA bus part, or dealing with an extra emissions piece. Not a huge issue, I'm sure, but worth thinking about.

Oh, and Breeze, be sure to keep that Westy in good shape for me. When I win the lotto I'll be knocking on your door, that's a beauty. :D

Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:21 am

Every CA bus has it's own CPU. There were few 79 busses produced and every fewer 79 CA busses so I'm not a big fan of that one.

One of the problems with CA busses is that the entire exhaust system is original often. You'd think it was a plus until you've seen them up close: VW didn't rust proof them and the entire thing is rusty waiting to break through. Luckily it only costs $100 or so to get rid of everything and put on an extractor. Heater boxes from CA, AZ etc are probably better preserved that other states.