| Author |
Message |
Yellow Rabbit
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005
Posts: 1159
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
 |
|
| Purchase price is just the beginning. If the more expensive one doesn't leave you with cash for repairs and upgrades, get the cheaper one. There are things I'd change on either before a long trip. For example, I have driven on 14" and 16" tires, I wouldn't leave town on 14's. Personally, I think they are both overpriced. I think the older one is on eBay now. Maybe you can get a deal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8172
Location: WA/ID
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
| bluebus86 wrote: |
have a complete prepurchase inspection done.
good luck |
Good advice. Unfortunately, most (all?) PPIs don't include an oil pressure test or a transmission inspection. A van can pass the PPI but barely be keeping the oil pressure light off (meaning near death OP). A tranny bearing can fail at anytime with no predictive indicators. A PPI is helpful but is not a guarantee. Nothing is a guarantee but one can mitigate risks.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AZ Landshaper
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2009
Posts: 1706
Location: The Old Pueblo
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 5:44 am Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
Buy the 84 and hold on to some of your cash for repairs. I personally dont think a westy is worth 21k unless you know the back ground and its "solid" all around.
I paid 25k for my first home so Im biased based on that.
And i agree with ^. A PPI is often not worth jack. Ive purchased a few vehicles with a PPI and not been happy with my decision three days later.
My solution has been to look at a few more options and typically something stands out as either good or bad.
_________________
Support Small Business.
-------------------------------------------------------
85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17147
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chrisfreemanca
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2016
Posts: 140
Location: Alabama
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
| dchase36 wrote: |
Hi,
First time poster...looking to purchase a Westfalia and looking at two in particular with very different price points.
Option 1) A 1987 Westy in incredible shape. 4 Owners, clean autocheck, 94K miles total, completely stock with AC. Automatic. New paint, at a local shop that has made sure it is road ready. Downside is there doesn't seem to have been any mechanical work done. $21.5K asking price
Option 2) A 1984 Westy (not wolfsburg but has power steering) in slightly worse body shape. Has 155K miles, 10K on rebuilt 1.9L Gasoline Water-cooled engine, rebuilt transmission also under 10K miles. $11.5K asking price
Option 2 is about half the price of option 1 so i am trying to understand how valuable it really is to have a 1986 or newer westy. Want it for a 3 month road trip at which point i'm open to keeping or selling. Can afford either, but obviously prefer to spend less. Really appreciate general thoughts
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=dchase36&show_results=summary |
Your option 2 ('84) is now back on eBay with a buy it now price of $10k as the auction didn't fetch that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
michaelbteam 
Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2012
Posts: 234
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
NEITHER. No vanagon "expert" here, but I've learned a little at a time owning ten various Westies. I would not own a 1.9 again, and I like the upgrades of 86 on. AND, my experience with automatics precludes owning one again in my canyon country.
I would hold out for a better deal, echoing many of the comments here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
raoul mitgong
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1340
Location: Denver, CO
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
All depends on you and your $ situation. We all have our opinions on the +/- 86 vans and those opinions are all over the place. We would need to know more about you ($ and mech ability) to give a good answer.
I'll try anyway. If an extra $10k doesn't bother you, an easier opening slider door and the other minor upgrades might be worth it. If 10k is a big number, go with the 84.
It is good you are doing your research and asking questions. Welcome to the club.
-Darren
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4619
Location: United States, Iowa
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
Um...
Well. Ok here goes.
The 'upgrades in the 86+ are nice, true.
The 1.9 of the earlier one makes me feel sorry for it, and personally would have to do something about that.
HOWEVER, I have owned several split Westies, drove one to AK, the other to Fl, and loved them, I had a '71 tintop camper, it was fun too, but no heat, ouch!
Then the world changed for me and I bought, new off the lot, a 2003 Westy.
Here, this is probably more like what you should get, if you want a fairly worry free 3 months, and able to sell it off fairly quickly again:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1920058
Good luck.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4619
Location: United States, Iowa
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
P.S.
Hold off on your 'boos and hisses'
I drive and love my '87 Westy.
BUT, that said, I thought the T4 was an appropriate option. I took it when I had my chance. I am glad I did.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pinetreeporsche
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009
Posts: 752
Location: Falls Church, VA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Help choosing between two Westies |
|
|
I like the solution a nice Eurovan. I was going to say: if you have a commute or other reason to find yourself stuck in stall-and-crawl, the automatic is great. I've had 3 stick Vanagons, but was pleasantly surprised when I drove a friend's automatic. And the Eurovan came with an automatic, yes? (Ok, an occasional pricey rebuild, ...maybe.) I'd bet the Eurovan has AC- didn't see you mentioning it. Go for the Euro-- you won't ever let yourself re-sell it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
