| Author |
Message |
debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1593
Location: las cruces, nm
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:01 pm Post subject: if a ship comes in. |
 |
|
I may have sold my business. not sure, but maybe. there will be debts to pay off, closing costs and money to my business partner. but, I think I will get to spend some money on my westfalia. my husband wants me to invest for retirement, but the way I see it, my westy is an investment in my retirement. it is very hard to end the list of what I want to do!
new brakes, tencent engine, nice paint job, new tent, window and door rubber, grey water tank, SA grille, new bumpers....
wonder if I'll have that much, and if I actually should spend it on my westy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
rubbachicken
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2004
Posts: 3058
Location: socal
|
| Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i would compromise, and just buy the engine, the bumpers will get a dent, the new paint will fade, but the motor will go on and on 
_________________
lucy our westy
lucy's BIG adventure
meet 'burni' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10506
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
|
| Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Rhetorical question you ask, but my POV, in terms of pouring money into my Westies, is based in part on this:
How long will gas vehicles be viable? Battery tech has a long way to go before an electric Vanagon is a going to be practical for camping/touring.
For me, I see putting money into them now for use now, or soon, as logical.
Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
zeekiel
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2011
Posts: 153
Location: South Lake Tahoe, Colorado
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Rhetorical question you ask, but my POV, in terms of pouring money into my Westies, is based in part on this:
How long will gas vehicles be viable? Battery tech has a long way to go before an electric Vanagon is a going to be practical for camping/touring.
For me, I see putting money into them now for use now, or soon, as logical.
Neil. |
that was deep man 
_________________
85' Westy GL /w 2.1L Swap |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DAIZEE
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010
Posts: 7552
Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Do the important functional things. SA Grill is nice but it should not be a priority. You want to direct your $$ towards helping the van run, making it look different is not vital. Save some $$ for future needed work. Congrats on selling your business (hopefully).
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SL1
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2010
Posts: 251
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
i say go for it, its obvious you love your Westy - I'm thinking along the same thoughts too, but am doing a ground up restoration - and it is for my retirement enjoyment, for travel and golf.....
Its like the visa commercial, cost for Westy :7K
cost to restore: 17K
cost of enjoyment: PRICELESS
_________________
Steve
1985 GL Westy - 'Bullwinkle'
1978 Super Beetle - 'Rocky' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bjrogers86auto
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009
Posts: 1377
Location: Halifax, N.S.
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:24 am Post subject: ship |
|
|
We started investing in our retirement the day we bought the westy. We can build on it's value,it expands our horizons,it takes us away even just sitting in it in the driveway. Any money spent has come back tenfold already.
Just look at the picture threads on this site to see where our vans have taken us. My kids said yesterday they get along better in the backseat than anyplace else! How rich is that?
To each is own. We all have our ideas and beliefs. For us,the van fills up all of them.
Spend away I say.
Brian
_________________
2020 T@B 320 Teardrop(Has been van guy)
21 Ford Ranger XLT
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BillM
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 1381
Location: Stonington,CT
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Asking us about saving the money of spending on the
Westy is the equivalent of asking a meth head to
open a bank account or buy more drugs. It's an addiction
that has no cure.
Honestly it really depends on what kind of shape your in
for retirement and how long before you plan to retire.
How about a compromise that you put the money into
a 6 month account of some type (I don't want to derail the
post with what accounts are better) to give yourself a cooling down period. See where
life takes you for a couple months and then consider
a new engine/upgrades.
We all want the perfect Westy right away but if you
go slow you can drag the fun out over a longer period.
I personally enjoy the hunt of finding a new van and
them fixing it up the fun part. Once I get it almost perfect
I find myself looking for the next "hunt".
If you do dump a bunch of money into your rig. Be sure to
get some insurance that will protect your outlay. If it ever
was stolen or totaled you want to be able to get some sort
of return....
_________________
Bill M
87 Westy |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3669
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 10:24 am Post subject: Re: ship |
|
|
| bjrogers86auto wrote: |
Just look at the picture threads on this site to see where our vans have taken us. My kids said yesterday they get along better in the backseat than anyplace else! How rich is that?
To each is own. We all have our ideas and beliefs. For us,the van fills up all of them.
Spend away I say.
Brian |
Man, this makes me want to drive up to Nova Scotia just to shake your hand! Go with Godspeed Brian!
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
Complete SA Grill Set-up for sale!
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2748907
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6344
Location: Portland OR
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 10:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Save your money for later. It's much harder to save rather than spend. Figure out a way to make some extra if you want to spend on the van. It's NOT an investment. It's a car.
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
r39o
Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 9800
Location: San Diego
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
Only fix what you have to.
Brakes, if worn out.
Engine only if the old one is dead.
The rest of the stuff you mention is cosmetic.
As stated above, bumpers get bent, paint fades, etc.....
Save as much as you can.
In my case, we invested and the return funds lots of needed stuff.
Make the money work for you and do not toss it into a money pit.
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
j_dirge
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007
Posts: 4641
Location: Twain Harte, CA
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have other competing hobbies to my Westy.. so these decisions are a little less.. "all or nothing" for me.
Peronsally..
..and I think most folks over 40 who may be looking at eventually quitting the rat race, will agree..
I like to put away a good portion of a "windfall".. and maybe pick one or two reasonable luxuries to treat one's self to.
Its important to live today.. but its equally important to take care of yourself for tomorrow.
The SA grills will still be there in a couple months.. if you MUST have one.
Sleep on it for a few nights.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.
-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5
| danfromsyr wrote: |
those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BitterBeerFace
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2010
Posts: 386
Location: Southern MN
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
The question of how long gasoline engines will be viable... a long stinking time. Maybe not because of petroleum based fuel, but alternative fuels will become more popular/available to fill that need. It might cost $10/gallon, but there will be options.
As time goes along, more efficient gas, better diesel, or other conversions will become common...
_________________
1980 Full Camper, been in the family since it was brand new!
1989 Full Camper, great-great-aunt's since brand new! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eeebee
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2009
Posts: 441
Location: Tujunga
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| BillM wrote: |
Asking us about saving the money of spending on the
Westy is the equivalent of asking a meth head to
open a bank account or buy more drugs. |
X2
Only get what you need and let your money work for you.
_________________
Eric
1987 Vanagon Wolfsburg Special Edition
GoWesty 2.3
Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5938
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1593
Location: las cruces, nm
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| well, I haven't sold it yet, so haven't spent the money, of course. neither will I do stuff before it needs to be done. we also plan to invest some of the money. but the westy is my hobby, my habit and my home away from home. I appreciate all the good and thoughtful advice, but I'm going to fix up my van and I'm looking forward to it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan 
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17292
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8587
Location: Arizona
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jake de Villiers wrote: |
My grandmother used to say "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."  |
My grandmother said: "You can't take it with you! Enjoy it while you can!"
In other words: If you can afford to do it, do it. But make sure you have enough stashed away somewhere for personal emergencies and live off of.
_________________
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
79SuperVert
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2002
Posts: 9757
Location: Elizabeth, NJ & La Isla Del Encanto
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| BillM wrote: |
...it really depends on what kind of shape your in
for retirement and how long before you plan to retire. .... |
That's the key point. If you're in your 40's and you have nothing saved up for retirement then you need to focus on your future first unless you want to depend on the generosity and good will of others to help you when you're too old to work.
_________________
Central Jersey VW Society
Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
joseph928
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011
Posts: 2114
Location: flagstaff az.
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:11 pm Post subject: fix my westy |
|
|
 Fix it, the way you want. There more fun then kids! You can't take the money with you! So lets have some fun and spend it now! If you do it right, the van will hold it's value. At least thats how I look at mine! Now this is considering you can still afford the necessities!
_________________
1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
