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nm13
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2012
Posts: 2
Location: Houston, Tx
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 Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: Any tips on finding a bay? |
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| I've been looking through the forums for a while and I've decided on finally getting a bus but the problem is I've probably only seen 2 here in houston where I live. I have looked through the classifieds but most of the buses are a great distance from where im at. so does anybody have any tips on finding a bus for me to buy? |
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david_594
Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2006
Posts: 484
Location: Columbus, OH
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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Um, buy one that is a great distance away?
It's not real likely you will find a bus in remotely good condition, at a reasonable price, that is anywhere close to home.
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1968 westy weekender
2000 jetta tdi
79 vespa p200e |
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pb24ss
Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2005
Posts: 1665
Location: sitting around the fire with the bluegrass band - colorado
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| patience and craigslist. there are sites that search multiple craigslist locations. start local and expand your search. you may have to be prepared to travel a little bit to find the right bus. oh yeah. patience helps. good luck with your search. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42625
Location: at the beach
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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took us close to five years and we only got a part of what we were looking for. It has been about 10 years since the moment we started looking and maybe I've seen 3 or 4 that I would have purchased in lieu of mine. Main thing is watch out for rust.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin |
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AB westy nut
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2010
Posts: 1125
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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mikewire
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2010
Posts: 842
Location: San Antonio, TX
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Kirk
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003
Posts: 5492
Location: North Texas
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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What kind of bus? Transporter? Westy? Project or driver?
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MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
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Mal evolent
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2009
Posts: 2923
Location: San Antonio, Nuevo Mexico
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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check the Phoenix Craigslist for some perspective on what is available for what price. far more selection than Houston, Albuquerque or Hell Paso.
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73 Beetle Baja, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 2220 ( 94 X 80 ), Weber Progressive, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats
Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index |
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mikewire
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2010
Posts: 842
Location: San Antonio, TX
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nm13
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2012
Posts: 2
Location: Houston, Tx
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks westy.
I actually just got a call from my dad cause he needed some help with one of his customers cars and it just happened to be a 72 bus. Well i started talking to him about my interest in getting one and it turns out he has a second one that he's selling for 1 thousand 
gonna go take a look at it next weekend.
another question, I know to look for rust underneath the bus but is there anything else i should look for? |
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babysnakes
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2008
Posts: 7152
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Patience. Look hard. I drove 1000 RT miles for the first. And 200 RT for the 2nd. And had the third one shipped 3000 Mi. Be careful on shipped stuff you don't get to look at 1st hand. Ask me how I know. |
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pb24ss
Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2005
Posts: 1665
Location: sitting around the fire with the bluegrass band - colorado
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| nm13 wrote: |
| is there anything else i should look for? |
The $3000 to $6000+ you will likely need to spend on any $1000 bus you purchase to make it road worthy and reliable. |
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odecom5
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2006
Posts: 459
Location: CO
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips on finding a bay? |
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| nm13 wrote: |
| I've been looking through the forums for a while and I've decided on finally getting a bus but the problem is I've probably only seen 2 here in houston where I live. I have looked through the classifieds but most of the buses are a great distance from where im at. so does anybody have any tips on finding a bus for me to buy? |
I looked on the samba every day for 4 months. I also looked on craigslist, using as many keyword combos as possible. Sometimes people spell wrong, so just try everything.
I did VW Bus, VW Van, vw camper, vw campmobile, westy, westfalia, etc and then spelled out 'volkswagen', and also 'volkswagon' for those who can't spell. I did this search also every day, almost obsessively, for the same 4 months.
Then I posted a WTB ad in the forum, and less than a week later, I had the bus I was looking for from the beginning.
Not everybody that is willing to sell their bus has it for sale  |
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RocketSurgeon
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2005
Posts: 442
Location: Roseville, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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I found mine by calling local vw shops. Just so happened one had an early bay with a sign in the window, drove it home soon after.
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69 Westy |
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69rulz
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2009
Posts: 867
Location: On a trip on my couch
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| pb24ss wrote: |
| patience and craigslist. there are sites that search multiple craigslist locations. start local and expand your search. you may have to be prepared to travel a little bit to find the right bus. oh yeah. patience helps. good luck with your search. |
x2
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Id rather die on my feet than live a life on my knees Right turn clyde |
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Amskeptic
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2002
Posts: 8586
Location: All Across The Country
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offshore dan
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2011
Posts: 10
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:59 am Post subject: |
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I live in Houston and I found mine here in the classifieds in November up in Washington. Talked a buddy of mine into a cool road trip so we flew up took a cab to Snohomish, Washington then drove my 1970 Panel bus 1200 miles the scenic route to San Francisco. What a blast doing it in the slow lane the whole way. Put the bus on the transport truck and flew home from San Francisco and my bus got here a week later. I wanted a panel bus for my business so it was a bit harder search but good luck finding one down here I hope it all works out.
BTW - when you drive it here in Houston you get some funny/happy looks and waving because no one is used to seeing them down here.
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1970 Panel Bay Window |
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Boesen
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2011
Posts: 541
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| mikewire wrote: |
| You don't find the bus, the bus finds you. |
After many many years of wanting, looking, and researching on TS, finally found one here in Iowa, also part of the "Rustbelt Region". Sat in a backyard for years, original owner, but after some work to get it running, some minor repair work to the rusty spots, it has been saved. So, the above phrase is correct. Patience, Patience, and research, research! |
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tunnvar
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2011
Posts: 261
Location: Austin, Texas
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