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Winterhawk Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2020 Posts: 5 Location: Whidbey Island, WA
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:16 am Post subject: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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Lets take a $18000 Vanagon Weekender tintop and agree it's fairly priced.
Now assuming everything is exactly equal, how much would you add to the value if it were a Westy instead?
If it were a Syncro tintop?
If it were a Syncro Westy?
Again, assuming all 4 were in exactly the same condition, but adding Westy and/or Syncro to the mix. Asking because prices are all over the place and depend on many variables, so take all those variables out and assume all 4 are in equal mechanical and cosmetic condition. _________________ Just dropped in to see what condition my condition is in... |
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Alaskaberrys Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016 Posts: 1000 Location: SE Alaska
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Not a how much is this Vanagon worth thread. Well maybe just a l |
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Like you said prices are all over the place because there are so many variables - not many are in 100% top notch fully restored (with added) condition to sell at those prices. I would have a hard time agreeing that $18k is a fair price for a tin top weekender - for a Westy weekender in good condition that would be a good price.
With all things being equal - at $18k for a 2wd tin top weekender the westy would be at $40k and syncro westy at $80k - not many out there that can (should) command that price tag in my opinion. Hard to theorize that one. _________________ '91 Westfalia, Bordeaux Red Pearl 2.1L 2wd Auto
'91 T3 Syncro Doka, Escorial Green 1.9L TD AAZ “Gremian” (to provoke, irritate, exasperate, vex...) |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16803 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:45 am Post subject: Re: Not a how much is this Vanagon worth thread. Well maybe just a l |
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prices are all over the map no matter what.
too many things to consider.... location/demographics as well as recent work, quality of said work etc.
i'd say a camper adds 1500-2k to the price and add another 1500-2k for a syncro over the base price of a tin top 2wd. but....people seem to just throw out numbers.
someone was selling a 84 (i think) hadn't run in years tin top. asking like 8k for it. i commented that it was way too much for a van that hadn't run in years (and they listed it had clutch/trans issues) imho...that was a 1k-1500 van _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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leecat Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2012 Posts: 773 Location: Regina
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:42 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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I bought a weekender tintop for 3500 last year, and only paid that because it was minty. For 18k ANY tintop would have to come with gold plated everything. |
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mitch5 Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2019 Posts: 126 Location: phoenix
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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id argue that a camper and or syncro adds more than 2k to a van, im guessing closer to 10k. Assuming were comparing apples to apples. A rust free good condition running camper will bring around 20k while a tin top with just passenger seats is closer to 10k. That is at least based on my observations out west.
Then there's the rust free camper syncro, if i could have found one of those for 4k more than a similar tintop then i never would have gone through the effort to convert my 2wd westy. |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 2982 Location: MD
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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I agree with Mitch. I think starting with an $18k number skews things though. If a fairly clean 1988 tin top is $8-10k I'd expect that if it was a Syncro it would be ~$18k. If it was a Westy I'd expect ~$16k. If it was a Syncro Westy it would be $28k. _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Winterhawk Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2020 Posts: 5 Location: Whidbey Island, WA
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:19 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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leecat wrote: |
I bought a weekender tintop for 3500 last year, and only paid that because it was minty. For 18k ANY tintop would have to come with gold plated everything. |
You may be correct, but looking at classifieds here, CL, BaT results, eBay, etc. 18k for tintop seems to be the norm asking price foe a nice one. 8-10 k arround here buys a project that turns into 25-30k. Syncros are crazy and although desirable not worth the crazy prices in my opinion. I've been looking at and driving many tintops over the last 6 monthes and every one needed lots of money thrown at it to be average and the cheapest was 13k. I don't even bother looking at anything under 10k. Only seen about 3 advertised for that anyway and the description and pictures was enough to keep me away.. Maybe I need to look elsewhere or give up finding one. _________________ Just dropped in to see what condition my condition is in... |
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valvecovergasket Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018 Posts: 1491 Location: pnw
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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mitch5 wrote: |
id argue that a camper and or syncro adds more than 2k to a van, im guessing closer to 10k. Assuming were comparing apples to apples. A rust free good condition running camper will bring around 20k while a tin top with just passenger seats is closer to 10k. That is at least based on my observations out west. |
this
the pricing will also be really regional as well...
here in the pnw a "minty" 3500 tin top is some kind of ancient history _________________ MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15129 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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Whidbey Island, WA
what's your general cost of living and housing market out there.
you likely live in a higher priced bubble that tends to bring 'values' up as well. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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leecat Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2012 Posts: 773 Location: Regina
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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I suppose, in the interest of fairness, I should confess I found a desperate seller who started at 9k, lowered it to 7 in a few days and then was at 5900 when I went to look - offered him 3.5 and he turned me down flat. So I said 'Thanks anyway!' and put the cash back in my pocket. Suddenly we had a deal. Hopefully you can find someone who needs $ immediately, that's a wonderful motivator. |
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pdm777 Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012 Posts: 348 Location: Clovis, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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IMHO, Full Campers are always going to be at the top.
The unique interior, high quality materials, and German design
are elements that other Van conversions have never been able to match.
A tintop is no more useful (for camping) than any other domestic/import van.
Those who see the camper interior for the first time
are astonished to see a working sink, stove, refrigerator and
two beds. _________________ 1990 Westy Full Camper |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50261
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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pdm777 wrote: |
IMHO, Full Campers are always going to be at the top.
The unique interior, high quality materials, and German design
are elements that other Van conversions have never been able to match.
A tintop is no more useful (for camping) than any other domestic/import van.
Those who see the camper interior for the first time
are astonished to see a working sink, stove, refrigerator and
two beds. |
I remember getting my first close up look at a Bay camper 40 years ago and was astonished with how little space there was left inside and thus part of the reason I ended up with a Multivan a decade later. |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16803 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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mitch5 wrote: |
id argue that a camper and or syncro adds more than 2k to a van, im guessing closer to 10k. |
i should have added that my numbers were based on 'project' or non running examples. no way would i pay 10k for a camper that sat for years and needed to be gone thru
and everyone laughed at me when i wanted an agreed value policy of 40k minimum on my 84 _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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16CVs Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004 Posts: 4020 Location: Redwood City, California
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:51 pm Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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What is a weekender Tin Top? Is a Carat a Weekender ? Is any van that has a convertible rear seat a Weekender?
Don't most late late model GL vans have folding convertible rear seats? I know that I've been shown the brochure with the Weekender package added to a van.
To me a Weekender is a Pop Top van with a rear cabinet, Curtain rails and a jump seat and a Pop Top. A Multivan is close but with removable jump seats and a better color interior.
My beef here is that you were looking at an ad for a Weekender and had seen a true Weekender that you would expect those amenities. No one advertises their Carat as a Weekender even though it has a table, plastic panels and a folding rear seat.
Just call the van what it is, a XX year tin top with a folding rear bed. Don't get me started on the Generic use of the term "Zbed" There are many different styles of folding rear seats and to call everyone of them a Zbed is maddening. A Zbed is actually a converted stationary seat and rather rudely at that.
Can someone chime in on exactly which grade of vans had convertible rear seats. _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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floodwood Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2017 Posts: 160 Location: Cambridge, MA
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:56 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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Data point:
I paid ~8k in 2019 for a fairly well Sorted 1991 tin top (well taken care of, driven daily and 10 years of service records). I considered this to be a fair price for the vehicle.
This was before covid so not sure if that has skewed prices; the westies I had been searching for at the time in 2019 seemed to command a 4-6k premium.
As an example- in the same area I saw a very clean 1984 full camper for 14k. I would have considered 12k to be a fair price at the time.
Cheers |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 6:43 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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According to VOLKSWAGEN, the company that made and
sold them, the original WEEKENDER Vanagons were tintops with a different interior package that included a folding bed and cushion.
NO POPTOP! Like it or not.
Mark
16CVs wrote: |
What is a weekender Tin Top? Is a Carat a Weekender ? Is any van that has a convertible rear seat a Weekender?
Don't most late late model GL vans have folding convertible rear seats? I know that I've been shown the brochure with the Weekender package added to a van.
To me a Weekender is a Pop Top van with a rear cabinet, Curtain rails and a jump seat and a Pop Top. ...... |
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S4VAGE Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2007 Posts: 258 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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I’ll take a stab at it.
In your scenario, with today’s market, and all things being equal …similarly equipped, as a $18k tin top would put it in the top 20%? 10%? of the nicest vans
$18 tin top
$38 camper
$55 syncro camper |
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chrismsnt Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2018 Posts: 247 Location: Cumming, GA
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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To deviate off the topic a little bit... but would everyone pay more or less for an OEM camper vs something like a Rhino designs? All things equal, already has a VIN / paperwork that it's a Westy... I'm trying to figure out if I should stay OEM vs "upgrade". Yes, I use mine... LOL _________________ Chris
1989 T3 Vanagon 16" Syncro
1967 Squareback
https://vwvandiesel.com
Instagram @VW_VanDiesel |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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chrismsnt wrote: |
To deviate off the topic a little bit... but would everyone pay more or less for an OEM camper vs something like a Rhino designs? All things equal, already has a VIN / paperwork that it's a Westy... I'm trying to figure out if I should stay OEM vs "upgrade". Yes, I use mine... LOL |
Not enough information. I would pay more for one that was better than the OEM offering and less for one that was worse. Whether or not it is OEM is irrelevant to me personally.
If concerned about maximizing value, then converting a factory westy to another camper design is likely a lot less cost effective than selling a westy and purchasing a tin top van and converting it.
Last edited by ?Waldo? on Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:58 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2780 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Not a How much is this Vanagon worth? thread. Maybe a little... |
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my. 02- OEM will hold value much better than anything custom, regardless of quality. The OEM is nice, well-designed, functional, classic, all that. If you make something custom, it's to fit your needs better which may not match the needs of others.
And I write this as somebody currently building his own cabinetry for a tintop converted to a pop top... from that perspective, my van is in pretty good shape, especially for something that spent most of it's life in the northeast. If it was a stock westy and I saw it listed here for 20k, I'd say ok that's market. As a homebrew conversion, I'd maybe ask 12k. That's with full suspension rebuild, entirely new cooling system, working air conditioning, CLK wheels, really if you went from alternator to wheel bearings in the alphabet of parts, I've updated or rebuilt 90 % of the things. That's the price difference between a factory camper and "other," at least in my opinion. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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