> Now, perhaps I was pushing it a *bit* too hard - for sure, I wasn�t
> babying it: drove it just like I do my van at home, topping out a little
> above 4K RPM.

As Simon and Garfunkle wrote:  "Slow down, ya move too fast, Ya gatta
make the vanagon last......."     Cruising at 4,000+ rpms?????   I cruise at
about 3,100 rpms.  On my last trip (3,000 Kms) I passed ONE! car.

>  At this point, I�d just > like to get my $12K back out of it, so I'd have
> to consider that a firm  bottom-end sales price

Let me be sure that I understand this:  An 89 Syncro Westy with a working
motor 'certified' good by a VW shop = $12,000 and now with a blown engine
but "rebuildable core"  still = $12,000????   Please post to the list if you get
this price, I'll put it my file to show the insurance co.  malcolm s