i think you should buy andrew fox's before he does an engine change.
if i'm not mistaken it's a westfalia.  regular vanagons are great, but
if you get a westfalia, you can always sell it for what you paid (less
the repair bills).
i'm lusting over an 86 syncro w/ locking differential for $1,900. i
think syncros hold their value too(stay tuned syncro fans,if i don't buy
it i'll post the ad here).  a year ago i found a 90 westy w/ all options
for $6,000--a steal. but a dealer swooped in and got ('cause he had the
cash in hand, i had to borrow. that westy is on his website for $12,900
yet today). $2,000 should get you a super terrific great van. around
here(wisconsin) they don't bring that much and are actually difficult to
sell.

but if i had been a subscriber to this list before i had bought my
vanagon multivan, i would have taken my $2,500 i negotiated and ran the
other way.  the strange, bizarre problems and solutions encountered
within this site.........fools rush in where angels fear to tread is
what comes to mind
 on the other hand; few owners are going to post that they have no
problem and how to not work on their non-problem.

i am happy to report no significant problems since april and about
11,000 miles....i got lucky. i do some repairs myself.  can afford to
have repairs made; save for the big ones -- but hey, any 12-year-old car
is going to need repairs.

chris c
if you buy a vanagon:
1)you will end up with an extra motor
2)find yourself wanting a 2nd vanagon

-------------------------- Clip ----------------------------
> IMHO there are 3 types of owners:
> those who have lots of spare time to work on them
> those who have lots of money to pay someone to work on them
> those that are very lucky and never need anyone to work on them
>
> I'm one of the poor SOB's that does'nt fall any of the 3 above
> classes.
> I call this condition "Vanagon Hell".
>