#buyingavw

[westhewesty]

so... the bus is gone. but not to a good home unfortunately. :(  Yes, i sold my bus. :( Heres the story. For those not aware my grandfather passed away on thursday. i was really depressed. On Saturday morning my mother woke me up saying someone was outside wanting to buy my bus. Well this isnt the first time. But i always go and entertain the person just to see what they have to say. Im telling you now though, if you dont want to sell your bus, dont. dont even entertain buyers because it just gets into your head. Anyways, i entertain him and show him around it, he asks how much. I give him a number that i thought was reasonably high. We basically work down to some middle number.  He continues to tell me its his sons birthday and he goes camping alot and wants to bring him camping, hand it down to him blah blah blah. All that. Now im in a place ive never been before, i think i had a very clouded judgment, but i also call my girl, she says dont sell it for anything under my asking price i gave him. I then text my cousin and he actually says a number close to what me and the guy were at. he texts me: "make it $x,500 and shake on it." Now my cousin owns a bus as well, hes been searching online for a vanagon so i know he knows the value of my bus. (priceless btw) and So i shook on a number near close... well.. apparently.. when i later caught up with my cousin, he was being sarcastic... over text messaging... -__________- so the man needs to go back home and get more money and leaves the money he does have with me.  So at the final hours im reluctant to go through with this all, i tell him basically that i dont want to sell it, and hes insisting that he just drove a bunch of miles and no matter what, he needs to buy this van. 

So i sell my van for a very very veryyyyy good price to this man. He has his kids and wife with him and im like awesome, i got a good price (or as far as im aware until i later met up with my cousin), theyre going to have fun in it... hes saying " i know you didnt plan on selling it but its going to a good home" thats where the horror starts. 3 days later, while im looking for a new bus, there he is. There is, my bus!!!! and for how much? more than double for what i sold that asshole for it. I mean i can look at it two ways, 1. What an asshole   2. Someone actually thinks my piece of art, is worth that much money.. Which is how im feeling more about it now. Like, wow... Something i created, is worth 5 digits. More than id ever pay for a bus. Wow. Im honored. but also, i just want my fucking bus back you dick.  Anyways, i call him up. i need his address to release ownership. Because now hes just flipping the car under my name for more money. He finally called me back and this convo is even better.    Him: Hello? 

Me: Hi, its Anthony

Him: uhmmm.. long pause. i had a missed call from this number. 

Me: Lol, yes, youre the one selling the vw right?

Him: OH YES! i am. 

Me: sweet, im the owner, the guy you bought it from.

Him: ... 

Me: so im going to need your address to release ownership of my car. 

more convo that doesnt matter and he hands the phone over to his wife cuz its going into her name. HOWEVER, he does say "Sorry Antony" as he's handing it over... well ahw, thanks thats cute... ASSHOLE

Anyways i talk to her, get the info but then get this, at the very end she asks,

Her: "oh so hey, how much are you going to put?"

Me: well im going to put full amount we paid

Her: oh, well he was hoping you could put a thousand, for taxes and all. 

.........

HAH, are you serious right now? 

Me: uhmm...  (im smiling behind the phone right unbelievable of this additional request she asking me, shes already making over 6k more by exploiting me and my sad situation with my grandfather and now wants a tax break.)

YEAH RIGHT ASSHOLES

so im saved from having to respond to her request because now hes asking to talk to me so she hands the phone to him. Here im thinking oh ok, so hes going to say, its ok use the full amount, im sorry for lying to you and taking advantage of your situation. but instead he says this:

Him: " Hey so, how do you put the front cot up?" 

-_____________________________________________-

 i tell him, you put it in the brackets. and he continues to ask me about it, oh i tried but it didnt fit, where does it fit in.  and im just like hey its probably in the manual, i need to go now, thanks bye.  I dont know why i even entertained the idea and spoke to him, but i mean, this was just so ridiculous and unbelievable.    SO moral of the story, if you love your bus, and dont want to sell it, dont even entertain the idea dudes. Youll end up selling it and regretting every second of it. Also, do your OWN research on how much your car is worth. but frankly, i didnt think it was worth THAT much... but in someone else's eyes its like gold. I just saw... well.. my best friend. Sorry, Maybe one day we will meet again. Or maybe they will call me back wanting a refund after i put the total price down and they need to pay those taxes ;P LOL  (fingers crossed)

[westhewesty]

Someone asked me for some information on finding and buying a Westy.

so if you need some help searching for your very own bus, peep this post for some useful info on owning a vintage Bus. Hes goal was finding a non runner or a fixer upper. Start Quote:   ill post this just incase anyone else is curious or needs info:1975 before = 1600 carb motor (like beetles) (1.6liter) slower, easier to rebuild, lots of parts, engine swap easyness.1975 - 1979 = Fuel injected 2.0 liter stronger pancake motor. Can also be carburated but not in Cali. Cali requires smog and wont pass with a carb. Fairly easy as well to fix, same concepts. both engines are good. My bus has a sink, ice cooler (holds cold temp for a whole weekend with integrated drainage, and electrical hook up. i tried not to get one without citywater hookups in fear of rust.Your main westy models are as follows:Base: its a bus converted with the bed and may have some cabinetry. Weekender: usually has the bed and maybe sink, fridge, stove. Any option or all options. Westfalia straight Pop: has the bed and either or all above amenities and has a pop top that pops straight up. Can have beds, or sleeping cot, or non at all. Westfalia Front: the westfalia pop top pops up at an angle with the hinge at the front of the bus. This means storage roof rack is in the back and doesnt have room for a bed up top. May be able to fit a cot.Westfalia Back: which is what i have has the westfalia angle poptop with the hinges in the back. This has a bed up top and roof rack up front. MPG is somwhere around 16-20mpgA micro fridge like a ENGEL (best brand) will work best. They can be wired up to a recreational battery or in otherwords a second battery and last maybe 2 days without charge i believe. Or get a solar set up of about 85 watts and you can run the fridge indefinitely as long as you are able to charge your second battery with the sun. what goes wrong: RUST. Try and get a clean bus without or LITTLE rust. RUst is usually apparent above the front tires, under the driver and passenger foot rests, front windshield, the 4 corners where you jack the car up, under the battery tray, window sills, side air ducts, and rain catchers. Look for rust in these places and pay accordingly. Rain catcher and window seals and air ducts arnt that important with rust. Except for under the front windshield. FIX THAT if it does otherwise youre doomed. Engine wise, change ALL fuel lines. ALL. Make sure you keep all fuel filters out of the engine bay, keep an eye on temperatures. Use Motorcyle 4cycle engine in the newer 2.0 engine. i think its like 20-50 weight. Learn to Adjust valves and check oil all the time. If you get one with a pop top you can still put a rack up top. like a newer style yakima etc. no typical vintage vw rack will fit with the top on. those mount to the rain gutters. Non running, dont spend more than 5000 on it. You WILL put money into it. Alot if youre not careful with what you buy before hand. most impoortantly, have a good time man. She becomes part of the family. and try and get one with the least amount of rust. trust me. its better that way. Especially if its the first one youre owning... unless you have amazing welding skills on thin metal.