California dreaming?

May 17, 2007 8:03 AM

Westfalia-filter. I'm on the market for a Westfalia vanagon (1984-1989). I'm based in Montreal, but I have this crazy idea that I might get a better deal in CA.

The plan is simple: fly to California (Northern, Southern?) , spend a few days shopping for Wessie of my dreams, buy it and drive it home.

Assumptions:
-Most used Wessies in CA are in good shape (bodywise, no rust).
-More offer, more chances of finding a good deal.
-It's not going a complete nightmare to import it into Canada (anyone with experience on this?).
-Considering all the expenses, I still come up ahead (the asking price for a 1985 Wessie around Montreal is about $13000US)

Does this make any sense? Or am completely offtrack?

BTW, now that I've made my desires knowned, I'm willing to consider offers from trusted Mefites.... My e-mail address is available is my profile...

posted by bluefrog to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

I say this is a good plan. I'd start on the internet before flying there. A friend of mine did this with a Westie a few years ago. He bought in the Bay Area and sold elsewhere and ended up making a profit of several thousand dollars even after drving the Westie around for a year. They key is that you have to get lucky and not have any major repiar jobs before you sell it. What I remember from his Westie quest is: Look for one whose transmission has already been rebuilt. And Synchros are better than non-synchros and will get you a bigger price premium when you go to sell. They are rare in CA but super-rare elsewhere.
posted by Eringatang at 8:16 AM on May 17, 2007

Another place to look is the Pacific NW (Oregon/Washington). I'm told it's Westie heaven around here -- and I imagine prices might be better than in CA.
posted by ottereroticist at 8:46 AM on May 17, 2007

I can't help much, but I see a lot of Westfalias in Montreal, so there must be a decent offer.
posted by racingjs at 9:59 AM on May 17, 2007

Although Eringatang's friend had the opposite experience, I think you'll find that many of these are more expensive in California than many other places, although I'm not sure about Montreal specifically.

I've lived most my life in the Midwestern U.S. (IL, MO, and now Wisconsin) and I remember years ago thinking that I could buy a used VW bus locally, drive it to California, sell it, and make enough money to pay for the trip and fly back. A guy I knew in college had done this with a couple of vans (he was from Ohio).

Getting one from this part of the country means it has lived through the nasty winters, true, but you still may be able to find a good one.

I agree that lots of web research is key. Good luck with your search, these are cool, cool vehicles!!
posted by altcountryman at 10:31 AM on May 17, 2007

You might save a little money and it would be a fun trip. I would check out the prices on Samba, they will probably be a little higher than what you can actually find in person, Ebay, and Craigslist. Remember a part of your plan is to drive a 20+ year old vehicle on a 2500 mile road trip. You might ask this same question on the Samba Vanagon Forum. They will at least be able to tell you what to bring along for the drive back, a Bentley manual, and a basic tool kit should be included. If the finances work out so that you only break even on the trip, I think that it would be worth it. I own a 1972 Westie and like everybody that I know who has owned one I love it. However most people end up selling theirs because they get tired of the maintenance that they require.
posted by calumet43 at 10:59 AM on May 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

As a former owner of several Westies (both Air cooled and post 84 water-cooled variety) make sure that radiator system checks out. It was kinda new tech (with 10 foot travel from engine to radiator) for Volkswagon then and will be that vans achilles heel.
posted by sourwookie at 12:28 PM on May 17, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for all the advice. Might have found the deal I was looking for. In the US, but much closer to home. I now have to deal with the import in to Canada process...
posted by bluefrog at 1:31 PM on May 17, 2007

Have you checked Craigslist in Vancouver? And B.C. in general? I'm on a couple of Vanagon mailing lists, and Vanagons seem to be plentiful there too.
posted by bricoleur at 3:47 PM on May 17, 2007