Resale

[junichi]

The topic of buying a Deli seems to have been beaten to death, but I (still a prospective buyer) can't find the answer to this: why are there so damn many of these things being resold a couple years after the original purchase? And I am still struggling with the decision. I have seen them up close, talked to owners, but I maybe you can't really know until you live with it...

Is it just a matter of a bad fit between owner / vehicle? I am a VW bus guy, traditionally, but i think i want a Deli. I've been through 5 VW's with 2 catastrophic engine failures, and many minor headaches. None of my vans was ever worth enough to put a lot of money in for repairs, so they either got sold or dumped. I want something cool, with some character (my Syncro Vanagon was my favourite: character and modern amenities like HEAT!). I want a reliable bus-type vehicle that i can take camping with my family, and on the occasional road trip. (Unlike most VW buses, which are just not relaible enough, unless you do an engine conversion) I drive to work too, but only 10 minutes each way. I don't mind regular preventative maintenance. I think all cars need this, or at least should get it. If you don't take care of something, it WILL let you down. Cost of repairs? Can't be worse than my Volvo 850 was, can it? $800 for a T-belt compared to $300 in my Toyota Tercel. But we loved the Volvo, so we spent the dough. I suspect it is the same for these Deli's... Now we have a 98 Odyssey. The service light has been on for 6 months, and it hasn't squeezed a dime out of me yet. It will probably have to break to get me to spend money on it. We don't love it: it's just a practical, comfortable minivan.

Comments?

[junichi]

PS: Right now I'm thinking low roof with sunroof, and fitting a pop top... not as much open space as a true pop-top, but would provide the needed upper bunk. Kinda like this idea: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ursa-min ... -1/621540/

[jaggedfish]

I am really only guessing here but the number of resales may be to do with being able to find someone who can reliably do work on these vans. Truth is, anyone can work on them - they are just another vehicle in that sense - and parts are more readily available even if the sources are limited.

We have heard of catastrophic failure in this forum a number of times and a miriad of other problems. Truth be told, most don't write about how reliably their vehicle starts up every day or how wonderful it corners or how long the brakes lasted compared to their last vehicle.

The only reason I would sell mine would be to upgrade to another Delica. I enjoy driving mine every day from White Rock to my office in Vancouver and back. I'm never in a rush when I'm in my bus and get a kick out of the looks and smiles people give you. I love the height of the seating for visiblity. The van has been great no-road, off-road and in the snow - slow and steady wins the race, you know? Yes, I've had to repair a number of things - replaced one fuel tank - $100 plus $25 overnight courier from CC Autos (my own labour), new custom Magnaflow exhaust after the original fell off - $330 taxes-in thru White Rock Muffler (wonderful people by the way) and new front brake pads, rotors and calipers - about $300 (my own labour).

I am sure a number of people discover Delicas are not for them as well but you really can't tell unless you have owned one. If you seriously want one I would say, take your time and think of what options you want in a Delica and search it out.

Now as for your Syncro... are you in White Rock on Marine Drive?.... always admired that one when I drive past on my way home.

Cheers! Happy bussing!
Ian

[drrod]

Junichi,
I am just guessing here since I haven't talked to a lot of people who are "reselling" but I think a few of reasons are:

1. there are getting to be a lot of Delis in the country and this is just a normal ratio of resales (no numbers to back up that theory though).
2. people bought the van on a whim and after living with it for a while decided that it did not suit their needs.
3. people bought a van that was not gone through by a reputable importer and are tired of dealing with all the things that the good importers would have fixed/replaced in the first place.
4. The economic times are forcing people to "downsize" their fleet.

I am surprised at how much we like our Deli. My SO prefers it over her Lexus!! I smile to myself when she takes greater care where she parks the van compared to her car! Normally I am kinda a "go fast" type but when in the van, I just sit back and take my time. It is no rocket sled but as was mentioned earlier, slow and steady sometimes wins the race. It is great around town for several reasons:
1. short wheel base and tight turning radius makes it very maneuverable.
2. great sight lines
3. gets almost as good of mileage as on the highway.

So, my advice to you would be.......take your time looking, find one with the options you want, and most importantly.....find one that has been gone over by a reputable importer and has had all the necessary work done. The good thing about the number of resales is that there is a greater chance of finding exactly what you want. Always keep in mind that these are 15 year old vehicles and so there will always be more maintenance than with a new van but maybe that is part of the charm.

Good luck with your hunt.

Rod

[Fanny Bay Delica]

I just sold mine and the reason was it was a weekend vehicle and just didn't get used all that much, this coupled with I had it for 2 1/2 years and sold it for 35% more than I bought it, what other vehicle could you do that with??? 35% appreciation over a few years.

As I loved the vehicle and really enjoy what we did with it, never had any mechanical issues whatsoever -- every single thing worked when I got it and worked perfectly when I sold it -- I would have to say that Delica ownership was the most positive vehicle experiences I've ever had!!!!

[junichi]

Thanks for the responses. As for my Syncro, it would not have been one that anyone would admire... it was pretty rusty with over 200 000 miles....

I'm in Victoria, and I know the market for good Deli mechanics is limited.

[Golf Cart]

Junichi,

If you can get your head around a few things , it might making your decision a little easier.

1) Forget its a Delica, but rather a used Japanese vehicle. We have lots in town. This one just happens to be made by a specific tribe that didnt import them when they were new.

2) Its just a diesel engine. The priciple is the same as my Ford, My Jetta. Hell, the Delica engine looks pretty much the same my 1.9 Jetta engine. T-belts are the same place. the IP is almost the same. Turbo is is the identical same spot. Is just not mounted transverse.

3) It is a vehicle that wasnt destined for this part of the world, so you have to dig a little bit to source parts and mechanics. I drove a classic T-Bird, had the same issues.

4) Because they are 15+ years old they are going to need fixin and tweekin on occassion. It helps to know which end of the crecsent wrench works as good as a hammer. You'll notice by some of the postings that some guys ( and gals) can do repairs , some can't. No big deal. I can't figure out how to reduce pics I take to post on this website. So like anything else, you ask somebody who does.

5) If you can't fix it with a hammer , it must be an electrical problem

6) The Delica is a novelty vehicle, and chances are people tend to get tired of their toys ( I got tired of my Big Wheel when I was a kid) I also got tired of my T-Bird after 5 years of happy driving. Also people change, their ideas change, their preferences in vehicles change.


All in all problems with Delicas are surely not the root causes of all the resales. It may now be the fact that you are hooked on them , and now you just notice this fact. Did you also happen to notice all the Volks Corrados that are up for sale as well ?

Cheers

[after oil]

get the delica, you wont be sorry. do all the recommended repairs to get it tip top, right off the bat. if you dont like it, sell it for more than you bought it for...

i just took mine to mexico and back. awesome trip!
my injection pump started giving me clues of a need for repair in AZ, but i made it home and drove it 6 weeks more before i had to repair the IP. it was big bucks, but so what, i just went to mexico! maybe i should have had it rebuilt when it came from japan.

[FlashJ]

We're just picking up our first Deli and one thing not mentioned is its a lifestyle. We're exicted to start out our deli adventures but may find in a year its just not working out the way we hoped; We didn't buy a delica for a second vehicle, we bought it for fun. Its a toy. I kiteboard, me and the SO snowboard and we love to camp so this seemed like a logical choice for our toy vehicle. Who knows, maybe it will be up for sale next year, maybe I will keep it for 10. I hope we make many great memories with her, but only time will tell.

From what i can tell resale is pretty damn good so i felt like it was a safe chance to take.

I bought from a reputable importer. (pick it up this week! Stoked!)

Cheers
FlashJ

[Kei King]

Buy it, ride it, enjoy it, resell it.

[marsgal42]

Do you actually have numbers for sales? There may be lots of Delicas for sale, but there are lots around, too. I saw 6 Delicas this afternoon, including a white Exceed with Yukon plates.

All the usual reasons apply: superfluous to requirements/need the money. Too thirsty. Too slow. The fad is over.

If you want one, buy one. If you don't, don't. Get a good one, through a good importer, and you will have an amazing vehicle.

...laura

[junichi]

So what about buying one that is being re-sold then? Is this a good idea if all the work was originally done when it was imported? Or is a warranty worth the extra $$? Some of the ones on Used Vic are pretty cheap!!

[kb&2dogs]

So what about buying one that is being re-sold then? Is this a good idea if all the work was originally done when it was imported? Or is a warranty worth the extra $$? Some of the ones on Used Vic are pretty cheap!!

It all comes down to doing the research. If you buy one already on the road, find out what service has been done (and particularly in Victoria - WHO did it). There are always going to be horror stories of incompetent service, or outstanding service. I think that you will find lots of them on here just because we are a community unto ourselves and have the forum to tell our stories, good or bad.

We had a horror story, it was fixed, and we love our deli!!