So, what have I found, having had a chance to look over the...car? Van? It's half of one, half of another... we're just going to say "car" for the sake of simplicity.
Overall initial assessment so far is that it's pretty much as expected. Cosmetically challenged in a few areas but fundamentally sound underneath it all.
Let's start with the usual walk round photos.
The only bit of rust which has me slightly concerned is the bit immediately below the window over the cab.
I have a horrible feeling that if I start digging at that we're going to have a hole to deal with. Properly sorting *that* would then require removal of both the front and rear headliners. I'll obviously be doing a bit of investigation, sanding it back, attacking it with Vactan then paint it for now.
Interior isn't too bad, needs a good clean and I've a few things to sort, but for a vehicle which has always earned its keep it's not bad at all.
Thankfully this just pre-dates the point at which VW switched over to using concrete for their seats, so they're quite comfortable actually.
Rear seats are a bit cramped, but will be absolutely fine for short trips which are the most likely thing they'll be used for 99% of the time.
That interia reel on the floor is part of the original seatbelt lashing arrangement so could be removed just a couple of bolts and could easily be refitted later if needed. Would be nice to get it out of the way of people's ankles given room is already pretty limited.
Strange sitting so high up, you kind of look down into the cab a good foot or so above the driver.
Will surprise precisely no one that the pop out side windows appear to leak.
Hopefully a good clean and treatment of the seals will sort that out.
The rear door seals could do with a bit of a refresh too. This will explain why the cabin fills up with exhaust fumes if you have a window open.
This is the real reason for buying this though. Having two pretty large dogs, this is about as perfect a setup as I could ask for. The rear two wheelchair lashing eyes even are perfectly placed to hook their travel harnesses to (via suitable leads with elastic to absorb the shock during an emergency stop).
I'm thinking I might make a panel to drop in over the dropped floor section so they have a bit more width, and it could also make a handy covered storage area. Lack of anywhere really out of the way of prying eyes is a bit of a drawback to vans with a lot of glass like this.
It's a layout which just lends itself to being a really, really *useful* vehicle.
Words can't quite express how much I'm looking forward to attacking this engine bay with a couple of gallons of degreaser and the pressure washer.
That said, it's an honest looking engine bay and there's no hugely obvious bodges that are immediately apparent.
So let's make a start on the to do list.
One thing I immediately noticed the moment I started the van yesterday was that the idle tended to hunt a bit, especially when cold.
Which was also accompanied by a tendency for a bit of white smoke to be visible occasionally when you come off the throttle. It's definitely fuel related, not coolant based on the smell.
Took me about thirty seconds to spy a likely cause for the fuel system having a bit of a hard time with the engine running.
If you look carefully you can just see there are air bubbles in the feed line to the fuel pump.
An obvious suspect is this fuel line on the suction side of the pump which is very obviously perished and kind of squishy.
They're all a bit crusty looking, so I think they will get replaced along with the fuel filter. I've picked up everything for a routine service today anyway, so that will be done soon.
There was an advisory on the MOT for the SRS warning lamp not lighting. As the space for the radio was still empty it was easy to get to the back of...sure enough it was unplugged.
Plugging it back in and turning the ignition on resulted in it lighting up as it should...
Then after a couple of seconds, somewhat to my surprise, going out, exactly as it should do. Has continued to do so all afternoon too...so if that's sorted it I'll call that a win.
Next task was an obvious one...
Getting audio set up. I'd actually asked the seller to take their head unit out as having only just bought this one and just about learned my way around it I'd rather stick with it.
Helpfully it's one of those which you can customise the colours of, so can match it perfectly to the dash lighting.
Speakers in there are pretty decent actually, nice not to have to mess around upgrading those for a change.
Which is where I left it today, as I'd clearly run out of daylight!
Next thing I need to investigate is the temperature control for the heater. As is basically standard for this control assembly the cable has snapped off the back of it. So the heater is currently adjusted by pushing or pulling a cable sitting in the dash cubby hole. Which rattles. A lot. If nothing else it'll get relocated to one of the switch blanks above there to stop it rattling so much! Hopefully while I'm in there I can see if I can sort the illumination for the heater controls as currently none of that works.
Not really going to have much time over the next few days, but I'll no doubt find a few minutes here and there to do something.
Overall though I'm really happy with it so far. Was exactly as I expected based on the description I was given and is something I should be able to improve on nicely. Really does drive nicely too.
As I've said, I think this is a bit new for this forum really I'd think, so it'll probably just pop up in here under the heading of "distractions" now and then. If folks think it would actually warrant its own thread, let me know.
New logbook turned up a few days later. 
