My buddy has one of these ( Austrian made Voere Mauser 98 ) in 30/06 that is an excellent shooter, feeds and functions flawlessly, it is a pretty standard M98 configuration and he is talking about selling it.
I believe it is a model 2165 Cougar. What are these things worth, is there any interest in them as they are or as a platform to build on?

Excellent reputation for quality and workmanship. Voere later made a highly modified action that was used in their own guns and in the highly regarded Kleingunther line. If the stock work and blue is nice, I'd leave it alone. Otherwise, it should make an excellent donor action.

I have a Voere Austria, Model 2165 in .300 Weatherby. Bought it about 4 years ago and paid $300 for it in 98% condition. I e-mailed the factory with the serial number and found out that it was made in 1972 as a custom for someone in Scranton, PA. All the Voere Austria made rifles that I have seen and shot were well-made and excellent shooters. The last gunshow I went to a dealer had one in 7mm Rem Mag in about 90% condition and he wanted $450 for it.

Stonecreek, IRRC the Kleingunther rifles were supplied by Voere Germany, not Voere Austria. They were basically a refined version the Voere Germany's Titan series.

does this rifle have a tang safety?

Els I'm 99% sure that it had a tang safety on it.

I believe many of the Voere mausers were made on the Santa Barbara action.

Don I've not seen any stampings on it or anything to let me believe it is a Santa Barbara, just the Austrian made marks and a Denver importer marks.

Early ones (square style forearms) are pretty rough, while the later ones have nice continental features. Here is there current lineup.

http://www.voere.com/waffentechnik.htm