Anyone here have a VW Westy?

[alf]

I am thinking of getting one, Vanagon or Eurovan...what should i look out for and what sould i expect to pay?

thanks
alf

[island911]

A friend had a Vanagon, sold it . . bought a Eurovan (wife influence). That lasted a few years. Certainly not $20k better. He now has a last-year Vanagon.

I posted about his Euro-trouble as an aside in this very good thread on the subject: VW camper van - what d'ya think?

The Euros are just another mini-van. The Vanagons are the Porsches of vans. (w/o the massive power . . .but still nice to drive)

Then there's what i have currently; (Repost)Syncro Vanagon; all wheel drive, two heaters, lots of space for hauling big items, high ground clearence, low CG, and the engine in the back where it belongs.

check out vanagon.com

---

'87 Alpine White Syncro Vanagon (ski-mobile)

[notfarnow]

Off topic, but Island's pics immediately got me thinking of Baja Buses...

[island911]

Troll














just kidding

[notfarnow]

LOL!

[alf]

My kids will be game for daddy hopping dunes in the camper but i think the wife will protest

Island, any problems with the 90HP engine being a little too weak?

alf

[Stanley]

You can always swap in a WRX engine like this guy.



More pictures: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/543989

[alf]

Stanley
Now that is a brilliant idea. Most of the Vanagons have ungodly miles on them, this would be a nice replacement engine

[lendaddy]

I have a westy The engine is the only bad part. Pathetic with a capitol P. Otherwise I love it.

[island911]

Originally posted by alf
My kids will be game for daddy hopping dunes in the camper but i think the wife will protest

Island, any problems with the 90HP engine being a little too weak?

alf

Mine; 95HP @ 4800RPM, 117_FtLbs @ 3200RPM. --it's a torquey motor

It -is- a barn. So, obviously they are not top-speed fast. . . .tho' I do find myself passing others often. Mine happens to be a 4wd barn. That saps some power there, but feels fine if not too heavly loaded. Going up the Snoq-pass, on snow covered roads -- it kicks butt.

Puting 3/4 ton of granite, or 7 people in it does slow it down on the hills. .. but the later 2.1 (water-cooled) are much better than the air-cooled (sorry len-d) awesome heat too.

I've thought about an engine swap, but this OE 2.1 keeps going and going. (proper coolant maintenance seems to be the key)

[MichiganMat]

Oh man, I've been thinking about getting an old bus for some time now, something in the '70 to '77 range. I have this dream of taking a huge roadtrip north to BC, then accross Canada to the UP of Michigan, and then ending down in Detroit (home sweet home).

Check out http://www.thesamba.com/ for some good classifieds.

[jyl]

Tell Me About Vanagons W/ 911 Motors

VW camper van - what d'ya think?

[azasadny]

I had a '69 Vanagon that was a hopeless rust bucket and a wonderful '85 Westfalia that I had for a summer and sold it for almost twice what I paid for it. Fun vehicles, but very, very, very slow...

[Bleyseng]

I have a 77 Westy that's a blast. Rebuilding the motor soon to 95hp so that should help beat the hills and other slow pokes.

Geoff

[911boost]

I drove a 78 Type II all though college. Two tone brown, with an orangish top, curtains, damn I loved that thing. Was unstoppable in the snow. Unfortunately a trip out to Colorado from Iowa, and subsequent mountain passes and total lack of back pressure (you should have seen the sweet twin turbo muffler set up we had on that thing) killed the engine. I eventually sold it to a guy in Zearing, Iowa who owned a huge VW graveyard. Last I heard though, he got busted for drugs I think....

I found an older one like Thom's that has the canvas sides and pick up bed type back that I wish I had space for. I'd love to buy it.

Bill