VW Vans/Vanagon

[BeyGon]

I have just started thinking about VW campers, I think I would like to find a 84-91 WeekEnder and I THINK? I would like to find one with a Subaru in it or look for a newer one. I don't think I want a pop top, just one with a bed and table. Are the newer cars powerful enough for the mountains?
Anybody have these? Any ideas?

Thanks,

[ckissick]

Where to start? I have to take the dog for a walk right now, so I'll just refer you to this:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=20

Happy reading. Let's just say, for my part, I love these cars. (I have 2 of them)They're fine in the mountains; just slow.

[azasadny]

I had a Westfalia a few years ago and it was beautiful... just underpowered. A friend bought the Westy, put about 50,000 miles on it before the original engine died, then had a company in Texas put a Subaru engine in it and he's still driving it today! He's a rock climber and those folks go nuts over the Vanagons. Watch for rust!

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by azasadny

Watch for rust!

Spoken like a Michigander. I suppose it's good advice, but here in California it's often not an issue.

Anyway, www.gowesty.com also has some good write-ups. The vans they sell are the best available, and the prices reflect it.

There's a very nice one for sale (at least it looks nice) in Santa Cruz with a 1.8L Jetta engine. Check it out:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=727743

Syncros are awesome. To see what I mean, just type in 'vanagon syncro' on youtube and watch.

[BeyGon]

[QUOTE=ckissick;4543737]Spoken like a Michigander. I suppose it's good advice, but here in California it's often not an issue.

Those were both great sites, I like the 2000 Weekender but wonder about 190k miles on the motor, and auto trans. What to expect from them, rebuild soon?
I don't see a reason for 4x4 for me. No Syncro.

[jyl]

I have an '88 Westy with the stock motor. Great vehicle. You will plod up steeper hills in 3rd (or for actual mountains even 2nd) but the motor likes to rev so its not as bad as it sounds. Depends how impatient you are. I'd consider living with the stock motor, confirming you've got a good van, then decide about have a motor swap. TheSamba is your best info source. You might also look at the Eurovans, I don't know as much about them but worth investigating anyway.

[chapo]

I like them too. Since we live in Ca. you have to be careful about smog issues. My neighbor has a smog legal Audi 5 cyl. in a syncro van. The euro vans look nice, too. However, when you add up the cost of the van, motor swap, etc. I think a small class C motorhome would be cheaper in the long run. The market has dropped on those babies

[trekkor]

Let's just say that if that wreck I had last year was in a VW Van, I'd be dead.


Death traps.

Search for 'VW bus crash test' on YouTube.


KT

[RWebb]

Vanagons have a pretty strong chassis. You need to distinguish the Vanagon ("brick") from the older (death trap) bus (aka, "bread loaf").

[porsche4life]

Whats up with some of those Sycros in the 100k range on go westy?

[trekkor]

KT

[trekkor]

They say the video is rigged, but it has a good effect...


KT

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Death traps.
KT

Totally wrong.



See the link.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=175672

As for the crash test video, it was a test of the integrity of the barrier, not the car. The van was going over 100 kph with a ton of weights in the back. Note the lack of test dummies and crash test markings on the van.

[porsche4life]

That thing appears to be missing some bits...

[jyl]

Vanagon has very stiff frame and occupants sit high. Several head-on collisions reported on TheSamba with pics, the protection is not bad. Not as good as a modern car of course. The YouTube video of the orange Vanagon is silly, 60 mph with 2000 lbs load into a concrete barrier. Load a full ton into nearly any vehicle and barrier test at that speed, and it is not likely to be a survivable accident. KE = 1/2 * m * v^2. If you understand that, you can figure out why.

[RWebb]

so...

how hard is it to add a/c to a Vanagon that did not have it originally?

also, what year did the "good" factory a/c start? i.e. the one that is not the overhead unit...

[BeyGon]

I have been looking at the web sites listed above and it seems the newer ones have good Air but I haven't been able to figure out yet which motor they have and how good they should be, do they last. I still think I will look for one with a solid top, the Weekender, just the bed and table. It seems they would be lighter and you could mount Kayaks on top with no problem. I am a fair weather camper, if it is cold or snowing I won't be out there anyway. I used to think camping was Motel Six but we will see.

[Porsche_monkey]

Brother-in-law bought one with a trashed engine for $500. Subaru conversion is done (easy) and he has a nice driver for about $1,800.

I plan to drive it cross country this summer.

[ckissick]

The weekender refers to a pop-top but no kitchen. You can recognize one by the lack of hookups on the driver's side. It's a good way to go, because its cheaper than a full camper but still has the pop-top for good headroom and 2 beds. You can mount a rack for kayaks on a pop-top.

As for the engine, the 83.5 to 85s have a water-cooled 1.9 L, and the 86 to 91s have a 2.1L. Both are pretty durable, as long as you renew the coolant every 2 years with phosphate free coolant. You also need to change the oil every 3K to keep the hydraulic lifters in good shape. A well-maintained engine can go 150K easy.

The newest vanagon is 18 years old, so expect to spend some time with a wrench. They're real easy to work on, though.

Best thing; the engine is in back, where ol' Ferdy likes it.