Slow Going

[RWebb]

1986 with an Auto. Trans.

So... I am now the "proud" owner of this Westy, which needs $800 worth of work according to the PPI. It is in their shop now since I want to use it as soon as the rain lets up. I don't have much interest in crawling under this thing to do repairs. The 911 is different.

I used to have an old '70s Bus and I always said "These things are fabulous -- but only when they are stopped." I plan to stop it in various places in the Oregon desert soon.

I've been waiting for years and years for VW to get its act together and make a nice, modern off-road camper. I've finally given up, so I am going to use the Westy and not wait on VW anymore. It replaces a Honda Pilot, which was a great compromise vehicle, but always a compromise.

[kaisen]

Very cool!

[911Rob]

me like. Congrats and have fun!

[azasadny]

Very nice!!

[t951]

My scoutmaster had one when I was young.

I have ALWAYS wanted one, partly due to the good memories, partly due to the fact that those are so dang cool.

Congrats.

[jyl]

Excellent, just excellent.

Here is a very useful accessory for Vanagons.

http://www.vanagonaccessories.com/vanagondashcupholder.html

[RWebb]

Thanks folks!

This is what I really want:

but it's just a mock-up really.

[lendaddy]

Just sold my Westy today, it was also an automatic.

[RWebb]

VW never got its act together on this thing:



but the show car sure got me and others excited.

[RWebb]

would love to have a synchro too...




but I wanted to make sure I had something to roll around in THIS summer.

[jyl]

So, you been lurking at TheSamba? It really is the "911 Technical Forum" for Vanagons.

[lendaddy]

I sold mine through the Samba, small world. Samba is poorly organized but there is a ton of information there.

[DasBoot]

Doesn't someone on the forum collect Syncro Doka's?



Did the EuroVan Westy ever make it to the US?



Edit: I guess they did...have yet to see one on the road, though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ready-to-go_W0QQitemZ150334490810QQihZ005QQcategoryZ15296QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[jyl]

Eurovan westys are out there, not that many of them.

[RWebb]

very spendy...

yes, I've been running a few Google searches to ed-your-kate myself

[Evans, Marv]

Had 3 back in the '70s & early '80s. The best thing about them was they were great for afternoon delights.

[RWebb]

that thought HAS occurred to me

[ckissick]

Congrats, but beware. These things are just like old Porsches, in that you can spend big $$$ on all manner of cool upgrades. GoWesty's website is like a candy store for me.

BTW, GoWesty has a much nicer dashboard tray.

If you've been lurking on the Samba vanagon site, then you should know the new-westy mantra by now:

REPLACE THOSE FUEL LINES!!!

Here are my Doka and Westy:

[Eric 951]

One of my rommates in Idaho had that exact Westy--same color, same trans....that thing was slooooow--especially heading over the mountains into Montana or Washington. His brother, who also stayed with us for a few months had a 77 Westy in pickle green--he drove it out from Ohio. In Michigan, it started running on only 3 cylinders and he lost his heat. Drove it the rest of the trip that way with a portable heater in the cab by his feet--I was amazed he made it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Thanks folks!

This is what I really want:

but it's just a mock-up really.

That's what the Routan SHOULD have been. I'd buy one in a second.

The Vanagon pics bring back a lot of memories, my dad drove a diesel one when I was a kid. Dear God that thing was slow and loud. I still remember that the shift lever was taller than I was, or so it seemed. It was bright yellow, we called it the bus. It had an incredible heater for the back, but no A/C. At the same time we also had a Dasher diesel wagon, I'm pretty sure everyone in the neighborhood knew when my parents left in the morning.