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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
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What do we think of the VW Westfalia?
My SIL is interested in a 1995 Westy with 120k miles. No rust, new auto transmission, seems well maintained and has all records from two previous owners. Asking $28k. She will see it this weekend. Should we (she’s dragging me into this) even do that or is it a piece of crap year/model? Part of the charm of old VWs is that anyone can fix most things that go wrong but things go wrong at the worst possible time. If the Westy of this vintage has the same reputation, I’ll advise her to walk away. Also, what do you think of the price? TIA all.
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04-08-2021, 04:55 PM
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Location: Honolulu, HI
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Does she do a lot of camping?
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04-08-2021, 05:05 PM
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Lots of camping, hiking, totally outdoorsy
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04-08-2021, 05:06 PM
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Then totally worth it. It beats driving a camper/caravan.
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04-08-2021, 05:13 PM
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is she a great mechanic?
does she own a body shop? if so, then totally worth it for the grooviness factor |
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04-08-2021, 05:18 PM
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Information Junky
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: an island, upper left coast, USA
Posts: 73,189
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Eurovan. meh.
I'm partial to the older stuff. IMO the 1986 - 90 vanagon. -rear engine and water cooled (great cabin heat)
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Everyone you meet knows something you don't. - - - and a whole bunch of crap that is wrong. Disclaimer: the above was 2¢ worth. More information is available as my professional opinion, which is provided for an exorbitant fee. 
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04-08-2021, 05:18 PM
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She has a checkbook for repairs
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04-08-2021, 05:24 PM
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go for it
all the hipsters are driving up prices, so watch out |
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04-08-2021, 05:24 PM
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Quote:
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04-08-2021, 05:39 PM
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I don't think there was a Westfalia in 1995. Maybe a Eurovan camper or the sorts.
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04-08-2021, 06:39 PM
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It's a sickness.
The earlier 83-91 Vanagon Westies are cool, the Eurovan campers, not so well liked. Model Choice: Are You a Vanagon or Eurovan Person? https://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=2
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_______________________________________________ 45 yr addiction 1965 356 Coupe, '70 914- POS, '74 911- lightweightFUN, '83 SC Cab- 100%AnalogOpenTop. |
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04-08-2021, 07:01 PM
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Feelin' Solexy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: WA
Posts: 3,786
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Auto trans in the eurovan notoriously fickle. Also, vanagons are DIY friendly in the spirit of volksies of yore, eurovan is the first real "modern" engine and layout where things are shoehorned into place, so much less DIY friendly.
Eurovans are still neat, just heads up on these factors. Also yes the eurovan offers a westfalia package, but I believe it is winnabego and not actually from westfalia. 28k is about 10k too high unless it is a syncro or the special extended length version, check out classifieds at thesamba for market info.
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Grant In the stable: 1938 Buick Special model 41, 1963 Solex 2200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1986 VW Vanagon Syncro Westfalia, 1989 VW Doka Tristar, 2011 Pursuit 315 OS, 2022 Tesla Y Gone but not forgotten: 1973 VW Beetle, 1989 Porsche 944, 2008 R56 Mini Cooper S Last edited by Tishabet; 04-08-2021 at 07:07 PM.. |
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04-08-2021, 07:02 PM
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I found a couple of others that are priced much higher.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-1995-Volkswagen-EuroVan-c5925 |
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04-08-2021, 07:27 PM
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Yes, that would be a Wnnebago built Eurovan.
Here is a good model breakdown: https://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=1 I have a ‘78 that runs great for what it is. |
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04-08-2021, 07:52 PM
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Feelin' Solexy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: WA
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Quote:
Anyway, here you go: Eurovans from TheSamba FWIW I have wrenched quite a bit on a 97 weekender (weekender = has the pop top to sleep up top and the fold down bed below but not the kitchen or cabinetry) and helped my friend buy it around 3 years ago for I believe $12k. Here we are camping together a couple of years back: 
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Grant In the stable: 1938 Buick Special model 41, 1963 Solex 2200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1986 VW Vanagon Syncro Westfalia, 1989 VW Doka Tristar, 2011 Pursuit 315 OS, 2022 Tesla Y Gone but not forgotten: 1973 VW Beetle, 1989 Porsche 944, 2008 R56 Mini Cooper S |
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04-08-2021, 08:07 PM
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Thanks all!
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04-08-2021, 08:31 PM
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Location: Honolulu, HI
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What do you do if the tent needs repair/replacement?
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'24 Tesla Model 3, '22 Tesla Model Y '19 Tacoma '06 Carrera, '79 930 '06 S4 Avant Last edited by WPOZZZ; 04-08-2021 at 08:54 PM.. |
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04-08-2021, 08:44 PM
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Quote:
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04-08-2021, 08:51 PM
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The canvas replacement is a DIY job with some patience. I did mine a few years ago..
While not camping, this was at a concert back when we still had them  
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04-08-2021, 09:15 PM
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I too prefer the water-cooled vanagons over the Eurovans. Vanagons are very easy to work on. Lukas, the founder of GoWesty has been a friend of mine for 35 years. I know all about his amazing talent as a mechanic with VWs and Porsches. He insists that vanagons were the most reliable, durable VWs ever made. I believe him. Mine has 240,000 miles on it, it just got its first engine rebuild, and it still drives like new. Slow, but new. Your SIL will love her Westy. Just tell her to replace the fuel lines!
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Charlie 1966 912 Polo Red 1950 VW Bug 1983 VW Westfalia; 1989 VW Syncro Tristar Doka |
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04-08-2021, 10:14 PM
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