VW Vanagon and Eurovan thread:

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by island911

What? 180K on mine w/o issue. 240k on my friend's w/o issue. ....of course, I know a secret. ...changing coolant as specified keeps the galvanic corrosion from happening. -actually you don't have to change the coolant, but rather just add the anti-corrosive brew.

Just replace the coolant every two years with phosphate free, no problem. As specified. I guess I have no brains at all, since I own two right now, and had two others in the past. I may be stupid, but blissfully so.

[Normy]

Originally Posted by island911

What? 180K on mine w/o issue. 240k on my friend's w/o issue. ....of course, I know a secret. ...changing coolant as specified keeps the galvanic corrosion from happening. -actually you don't have to change the coolant, but rather just add the anti-corrosive brew.

OK- maybe I'm wrong but I've read HUNDREDS of horror stories about how these vans blew out their head gaskets at low mileage numbers. I'm still not convinced- and I'm not conviced about the safety of these vehicles either. Someone posted on another thread that I talked on that thes have good crash test data. I just need some proof, because I've been told and have read on Consumers Reports that the VW Vanagon is a DANGEROUS vehicle with crash test data that is equibilent to the earlier VW bus.

I drive a Porsche 928 normally. But my second car is a Ford Aerostar, and though it is just a second car, usually just used for work[airport] or picking up plants at a nursery duty...I enjoy driving and owning this 1997 car. It has GREAT air condintioning! It won't do anything fast, but a good Aerostar won't quit and it is REAR WHEEL DRIVE. That means that it can pull my boat out of the water without any drama.

As to galvanic corrosion: Isn't that something that the owners of 2-stroke ouboard motors need to be concerned about?

N!

[ckissick]

They did have a problem, not with blown head gaskets, but with blown water jackets in the heads. I'm splitting hairs, but... Anyway, it was a problem, but it happened to cars that were not properly maintained. Of course, this is still VW's problem, as people want a car does that does require require such a level of attention. But the point here is, if you own one, you can avoid the problem if you just pay attention. But don't forget, these are cars that are now twenty years old or older.

That thread that I attached should demonstrate that they are much, much safer than the older buses. The proof is in that thread.

Finally, some of us would be bored in your "no drama" Aerostar. It's not logical, I know, and I can't explain it. It's like driving an old 928 when you can have something newer and more modern.

[304065]

Denis,

I towed my 2300 pound 911 race car with a Trailex 750 pound trailer for a couple years using a Eurovan GLS. The MV was what I wanted, with the "club" style seating arrangement, but an inexpensive GLS came along.

I loved the van, it had 201 cubic feet of interior volume, which meant you could fit all the stuff you need for the track, toolboxes, folding chairs, etc., in the back without trouble, and I actually camped in the thing a couple times at Lime Rock before I discovered that a good night's sleep before a race can lower your lap times.

Mine had the 201 hp VR6 Motor. Got about 22 mpg single, 11 mpg towing. A couple times I had to pull the car up a 4% grade for about two miles- the van slowed down to 25 MPH during this process and the tacho went to 6000 rpm. For operation in hot-high-humid environments I would not recommend towing with any of the smaller displacement engines.

VW vans are like a cult. . . once you are in the cult it is HARD to get out. Even though I bought this van for a very good price, it had virtually zero liquidity when I went to sell it. . . I had it advertised for four months and got a single bite, discounted it to move. . . and ended up selling it to a guy who was replacing his older four-cylinder Eurovan because it had rusted out. So I was able to break free of the VW van cult but it wasn't easy. . .

The service I received at two shops in the NY Metro area was nearly unrivaled for how terrible it was. Every time I consider buying a Jetta TDI Sportwagen, I think back to what a lousy customer service experience I had with the dealer service departments, and I consider alternative brands. I am not particularly demanding of service departments and they STILL managed to alienate me. . . get yourself a good independent or do the work yourself and you'll be all set.

In summary: I enjoyed my operational experience with the van itself, although compared to alternative tow vehicles it's somewhat underpowered.

[speeder]

Thanks, John. Not looking to tow anything with it, so that part doesn't matter and I do all of my own maintenance.

[Jim Richards]

Knock on wood, my local Vdub dealer has been pretty good to work with.

I wonder if an Audi V6 would bolt into a Eurovan without too much drama. There's at least 300 HP available if that was (reasonably) possible.

[RWebb]

Normy - the Vanagon met US passenger car safety stds. when it was new - very unusual for a light truck. It has a very strong safety beam structure in the front end and makes an excellent battering ram.

OK - the OP does not want a Ford camper conversion van b/c too large; does not want a mini-van b/c of the space configuration, yet wants more power than a stock Vanagon or early EV - is that right??

2 choices -- EV with VR-6 motor
or a Vanagon with a more powerful engine swap - the fastest is a Subaru 6 cyl SVX - not cheap and who is going to maintain it? IIRC< Smallcar in Seattle will do the swap.

[BeyGon]

Even if he wanted, it's tough to get a SVX 6 smog legal in SoCal. the easiest is a 2.2 and there are people within a few miles of him that do a good job.

[speeder]

That pretty much sums it up. That "Go Westy" place sells engine kits for squeezing more power out of the standard Vanagon waterboxer but the prices are ridiculous. $7k to get a whopping 125hp?? Golly...

I'd like to know who is buying their *super special* old Vanagon campers for what I would consider sucker prices for a mint early 911S. Crazy.

[island911]

Agree, ridiculous prices for a small bump in power . . for a frick'n VAN.

Mine is bone stock and does just fine. It is of course really slowed down if hauling 3/4 ton of rock, or taking 5 (or so) adults, and all the ski gear up a mountain pass. Although, I do recall, that when there is snow on the pass, I'm still passing most everyone else up the grade.

[ckissick]

GoWesty is for rich people. Their restored vans are the best, most reliable you can buy, but I don't have that kind of money.

Speeder, you should simply test drive a stock vanagon and a eurovan. See which you like, and if you can handle the low power of the vanagon. Drive them at highway speed, of course, but also make sure you tackle a hill. That's the only time I wish I had more power. Sometimes I think I should try driving a eurovan and see how I like it.

Since you are a DIYer, you may prefer the vanagon. They're real easy to work on, and there are a lot of cool upgrades.

[speeder]

I worked at a VW dealer when the late '80s Vanagon was new so I know how they drive. They are fine, if a little slow, it's the durability/reliability that I'm worried about. Going over the Rockies w/ some gear on board seems to find the weak link in a drivetrain and I've been 1000 miles from home with a blown-up VW van before. Never again...

[island911]

They are tough, tough tough.

Even with the abuse so many owners give them there are still many on the road. ..two-plus decades later.

[Seahawk]

Island, your PM box is full...I have a question.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by speeder

...

I'd like to know who is buying their *super special* old Vanagon campers for what I would consider sucker prices for a mint early 911S. Crazy.

rumor is that Tom Hanks bought one

sounds like a 2.2L Sube is what he needs to do or just let the original puny motor do its stuff

[BeyGon]

I do have a friend with a total smog leagle 91 Vanagon with a 250hp SVX in it, automatic with a solid well built trans. Has the BAR sticker in the door. 16" wheels, all the good shocks and springs, big brakes. He is building another right now with a 2.5 Subaru and might sell the one with the six. He thinks it's a little more power than he needs.

[lisa_spyder]

Guys,

I have no idea how the Australian delivered T4 Transporters, Caravelles etc compare with what you got over there....but I hope my experiences are of some use to you .

My van was imported as a 2.5L Transporter and then converted by Trakka here to Multivan specs (the Multivan was not delivered into Aus at the time).Cost the same new as an optioned Caravelle (8 seat people mover).

Lots of features including 2 removable seats to increase the load space to enormous , rear seat converts to a bed, a pullout table etc...

Mine is not standard (never owned a standard car in my life lol)...we've done a few little things along the way.

"Bertha-the-wonder-van" runs Konis and Eibachs all round; sits on 7" x 15" rims with good rubber. I chuck 'Bertha' round a lot...and she handles incredibly well. Changing springs and shocks and using different alignment settings made a world of difference; it handled reasonably well originally anyway but these upgrades mean I can actually entice a bit of power oversteer when pushing hard in a corner; not bad in a front wheel drive . We have advisory speed limits on most corners of country roads...I can take most corners in 'Bertha' comfortably at well over the suggested limit.

Performance - issues I have. For reference 'Bertha' has an Audi 5 cylinder engine and 5 speed manual gearbox. First is lack of torque at lower revs. Once you're on the cam (about 3200revs) totally different story. Lots of compression (over 210lbs per cylinder), so keeping the revs up if you want to go hard or pull up a big hill is the way to go. Second is the engine gets 'breathless' approaching redline. Once you're pulling over 5000rpm she sometimes drops off the performance a little. Often depends on the weather - cool, crisp, good horsepower weather and she just goes to redline!

Remarkably tractable just driving around though; I can drive around town in 4th at 50-60kph without a problem.

Acceleration - once out of first this thing is pretty amazing. Great on the highway too. For a big heavy brick that is often loaded up she does a great job.

Towing....AMAZING! We have a large tandem trailer that weighs over a ton by itself...then we load that trailer with another ton or two...and stick it behind 'Bertha'...I have had to do this many times...I am kind to the gearbox and just let 'Bertha' build up her speed without too much stress. The whole rig will cruise at 120-130kph on the open road...just have to plan ahead for the hills .

'Bertha' has well over 200,000kms clocked up now....compression is still great; still on the original clutch and the gearbox is barely noisy. She has a weep from the rear main seal which we will get around to fixing; has never broken down other than a small issue with the transponder for the management system not picking up the electronics in the ignition key ($40 fix). We over-maintain her (gets a service every 5000kms) but we are in the position to do that. It's our family hauler, goods carrier, runaround etc. We are totally dependent on her!

FWIW - I only use the best of fuels - always. I have a 20km each way drive to get BP Ultimate and I do it. Anything else and even with the smart management system the engine complains. We run the best oils and fluids money can buy in her as well. All this has paid big dividends...

Oh yeah....'Bertha' is a wet track hillclimb star too ! Had a lot of fun showing up the lighter, quicker, faster cars a while ago at our local hillclimb track...it was wet, so I had the advantage ...started out as a laugh; but a lot of the guys want me to seriously enter her if we can find a class to suit...I'll do it - as long as it's wet

[lisa_spyder]

Haunted Hills (hillclimb track) last year...



2006 - kids are much bigger now (sob)...we were on our way back from hiking up to some waterfalls...40kms of logging tracks (horrible and rutty)...I take 'Bertha' almost anywhere .

[ckissick]

If I lived in Australia I'd get a T5 4X4 Trakkadu camper. Alas, you can't even ship one to the U.S.

[lisa_spyder]

Here goes...I'm going OT on this thread...sorry

Hey Charlie!

Pics from last year's day of the Volkswagen down here...check out the Trakkadu ...and the new black Transporter...if that thing was a Multivan Mike would have keeled over as I would have bought the thing on the spot . Sad; but I was running after that black thing with my tongue hanging out....droooooool .

I had my van parked in the pavilion with the trailer hitched on the back as we took some stuff along to sell (great day - came back with a much lighter load and made a lot of people happy). I could have sold my 'Bertha' ten times over that day...but I'm happy with the old girl; don't need a new one (unless it was that black thing in Multivan format )....

DOTV2009 celebrated 50 years of the Kombi...it was truly a terrific day with lots of great cars and people....we'll be going again this year I hope as it was a fun day.