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Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:59 pm

Ok - I currently drive a 71 bay. I don't know much about vanagons, but I am thinking about buying one. I need something a little more modern. I am looking for something quieter, cleaner burning, safer and warmer than my 71 bay.
Do vanagons have heat? What are the obvious walk away signs when looking at one that is for sale? Are any years better than others?

- Austin

Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:09 pm

Do Vanagons have HEAT????? Man they overheat like mad! :oops: Ask Connie! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Actually those who love the air cooled 2.0l seem to be die hard fans....

those of us who have watercooled, aka waterleakers, and have fixed the heads.....we love em. 86 VW went to the 2.1 btw. Prior to that they were 1.9's in the water cooled version. The really cool crowd have stuffed 6 cylinder Subies in the back end...

My 88 Carat with factory AC, and all the options is my daily driver...
Yeah I miss my 57 panel, with its crash box and 36hp, but I do like driving faster than 50mph too But my diesels are not much better....just fun

Check ebaymotors...yahoo classified, craigslist and this place
let us know what you find, we will give you our utmost honest opinions....
:P And its all for FREEEEEEE :wink:

Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:20 pm

I have had a total of three Vanagons (all of which have been Westy's). I first had an '82, than and '81, and now an '80 (there are pics of my '81 and '80 in my gallery, check them out). I have loved owning them all. I have a friend who has a bay - I like it ok, but I really love the vanagon better because of how roomy it is inside, and because it just has a nicer interior.

I bought both the '81 and '80 off of e-bay and felt really good about both deals (they were both in Colorado too!). I guess it'll depend upon whether you want an aircooled or watercooled. The nice thing about watercooled's is that you can get crate motors for them (whereas with aircooled's, you can only have them rebuilt).

Anyway, I love my Vanagon to death! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you decide on one. Good luck shopping!!

Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:35 pm

The aircooled 80-83.5 usually need a rebuild at 100-125k. Type 4 engines are $$$ compared to your 1600 DP. Wasserboxers are even more $$$. They do drive more like a late 20th century car though, and the Westy interiors are hard to beat. If I didn't need the room and amenities for taking a baby camping I might have picked a cheaper and simpler 71 myself.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 7:50 pm

I've had a number of vw vans over the years. Currently the proud owner of a 1982 Westy (sold a Citroen ID19 to get it, NO REGRETS!)
Aside from some minor problems, I'm really happy. I'm hoping to take it on a cruise cross country in August (going to Burning Man) and from there?? possibly sell everything off and live in the thing for a time.
One thing I HIGHLY recommend; GET THE BENTLEY MANUAL! and GOOD TOOLS!
I'm finding it harder and harder to find anyone that knows much about the old air-cooled VW's, best to be prepared to fix it yourself.

Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:34 am

Hi,
I drove a '70 Bay and loved it but....wanted much more I thought so I leaped to a EuroVan and hated it for its complexity, mileage, maitenance, expense and lack of useable space. Bought an '84 hardtop w/Z-bed & no power options: Easy to work on, quiet, relatively powerful cruiser and FUN to drive again. Best of the bunch for me. I like the air cooled series too but enjoy the quiet power of the Waterboxer more. Darn things even use the same valve cover gaskets as the 1600s! Parts everywhere & nostalgia too.
Good luck

Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:35 am

I'm in Portland too. Be happy to show ya!

Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:08 am

Devo is American. They dressed as clones to point out to the public that they are acting like clones. :o
French cars suck - in any country! :twisted:
A Volvo P1800 would be nice to have in the garage though!

Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:25 pm

Former '70 Westy owner... loved that van but needed 6 seat belts. Also a '68 double cab... It did have 6 belts but I was issued an ultimatum to reduce the fleet to under a dozen (got a good price, hope it's happy in Long Beach). Several beetles and a ghia slipped through my hands over the years too.

Favorite was that double cab.

Now have an '84 GL. seven seatbelts, quiet. Much much much easier to drive than the bay... The passengers can even hear the stereo and we can talk (up to about 50mph!).

No air. Only really need it for about one month of the year and only in the PM.

No PS or door-lock kaka. "Factory" stereo works fine.

Heat? Oh, YES, baby! Wasserboxers make heat like stink and it actually keeps you warm. I not-so-fondly recall nearly dying of hypothermia in the bay one winter... really.

Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:30 pm

I should chat with my older brother in San Diego. Last month I saw that 544 riding my tail at Laguna Seca Vintage.....Him and his obsessive conduct towards Volvos.....dang Swedes. Think they can keep up with the Wolfsburg Express! HA! The turns brother watch the turns.......

You need to come down someday with the kiddies and see all the vintage Volvos. RHD stuff from the UK too!

ME? I'll stick with the Cortina GT and my A-1 GTI....at least I can find parts for the latter but the former????? :cry:

Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:38 am

Austin, 6 years ago I lost my old '80 Dasher diesel "utility"/tow car when it ate the timing belt and I had to look for another suitable vehicle. I was concentrating on a '71 bus since I had experience with the type 1 engine and wanted the disc brakes. Looked at about 3 here in the NorthEast, of which only 1 was driveable. Hmmm. Then found an '83 Vanagon only a few towns away that summer. Price was right. This one was still air-cooled and as soon as I pulled onto the street from the parking lot for the test drive I was hooked! So much more modern than the earlier bay windows. Has phenomenal handling for such a "crate". The tailgate is about 53" wide so that you can shove in 4x8 sheets without a problem. My car was very cheap, yet unrusted (Calif. car) BUT the engine leaked so much oil I was putting in a quart every 50 miles! Did not make it to the winter (to test the heat output) before I decided to yank the engine. What's this- a "GEX" sticker on the engine?? Still have it out but want to finally rebuild it this summer. Was able to easily tow a Beetle with it. On my Vanagon, fuel would spill out when you topped up the gas tank. I have not yet taken it out to see from where it came (not too hard a job), and BusDepot sells a "seal" kit for the tank which saves you the $ to buy a new tank. Shift linkage can be adjusted if sloppy, and replacing some bushings helps alot to tighten it up. Also recommend installing GeneBerg's short shift kit. On mine, once the engine is back together and (hopefully) running, I have a 2" lowering spring kit that I also want to install. BTW, the 5x120 wheel bolt pattern is the same as Mercedes-Benz.