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Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:14 pm

I just smile bigger when I drive a bay.

Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:25 pm

Hell, I was saving money for a drift boat, when I randomly came across a pea green riviera in the middle of the Wyoming desert. I don't know why, I used to make fun of rickity old vdubs, but I stopped and looked.

I still want a drift boat someday, though

Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:33 pm

Mid-Life crisis purchase. :!:

Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:12 pm

Most of the charm of a split, without the pricetag.

Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:41 pm

I bought mine because its one ton rated and gets twenty miles to the gallon. Got converted after rebuilding it and taking her for a spin.
:lol:

The Splitties were/are out of my price range for what I'll call a shop truck... and I'm long legged enough that the vanagons are uncomfortable. (bang knees on the wheel each and every shift!)

Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:44 pm

Had two bays, 72 and 73 transporters, now have '82 Vanagon Westy. I like the bays, and would probably get a late bay westy if I had do-overs. Vanagons are a lot easier to find, though.

I like the simplicity and elegance of the Bay cockpit/cab. The vanagon is a bit too built up for my taste, though it's loads safer, I'm sure.

As for the body, I agree with others ~ much of the rounded VeeDub charm, w/o the unholy price.

Best of both worlds.

Lanval

Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:20 pm

Most of the comments about preferring the bay having more room & more power over a split that has that cool look
Sounds the same as a early corvette versus 64up corvette stingray
Today the stingray because it has more power & better handling cost double what a 57-58 vette cost
As time goes on other people will realize that those same differences on buses will make bays more desirable over splits
Until then lets just be happy that they are still affordable
Although some parts are starting to get scarce & expensive

My first choice is a 78 air cooled westy champagne edition
my westy is not a champagne but i love her anyway
My #2 would be syncro(4x4 vanogon) camper

Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:08 am

Because it is somewhat obscene to roll the windows down and crank "Disco Inferno" out of my plaid interior as loud as my little stereo can. Brings a smile to my face every time.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:17 am

I was 18 and was looking to buy my first car - my grandparents had my aunts car (she had recently passed away) which was the first production year of Honda Accords, and the 74 Transporter my grandpa drove to the golf course every day. He gave me a choice as to which one I wanted, and I chose the bus (surprised the hell out of him). 27 years later she still sits out front of the house, ready to roll.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:13 pm

Growing up my parents had two buses we camped in a lot, though neither were campers. They couldn't afford them. But I sure loved those buses. When I had my first son I decided to get a bus to make some of those same memories for him. Fortunately, I could afford the Westy. Now he's four and we're getting ready for our third season of camping trips. And, BTW, the bus is his.

Then his brother came along (no, not as a result of the bus being a camper...) and I couldn't see having to campers - but I had to get an A/C VW for him. My first car was a bug, followed by two more, a square back, then two more. I would love to get another square back, but I didn't want another bug. Enter the '66 single cab. Trouble with the SC is the type I engine, so I've just built a DTM 2.0l type IV for it. I'm guessing the truck will be more fun once that's installed :lol: Plus I've already used it to carry many things including a ton of lumber for their club house / swing set. I mean, a man's gotta have a truck, right? So why not make it an unique truck with a one ton payload that gets 20 mpg?

Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:51 pm

well for me it started at the young age of 11 years old. My parents asked me what i wanted to do when i grow up and to there surprise, I replyed, Buy a VW bus and see the United States. My parents thought it was funny and would always ask me that same questions in front of other family and friends they would all laugh and say you will grow out of it. I did and last year at the age of 43 I purchesed my first bus a 69 bay weekender. All year i have been working to get that Bus ready for that big trip. Well this year i hope to get it on the road and drive the coast from Oregon To SO Cal. Sometimes it takes some longer to grow up than other. Wish me luck.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:03 pm

I wanted a new “play” car. I wanted something that I could work on myself and enjoy driving it as well. In the past that was likely to be a Triumph however now I added camping to the equation so a Westy it was. The day I went to look at them I saw Vanagons and buses and the look of the bus got me! No matter how much more room, etc the Vanagon had, the nostalgia of the bus won out. Also, just the sound that the door makes when it closes compared to a Vanagon decided it for me. That solid “clunk” vs. the metallic “clank” of the Vanagon… Splitties were not in the picture as they are rare in Canada.

I have never looked back…

Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:08 pm

Had my eye on my 79 westy for about eight years wondering why it was parked and never for sale. I finally moved away from home at 23 and picked her up! It just seemed cool to have everything needed to camp in something thats not a 30 ft long gas guzzeler...I always wanted to go on a road trip, my first (and only to date) was from SLC to the Gerlach Nevada last summer. Aside from doin 35mph through a couple mountain passes, I Loved every minute of it.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:25 pm

Quite seriously, Bays follow my wife home. The two in my sig are actually the only running VWs at home right now, and they are shaping the direction of the 65 Standard (BIG project) which will likely have the best of both--Bay suspension, brakes, and converted T4 motor with Split style.

Five Bays have followed her home over the last 17 years. The first three were free, the Kombi and the Westy ran us $1250 combined purchase price. Cheap aircooled goodness.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:30 pm

ConcreteBalloon wrote: Why would you say you bought a Bay Window, rather than a Splittie or Vanagon? Was it just personal choice, or were you unable to find your first choice? If you got a Bay because you couldn't find your first choice, what WAS your first choice?

Because I drove over a hill one day and saw a POS for sale cheap.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:39 pm

because I love quirky oddball cars.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:42 pm

I bought mine because it came to me in a dream. I had known about it for a while but didn't know what really had happened to it. One day I woke up and told my wife we have to go find this bus. I starting thinking and I discovered where it was. In a field behind a mechanics garage. I contacted the lady who owned it and got it. Fig Rig called upon me to run again and that is just what I did. 5 years later I can't think of life with out that rusty of bus.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:10 pm

Dude it was easy. I wanted a bus. I wanted an air-cooled engine. I wanted the biggest engine, fuel injection, and hydraulic lifters. I like people telling me that I need to swap the lifters to solid lifters. That is why I bought a 78. I also love all the space. I have drag raced and built race engine (not air-cooled) and know a bit about lifters. When racing you change to solid lifters or solid roller lifters. Why because under high rpm's the hydraulic lifters may not completely open the valves. Goes what the VW is not a high reving engine. The problem with solid lifters is when there is a problem and a piston hits a valve. The solid lifters do not give and there will be damage. But with hydraulic lifters they may give and if the impact is not too hard there may be no damage. I have seen it first hand. Guess what there has never been a recall on the lifters so I love them. I also love the fuel injection and not scared by it. I know the hard core VW guys think I am just stupid. But hey that is cool. That is what I love about this country. I just do not like people saying I am offended. I offend me, please. It is called free speech and I am all about it. And that is why I got a VW bus. It is all about freedom. Peace

Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:18 pm

it was the best car I could afford in college (1992) and it turned out to be a keeper!

Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:33 pm

I originally bought mine becasue it had a solid roof and would be warmer in winter than my convertible MGB. Boy was I wrong.