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Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:41 pm

Just bought myself a 1974 1974 VW Westfalia... (ack!!)... I'm excited ... and skeered ... and wish one of you could teach me how to drive her!

Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:45 pm

mamabluebelle wrote: and wish one of you could teach me how to drive her!

Just keep trying...you'll get the hang of it! It took me awhile to figure out the wacky volkswagen shifting.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:56 pm

ommmmmmmmmmmmm...........feel the bus.......be the bus

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:33 pm

first Car I drove was a bus. its easier then you think. all the advice I have about driving a bus is, ur siting on the wheels. good luck

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:38 pm

To find the correct gears one must use the force Luke.

But checking and replacing the couplers and bushings in the shifter system may help a bit too :wink:

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:45 pm

Depending on your tires and front end/steering condition it's a little like sailing. Only difference is those stripes on the road are channel markers and the wind ain't no friend. If keeping her in line is a problem, start by reading the tire sticky above. It may help. Welcome to the club/gang/social deviants. 8)

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:46 pm

When I first got my bus, I went through a whole month of driving every day thinking that reverse was busted.

Until a friend's mom showed me I had to push the shifter in to put it in reverse. :oops:

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:48 pm

what i have found from driving my bus

1 remember to push down to find reverse
2 don't shift into first doing over like 8mph
3 3rd is the money gear for the most part
4. don't get excited and push down when shifting into second going forward
5. slow around corners, make sure you have the right load range tires or you will flip
6.wind at your back is always your friend
7.wind from any other direction is not a friend to your underwear or drivers seat.
8. don't be afraid to speed a little to make it up that next big hill, use your momentum.
9. practice makes perfect and it get easier as time goes on!

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:54 pm

Coal64 wrote: first Car I drove was a bus. its easier then you think. all the advice I have about driving a bus is, ur siting on the wheels. good luck

First car I drove was a boom truck. Not that different from a bus. :lol:

Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:56 pm

We're all dying to see pictures.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:17 pm

I posted her pics on here before I found this thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4206646#4206646

Now I have 'til March to decide what colour to paint her!

Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:30 pm

that looks like a nice bus!

Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:09 pm

nice bus!!!

Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:39 pm

mamabluebelle wrote: I posted her pics on here before I found this thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4206646#4206646

Now I have 'til March to decide what colour to paint her!

I'd go with green.. :D

Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:59 pm

mamabluebelle wrote: Just bought myself a 1974 1974 VW Westfalia... (ack!!)... I'm excited ... and skeered ... and wish one of you could teach me how to drive her!

VW buses can be made to handle road conditions very well. Just make sure that its fuel, braking, engine, steering, suspension, and electrical systems are in good repair, keep practicing, and in very little time, this could be you and your bus... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MLCuaPdPew Enjoy your bay.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:34 pm

Remember the saying"It's Not A Car. It's A Bus".
I found that my steering stabilizer mount was broken and I have seen several post about similar problems. Or that the stabilizer was completely gone.
If it is broken or missing your bus will wonder all over the road.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:57 pm

Go in the Technical section at the top of this page and find a owners manual for your bus. It has a lot of info in there for you.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:14 am

wow I think I've found my online family with u guys - thanks - I'm getting her tomorrow!!

Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:48 am

Congrtats .. nice looking bus.
driving takes a bit of getting used to but for me there were really only three issues.

1) You are on top of your front wheels so you don't anticipate a corner like in a car.. I dusted off a couple of pedestrians who were crowding the curb on my first few right hand turns.. gotta wait a bit before turning.

2) Keeping to the posted speed limit has always been a problem for me, but in the westy I have to watch the speedo to try and keep up to it.. very weird.

3) Someone else mentioned that it was like sailing.. when I got mine it really was like sailing an Albacore, slow unresponsive and any big wind gust felt like it would tip me over. I had some VERY hairy moments on my first road trip. Got better tires and had Scot at GermanSupply (he's in Toronto) work on a few things, it made a world of difference. Doesn't stick to the road like my Subaru but I don't need to pack depends for every road trip either.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:54 am

Congrats on your bus!
I just want to add here that driving a bus is addictive! in a good way too! :wink:
Take your time getting familiar with your bus, they are awesome rides :D

Jose.