TheSamba.com :: View topic - New (to me) Vanagon

Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:01 pm

Hi All,

Joining the forum today and introducing myself and my "new" 1988 Westfalia Vanagon GL. She is Canadian spec, hence my handle :)

This Van is my third "old" car, and the oldest by two years. I have owned a 1991 NA Miata in British Racing Green (Limited Edition) since 2014, and a 1990 BMW E30 325iX (all wheel drive) since 2013. It is through the latter car that I met 4Gears4Tires shortly after I moved to the DC area, and we've become great friends in the years since.

Back when he first got his Synchro we'd trade car favors, so I got to spend some time in, around, and under a Vanagon. My only prior experience with this vehicle was a former Swiss municipal vehicle owned by a friend of mine in Freiburg, Germany that they have turned into a family car. My wife likes the look of the E30, but she doesn't really enjoy riding in it. We also enjoy travel, and have done a fair bit of camping out of an '03 BMW E46.

I started looking for VW camper vans earlier this summer, with the first being a late 90s Eurovan. After some discussion with 4Gears4Wheels and a local mechanic, a Westy sounded pretty good and via the latter I was connected to a local seller (good) who had moved the van to CO to sell it (bad?).

The PO was great and amazingly helpful, another obvious "car person", so though it took a few weeks to coordinate our schedules, etc. we closed the deal and 4Gears met me in Minnesota to begin a fly-out-drive-back purchase experience.

I don't have a lot of prior knowledge, but it is clear the van not only looks good but drives great as well - as mentioned in his thread on his new Westy. We made the trip back here without a hiccup, and hit up a few sights along the way as well as camped in a National Forest. HUGE shout-out to him for being a sounding board through the entire process, helping me vet the Van, teaching me how to drive and take care of it, and for great conversation during the 16+ hour drive.

My wife and I have since added another thousand miles visiting family elsewhere in the Midwest, and we hope to put on quite a few more on this Fall before things turn icy and it is time for the Van to hibernate. Our dog is also quickly taking to the van, and it is a very convenient travel platform for our little six-pound buddy who cannot fly due to neurological issues.

I've mostly been a lurker on the E30 forums, and a bit more active on a ski boat forum (I am also a casual waterskier), so I'm looking forward to joining this community and exploring new lows and highs in Vanagon ownership and care taking. I may not contribute much, but you can bet I'll be learning a LOT!

Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:11 pm

Welcome to the Busylum!

Nice van…! …Your presence at Carhenge shows real class, a proper taste for old scrap, and a fondness for kluging together parts and bits.

You’ll fit right in!

Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:54 pm

I've been waiting for you to post so I can add some pics from the drive back!

Why the seller wants to sell after moving to Colorado, I have no clue! Colorado is the perfect place to own a camper. Last minute directions on the airport to drop off the rental before hitting the road. The Westy made it up and out of the valley over the mountains on the right, holding 46mph in 3rd gear. Impressive.

At the Yampa Valley Regional Airport. Just had to snap a pic with that background.

Colorado is beautiful and we planned a great route out of Steamboat Springs. We went 14 North towards Walden, where we stopped at the River Rock Cafe for lunch.

After lunch the sky became dramatic as the weather rolled in. However, for all the crazy weather around us, we seemed to be in a magic bubble. The storms were always just over the next ridge or behind us.

Blue sky on the left and the fresh thunder storm passing to the right.

It even had just recently hailed! If we hadn't stopped for lunch, we would have been in the middle of it! I would have hated to be in a hail storm with a freshly purchased Westy! But our luck held as we made our way north towards Wyoming.

By the time we got to Wyoming the weather had turned to blue sky again and when I saw this lake, I knew a photo opportunity. Sodergreen Lake, right next to Route 230, on our way towards Laramie and Cheyenne.

We stopped by in Cheyenne to see the state capital building. It was pretty cool, but we didn't have a whole lot of time. Lots of miles to make!

After Cheyenne we headed north east up 85 towards La Grange.

At this point we started thinking about where to camp for the night that was in the next 2 hours of range before we ran out of day light. We stopped by in Scottsbluff at a grocery store for a quick grocery run and headed on out with the sun starting to get low. We took 26 east towards Angora and then 385 North, headed for the Nebraska National Forest. Making a quick stop in Carhenge, on the way.

From the Google Map pics, the Cliffs trailhead looked scenic enough and I figured we could just camp in the gravel parking lot. It was a bit of a ways down a few gravel roads though.

But what a scenic spot for being right on our way. There was even a bubbling creek right in the tree line behind the van.

The next morning we had hot coffee, the stove worked flawlessly. The previous owners left the van completely stocked, so we had mugs, propane, awning, bike rack, and everything else. After a leisurely breakfast we headed back out of the National Forest.

Move cows! We've got miles to make!

We took 20 East, until Merriman, then 73 North into South Dakota to Kadoka. Passing through the same geological formation that makes up Badlands National Park.

At Kadoka we got on 90 East and blasted highway miles. Ran into some slow downs and thunderstorms (they finally caught us after 800 miles) but made it to the Minneapolis airport on time for my flight back to DC.

What an epic start to Vanagon ownership!

Sat Aug 31, 2024 9:28 pm

Clean looking van...congrats! :van_ltblue:

Sat Aug 31, 2024 10:54 pm

@AllezMaison,
I love the color of your Westy! This is a great forum and there is so much info here. Have fun with it! I'm sure maintenance will be much easier than your E30 ix... Speaking of which, I'm picking up an '88 325ix tomorrow (if the household $$ manager gives me the ok). Unfortunately I am going to need to put a clutch in it... Have you done one? I hear it's a bear but have yet to see a good tutorial. Could you send me a pm if you have any insight?

Congratulations again... And if you don't know the history of the fuel lines-change them... I was on the insurance auction site the other day, of the 10 vanagons listed, 7 were engine fire casualties. It's no joke!

Sun Sep 01, 2024 5:27 am

@franklinstower - We too like the color and you will love the iX! Mine is not a garage queen, feels like a go cart compared to my E46, and draws attention especially if I have some toys on the roof rack. I have approximately 5% of the skills and confidence of 4Gears (not to mention nothing approaching his workspace) so I am lucky that the iX has not needed a new clutch yet. I'd ask him about that since I doubt there is a thing he *hasn't* done on an iX.

Fuels lines on a Vanagon sound like an even more catastrophic version of the BMW M20 timing belt. This will not be neglected!

Sun Sep 01, 2024 7:16 am

I haven't rebuilt the bottom end of an M20. :)

After having done the fuel lines on the Syncro a few years ago, I was expecting a headache when I went to the Westy's fuel lines. 2wd Vanagon fuel line changes are easy as hell! I don't know why anyone sleeps on that maintenance. It takes an hour or two and it's straight forward. There is so much easy access on the 2wd vans.

Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:25 am

Congrats on that beautiful van! Looks like a great first trip with the perfect co-pilot for a shakedown drive. Having lived in MN, CO, and WY, I've made the trip across SD and NE many times. SD has a lot of beautiful hidden gems. Thanks for sharing!

Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:35 am

Congrats on a great new adventure. I am jealous because this was my first drive in my van and it has yet to leave the garage: :D

Sun Sep 01, 2024 9:16 am

Welcome to the neighborhood - looks like you’re off to a good start!

Drop me a line when you come up the North Shore…I know you’ll get here eventually!

FYI! Good people & fun activities here: https://www.instagram.com/minnesotawesties/

See you on the road!

- Dave

PS: Carhenge & tie dye shirt - HUGE bonus points! (Can you find the van?) :lol:

Sun Sep 01, 2024 11:39 am

Welcome!

Beautiful van - a well cared for (and stocked!) westy is a great find indeed. And thanks for the pictures - always inspiring to see places I’ve never been. Carhenge is now on my list.

Sun Sep 01, 2024 1:21 pm

Welcome!

Great travelogue!

You're in good hands with 4gears and dobryan both there!

You won't lack for advice or help (not to mention their two (2) amazing shops! )

Dave

Sun Sep 01, 2024 1:45 pm

That's a pretty van! The upper midwest is a perfect place for Vanagons (except when winter chemicals are on the roads).

I've learned a ton about Vanagons here. Hopefully you will too.