Daily (or frequent) driver vs. garage queen?

[desertrefugee]

I know lots of folks here drive their Vanagon/Westy every day. Many hammer them up and down freeways for the daily commute. I commend them each and every one.

Then there are those (like me) for whom the vehicle truly puts the "R" in RV. I use mine solely for weekend/outing/vacation use and the occasional trip out to carry something that simply won't fit into a sedan.

Obviously, for one used daily, there will be maintenance items that WILL pop up from time to time. Expected. But, for a sound example that is driven less frequently, what harm is there in that - if any? Keep in mind that mine will never sit long enough for the battery to droop or the gas to become stale. But, what about A/C seals, tire's rubber memory, etc?

I am of the opinion that I'm doing it a favor by letting it rest luxuriously in the garage until showtime.

But am I?

_________________
- 83.5 Westfalia - 2.2 GoWesty "power"
- a bunch of vintage motorcycles
- Numerous telescopes of various size and function

"For I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." - Sarah Williams

[brownbus78]

As long as it sees regular use where the engine gets up to full operating temp before being put away again it should be fine. For example if it's not going to get used for a week or two, set some time aside to drive it once during those two weeks where it goes through a full warm up and cool down cycle. Just try not to do the whole start it up for 5 minutes and turn it back off without driving it sort of thing. Reason being is that you want to burn off all the moisture buildup in the exhaust so you don't rust it out. Storing it indoors will help keep the van in good shape for a long time too.
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87 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Edition - sold
82 240D Diesel - recommissioned
85 380SE - laid up

[Bntbrl]

I don't drive mine everyday. I hate the way the doors are too long to fit in most parking lots as the spots there are rather small to begin with. Having said that I try to drive it at least once or twice a week on my out and aboutness. Like said run it and drive it somewhere instead of just cranking it and shutting it off.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia 1.9 wbx

www.DIYSeattle.com

[Vanagon Nut]

I'm sure the info you want has been discussed, but to add to that....

mice.

That's all I'm sayin' on that!


Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[ScottyK]

I store ours all winter, about 6 - 8 months, but in the summer it gets driven about 3 - 5 times a week if the weather is okay.

Dryer sheets seem to deter mice btw.

[Timwhy]

Mine is parked in my yard. I guess you should worry about Squirrels as well. I found a stash of pine cones
tucked about my engine, yesterday!

_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[BillM]

[tschroeder0]

I've done both, my feeling has always been that if you want a reliable van for long distance trips then you must drive it and often. You find out an awful lot about the overall reliability and driveability of your van.
Over the years I have spent a lot of time fixing other friends vans on the side of the road on the way to go camping, most if not all of the problems could and would have been caught if the van was actually driven.
Before going to Alaska, I drove my van every day for about 4 months, when we left Imknew all was fine, and it was.

[syncrodoka]

Cars like to be driven, anything with grease or oil should be cycled periodically.

[DAIZEE]

I drive mine daily (Vanagons don't like sitting around) 3 of the 4 seasons but as I'm retired not that much wear and tear on it BUT by driving it daily I know how it is for those long trips I tend to take once or twice a month. I also have the attitude that using it is what it is made for. It's in excellent condition but it's no Garage Queen.
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[reluctantartist]

I am hopefully getting to the point where mine will not have to be driven daily, but that said I agree with tschroeder. I think they should be driven often otherwise you will not know what is really going on until you are many miles from home.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

[shadetreetim]

I agree with tschroeder0's comments.
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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[Phishman068]

I have an extrememly nice syncro which I wish I had a garage to queen in. However, despite the lack of garage, I do baby it by parking it for all salt fillled months of western PA regardless of my urge to plow through snow with it.
As such, I have purchased the opposite end of the spectrum vanagon for winter use. My $300 daily driver bus gets put away wet and gingerly salted daily. I'm trying to grow salt based stalactites on the undercarriage.
She just got her first bath in 11 months.....
: )

But mind you during the good seasons, the non salt times, that syncro is not only my daily driver it's doubled as my residence and travel vehicle. It sees a great deal of action and distance trips, and as others have stated, I find it reliable for those trips based on the reliability it earns day to day as a daily driver.

Hopefully some day I get a garage, and hopefully it's tall enough to house my tall syncro! : )
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559766&highlight=winter+rust
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936

"Along with the ability to go fast, one looses the desire to hurry."

[JPrato]

Garage queen. Mainly because, how much is it going to cost you to replace a super clean, mechanically perfect, straight Westy today??? How about next year? Got a cat in charge of rodent control, the batteries on maintainers and the oil changed every fall before putting it away. It will be just fine and outlive a daily driver by many years. It loves the life of leisure. Maintenance is the key, keep everything in perfect order and that means paying attention to the useful life of components. Twenty five year old hoses and radiators are a disaster over due whether you drive it every day or 4 months in the summer. Our Westy gets driven about 3-4K miles a year doing what it does best, going camping.

Any way it's you vehicle, you can do with what you want!
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Joe

87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
06 Subaru 2.5 turbo in waiting
46 Cessna 140

[randywebb]

keep the battery on a float charger

driving it every 2 weeks is fine - just be sure to drive easy until it is warmed up; then drive it for 1/2 hour or more (hwy use best) before putting it away again

do NOT neglect to do maint. that is required every xx years no matter what mileage - e.g. fluch brake fluid every 2 years
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[highsierra]

I'd like to think of my van as a daily, but she's a garage queen. Just got back from 3 weeks and 2,800 miles on the road (Missoula to Sedona and back). Returned home to find several minor coolant leaks and 3 out of 4 CV boots torn. I had done many short trips leading up to journey, but nothing will exploit your van's weaknesses like driving long miles, loaded, day in and day out. The last leg of the trip was 900 miles in 16 hours. I'm quite sure that didn't help the cause

[dhaavers]

Both.

Daily driver, camper & road tripper (April-October) usually good for 3-5k miles annually.
Oil change, wash & wax, put away dry w/battery maintainer (Nov-March).

Bring on spring!
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Timwhy]

[morymob]

I admit mine gets to stay when not driven, inside in the dry but unheated and driven whenever an excuse can be found usually when the 'boss' is in an antiquing moode. Hey, another excuse to justify something for the westy, i even plan to drive this morning to stretch it's legs some.

[wyomingresident]

Daily (or frequent) driver vs. garage queen?

Mine has been both. For a couple of winters in the early 2000's it was a Winter daily driver. Those were hard years on my Westy.

Now It is relegated to a Summer road tripping (no town trips) machine. It handles big open miles like a Champ.

I have no garage, so it lives outside in the elements.

Speaking of the pine nuts ↑↑↑, One winter, some mouse got into our bus and ate the better part of a 16 box of Crayola crayons. We found little colored turds for months thereafter.
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Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
Mark Twain