Need advice. Looking for a weekender but what year?

[camerahunter]

As you can see in my signature line I have a few vans, all transporters. We are going to make the jump to a weekender soon. Having never ridden in one I am wondering which years are the quietest rolling down the road.
My experience with the 85's vs the 87 and a 91 is the 91 transporter has the best feeling of comfort and quiet. The ride is smoother, profile lower, easier in and out and I love those mirrors!

Any advice/input is welcomed.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

[r39o]

We LOVE our 1990 pop top Multivan!

I also have an 85 full Westy.

I have found you can make them all ride and drive the same, if you want.

It just depends on what you are willing to do.

Box stock, I too find the later ones somewhat better, though.

If you can find one, get a Multivan, if you can, I think.
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[PDXWesty]

I think buying the newest one you can find is always recommended for both technical improvements and resale value.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[hdenter]

I don't think there is huge difference in noise or feel between years so much as there would be between carat models and non carat. If you are looking for a poptop weekender, then carat is out and now you are choosing between early weekenders with one stationary seat behind driver or later ones with two removabe jump seats. The last year or so called multivans would likely come with factory rear sholder seat belts that retract. I say decide what year of van you currently own best and find a weekender model in that year range.

Hans
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[camerahunter]

I am still trying to figure out the Carat and Wolfsberg options.
It seems the Carat does not include a pop top option?
I have looked at a lot of them online and there was a super nice 91 a while ago here on craigslist but it has long since sold.
The road noise with my 85's is at least 3x more then in the 91. Also the wind noise is greater with the windows down/open with the 85's then the 91.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

[r39o]

The wind noise issue may be the difference between early and late venting. Translation those vans with the vents in the rear windows.

The 1986 and 1985 Wolfsburg pop top weekender may be avoided because the upholstery falls apart. Early 85 material is fine. So is the 1987. But they just had some bad material for a while. That is the tan corduroy that seems to shred.

That earlier seat with storage is cool.

The later one, like I have, I tend to leave the left jump seat in and the right one out, just the same configuration the earlier ones had. BUT, I *MISS* the cabinet space from the earlier one. I REALLY like the cabinets in my Westy but, all that takes up a lot of room. We use the table a lot in our Multivan.

Speaking of talbes, transplanting the front table from a Westy is next on my list and I have the table already but it was HARD to find.

Interiourwise I perefer the gray of the later vans, but you make like the brown and tan of the earlier ones.

Also the captains chair swivel on, at least, the passenger side is a nice addition especially if there is no jump seat behind it. (I dislike the later jump seat mount hanging out there when there is no seat, also, right along with the seat belt that stays. (FYI: I know of no van that had shoulder belts in the back as mentioned above, too.)

Mechanically speaking there is nothing to talk about really.

I must say, the later Multivan handles better stock than the earlier ones, but again, you can fix that via the resources here.
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[randiego]

Reading this post, i still don't understand the differences with the Weekender, Carat, Wolfsburg and now a new term, Multivan.

I have an '89 Carat which i just obtained, with the jumpseats and the table, but no poptop. I love this configuration, and it's what I wanted. I agree the cabinets take up too much space.
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'85 GL, 1.9, 4spd (Sold, we'll miss it)
'89 Carat, Bordeaux Red, 4spd 2.1

[fixedgear]

I have the '86 Weekender and am very fond of it. R390 mentions one of the big drawbacks-the shred-o-matic cordouroy tan seats. I fixed that with camel coloured Shear Comfort sheepskin front seat covers-which have been my favourite investment so far, (warm in winter, cool in hot weather-those sheep knew what they were doing).

I then bought So Fine armrest upholstery, and rear facing seat material in Toast tweed. Looks great. As far as the rear bench-I have it down alot and slide alot of material in through the hatch. I can't justify nice upholstery here, and a Mexican blanket really spices up the inside the rest of the time. The back cushion has a perfectly fitting heavy plastic sheet on top of the cushion, with a heavy carpeting underneath which can be used for traction issues. Under that is the B-Quiet overall including the engine lid.

I really like the brown, and I kind of am amazed at this as I never buy anything in tan or brown, but the goldish tone of the van inside is very pleasant.

I can't give a noise comparison with later years. One thing I would point out as an advantage to the '86 or maybe '85 as well, is the non- heated air ducts facing the cabin. I can't see the point of heating air to direct it at the driver and passenger. I can keep warm air below to the foot vents, while driving with cool air on my face. My wife appreciates this, and can shut her cabin vent. Didn't many years of cars have dual heat control systems, so that cool air could be had uptop and warm below? This may be a more primative version of that, but it works for me.
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1986 Wolfsburg Weekender

[hdenter]

A weekender is a poptop van that does not have full cabinets, stove etc... Just the bench/bed below with a small cabinet in the rear on the left and one or two rear facing seats with a fold down table between the seats and the bench.

The carat is similar but does not have the poptop or rear cabinet. The rear bench is raked back a little more since there is no cabinet behind it. Carats also had lower springs .

Multivans where just the name for the last year models of weekenders, 90 and 91 I think.

Wolfsburg editions just had upgrades like power windows nicer cloth and what ever was available that year.

These are just basic differences. There are a lot more detailed differences if you look into it.

GL's where the basic vans with the bench seat in the middle.

Hans
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[WestyBob]

[0to60in6min]

[Steelhead]

also seems like multivans 90-91 were primarily auto trans. Rarely see a lete multi with stick.
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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper)

[fsf1o1]

ehh this is a never ending question we each have our preferences and our own opinions drive a few and check a few out fall in love with one and bye it

[r39o]

[snuf]

Like others have said, choose one you would be most comfortable driving.
If you do come across one with the tan shredded corduroy seats and rest is in overall good shape, It's not hard to replace the material on the bench and jump seat.

Or the Seats.

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1986 Wolfsberg Limited Edition Vanagon.
AKA: Poptop with rear corner cabinet, fold down side table, rear-facing jump seat and a 12v fridge/cooler.

[snowsyncro]

[1971BugGuy]

[JeffRobenolt]

That looks awesome!!
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[1971BugGuy]

Thanks. It's only just begun. I'm only replacing the corduroy since all of the vinyl and piping is still in great shape.
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Only a fool or a child would judge a project before it reaches its completion.


1971 Super Beetle
1986 Vanagon Westfalia Weekender