| Author |
Message |
tarandusVDub
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1649
Location: Between Here and There
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:36 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
When I had my '72 Bay camper a good friend in college bought a brand new '85 Wolfsburg tintop, and I thought it was terrible ~ square, funny headlights, watercooled (gasp!), but I came to really like it and now I've got an '84 of my own.
Vela's cool video shows some awesome design elements; to me they scream cleverness in the true veewee fashion. The outside? OK, not so hot, but that FRIDGE! Has anyone tried to fit one of those in a westy..?!
_________________
1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
thummmper
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2009
Posts: 2015
Location: Meadow Valley, California Republic
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I just read my post on 11 --how arrogant--what a prick!
I must stop this rambling |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
not sure about posting this.
anyone who has read my posts, know my husband isn't fond of some westfalia attributes.
we are nearing retirement. and I WANT to travel and road trip, not fight.
ran across a nice 95 euro full camper, with 5 cyl, 5 speed.
I have to admit, I like a lot of things about it.
it isn't the westy, but it sure was nice to test drive on the interstate in high wind.
if we get it, I will wave at all westfalias, probably with tears in my eyes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spacecommander
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Seattle
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I purchased my first Westy from a friend who sold it to me so he could buy a Eurovan has his wife's family was coming over from Europe and he was going to take all of them on a USA tour and needed the reliability and especially dealer available repairability of a a Eurovan. After the trip was over and he was using the Eurovan for weekend camping - he commented to me he wanted his old Westy back!
The two vehicles are VERY different and for very different primary purposes. the Vanagon is better for camping in and doing something like sticking a 9 1/2 foot kayak INSIDE the van. Or if you want to modify/add stuff the Vanagon is better.
For a road trip where the goal is to travel - the Eurovan with the reliable AC and ability to go up mountain passes at 70 is a real help. Plus, if it breaks you take it to VW where they plug in a OBDII diagnostic tool and find out what's wrong. 1970's technology in Vanagon, 1990's technology and electronics - with plusses (diagnostics) and minuses (I woundln't want to monkey with circuits and add too much stuff) - in the Eurovan. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
luVWagn
Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2008
Posts: 1340
Location: Snoqualmie (WA)
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| tarandusVDub wrote: |
...
Vela's cool video shows some awesome design elements; to me they scream cleverness in the true veewee fashion. The outside? OK, not so hot, but that FRIDGE! Has anyone tried to fit one of those in a westy..?! |
I do love many of the design features of the California, including the fact you can get high-power engines, AWD, etc. The extra storage space under the rear bed/deck (where the engine used to be) is also nice, as are the sliding doors on the closets, the sliding table track (must get one of those!) and swing up table too, and of course the fridge (although I believe it is only 12/120V).
But the bed layout is unfortunate up top - you can't use it as a shelf for luggage and stuff like I can with the Westy (when I'm sleeping on lower bed). And the overall interior size feels smaller in these too. (front seats are closer to the rear seat?)
Here's the thing - if these were $40K-$50K, they could probably sell a truckload. But, i looked into buying one of these in Zurich when I lived there, and they were roughly $80-100K !!! Even used ones without AWD and lesser engines were $40-50K 
Maybe VW is happy to sell 1/2 the number of vehicles, at double the profit each - works out the same for them, although you'd think they could get some efficiency of scale by increasing volume of production via a lowered price?
_________________
'91 Syncro 16 Reimo Hightop Conversion, eTDI |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
SOSO HAPPY
not going to do it!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tarandusVDub
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1649
Location: Between Here and There
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
so....what happened?! That seems like a major breakthrough (westy coup)!
_________________
1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
my husband got out his eurovan file from the 93 we once owned and begin to remember a few things. that 5 cyl, 5 speed. good combo, but not a lot of them are around. a 95 is not a new car, and will no doubt need work. troubleshooting is difficult, even changing the oil was difficult. relays, ecu problems, etc. And the one we test drove wasn't all that speedier or quieter than the westy.
we have done a lot to our westy, and know it well.
and!
He said, I quote, "it dosen't have the sunny personality of the westy"
AH HA!
agreed upon; new door and window rubber, maybe some insulating of doors and new windshield. a better attitude about taking it on the road, as it has proven itself dependable. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7917
Location: Arizona
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| debbiej wrote: |
He said, I quote, "it dosen't have the sunny personality of the westy" |
Get that man a celebratory beer! 
_________________
~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tarandusVDub
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1649
Location: Between Here and There
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
A Victory Beer!!
_________________
1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
yes!! and we ordered window scrapers and channel this morning.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32594
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Xtremjeepn
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2012
Posts: 1539
Location: Colorado
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
Maybe someday the Eurovan will have a following but probably not, .....
Dave |
You need to go read some of the UK, German, Austrialian, etc forums! 
The T4 and T5 are insanely popular in many forms in the countries that got them(get them) in huge numbers.
The USA is just the place where everyone wanted more "car like" feature packed minivans for low prices. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
obsession01
Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2007
Posts: 11
Location: Seattle, WA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:27 am Post subject: The Cool Factor |
|
|
| I have driven VWs since the early 70s. Several bugs, aircooled bus, 3 Vanagons, 2 of them Syncros. The Europeans have is the best. Diesel powered, 4 motion T4s and T5s. Drives me crazy. I have now ended up with a 1995 Syncro, TDI powered, weekender. Don't ask how much money i have in it. I think Syncro Vanagons have more cool factor, but mine is unique. If you see me around Seattle, wave. License plate TDI 4X4. http://www.facebook.com/North.Westy.Crew/photos_al...amp;type=3 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kernewek
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2012
Posts: 44
Location: France/UK
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
How about a pic of your Euro Syncro - can't see it on your Facebook page
~ Craig
_________________
1998 T4 2.5 TDI with Timber Technicians high top
1985 T3 1.6TD hightop camper |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RCB
Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005
Posts: 4143
Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yesterday morning I got a loud honk a friendly wave and the peace sign flashed to me from the driver of a White Eurovan driving West on Geary Blvd in San Francisco. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12721
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| RCB wrote: |
| Yesterday morning I got a loud honk a friendly wave and the peace sign flashed to me from the driver of a White Eurovan driving West on Geary Blvd in San Francisco. |
Nice!
I waive at every bus-based VW on the road, and I get waives back from most except for the Euro's… I love them all, but maybe it's easier to get into a mindless driving state when one is not constantly listening for "oh my God what is that ticking noise back there??" 
_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
annieq
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 41
Location: Savannah, Georgia
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: I have a EUROVAN and nobody likes me. |
|
|
Well I have owned an 82 West DIESEL, Ha! The like me even less! I have had her engine brought up to a turbo and I have had some wonderful adventures (and a few misadventures too) in her. This past summer I bought a 95 European camper with 5 speed, 5 cylinder. I like the way it drives and it is more comfortable on long distances, but I have to say, there is that 'something' about the Vanagon that the European doesn't have. and the Winnebago conversion is not nearly as quality at the Westphalia. I now am faced with which one to sell!!
_________________
curlygirl and the sandeeman |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:58 am Post subject: Re: I have a EUROVAN and nobody likes me. |
|
|
Five year thread revival!
Since this thread started...
Our T4s now have their own Forum
I get waves from every EV and other I wave at, of course, in the U.S. The newest EV is 15 years old now, so the minivan crowd traded them in for the latest cup holder model 8 years ago.
I love mine and have committed to fixing her bumps to drive it another 5, then hopefully import another camper from EU
_________________
.ssS! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
annieq
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 41
Location: Savannah, Georgia
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:40 am Post subject: Re: I have a EUROVAN and nobody likes me. |
|
|
I'm trying to find a thread about troubleshooting the sux battery. Know of one?
_________________
curlygirl and the sandeeman |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
