1978/1979 Westfalia or 1986-1991 Vanagon

[Gregg in the 603]

Vanagon if you want a bit more comfort at the cost of anonymity
Bus if you want style and think packing relatively light is not a big deal (Hint: it's not)
Eurovan if you want some of the Vanagon's fun with the personality of a Kenmore appliance

SGKent is right, like he said we're all decently competent at repairing these things and came here with little to no skills. 5 years ago I didn't know shit about these things but now I'm capable of sharing advice about them.

$15K should get you in the door on a decent bus. One with recent rebuild history will cost more.
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH

[thewalrus]

Why hasn't anyone posted this yet?


Link


Honestly, I'd say stay clear. Either Bay or Vanagon is a HUGE financial investment that WILL consume every weekend and extra cash you have. You will break down, you will need AA and you will need a stash of tools/parts/patience at all times. You will need to be your own mechanic and you will need to be able to talk to strangers at every gas station and hear how they had one in college that broke down and they walked 15 miles uphill to the nearest gas station.

It's square so they're horrifying to drive on the highway so you'll need to stick to back roads too. They're slow and unreliable and the newest one came out 40 years ago. If you do decide to get one, let the AC and creature comfort pipe dream go. Bay or Vanagon with an AC hooked up robs the engine of what little extra power it has to spare. Ask yourself if you really want to be broken down on the side of the road with a 1 and 3 year old screaming in August heat. Maybe a Honda Odyssey and tow behind trailer is a better option right now.

79's have a bunch of one year only Fuel Injection parts too. I'd look into the 73-75 range with Dual Carbs if you do decide to go down this very dark and deep rabbit hole.
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'73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb

[RVAGreen]

informative video; thanks!

[RVAGreen]

UPDATE!
With your guidance, I began reviewing (via RoadHaus) and calling mechanics and found Keith of Valley Westys. I drove 2 hours to meet Keith, get VW 101, and drive some vans. After several phone and email conversations over for sale links, talking about the community, an unadvertised Vanagon through his network became available.

As of yesterday's drive to NC, I am now the proud owner of a 1989 Vanagon Westy, white, automatic transmission, rebuilt 2.1L by Valley Westys. I was grinning ear to ear the entire 3.5 hour trip home from NC. It was cruising beautifully until at 60mph and 45min from home, a loud grinding came from under the passenger seat, my friend driving behind said no parts were flying out, gauges remained stable. So any ideas?

Despite this, and my trip to DMV today, I'm still a proud owner and it was super cool to see the toddler so excited about this. I hope to save some money (ha!) and move towards a conversion in the future.

Thank you all!

[notchboy]

You ran over some #Vanlife'ers hopes and dreams?
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[crownline]

Jack it up and rotate the passenger side wheel. Possibly a wheel bearing going bad or rust on the backing plate rubbing.
Glad you got the Vanagon. I had an 87 loved it.
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1972 Bus 1700 cc Single Carb. But not a progressive.
Barelymuvin
Wish I still had the ones I got rid of.

"It"s got some dings and dents and neither of us is going to SEMA."(Update, I went to SEMA in 2019 but the Bus stayed home)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-8446.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[sjbartnik]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[SGKent]

Just keep grinning and don't let it get you down. Noises can be anything from a piece of wire on the highway that got wrapped around something to a missing belt but you won't know what it is until you find out the battery is no longer charging, or something is shaking because a bolt fell out. I know that on rabbits of that age the alternator bolt used to shake loose and fall out.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[my59]

[RVAGreen]

[notchboy]

[WhirledTraveller]

I’ve had many many fond memories in my bus and driven it cross country many times. I love how much I’ve learned and the reactions I get everywhere I go. It’s a perfect size for two people adventuring. That said if I was starting anew, knowing what I know now, I’d probably just get a small teardrop trailer or little airstream and tow it with a modern vehicle. A lot depends on how much time you have in your life for a big hobby. With two kids, I think time would be more precious and also room a little cramped in either vehicle imho.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam.