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purplepeopleeater
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005
Posts: 3117
Location: E. Washington
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 Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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I have all three, split/bay/vanagon.
all have a different feel, and vanagons have just as much coolness as the others but with alot more comforts.
vanagon gets picked first tho, has the suby and all my electrical goodies. |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4852
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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The bay window is for skiing.
The Vanagons are for cross country and sleeping by the ocean.
Aloha
tp |
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Chris1111
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 39
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Bus. Bus! Bus!!! Vanagons are for whimps and are not near as cool. Not NEAR as cool... I personally think vanagons were a bad mistake - a deviation from the intent. To me VW closed it doors when aircooled stop being produced. And the new bug is an abomination.
My 2 cents.
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"Turn on, tune in, drop out" |
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seventyfo
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007
Posts: 916
Location: Ocoee FL
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| Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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I've had a few bus campers, and my last one, a 78 deluxe I was in love with. However, I had to remind myself that I originally bought my first bus to camp in. Eventually I didn't camp in the bus because it was too nice and I worried all the time about the kids getting it dirty, or something otherwise getting torn up with the mint interior. I wanted to make about an 8000 mile trip and after driving someones Vanagon camper around for a while I sold the bus and used the money to rehab an 85 camper. I miss the bus but the vanagon was a nicer drive and just enough room for 4 people. If it would have been just me and the wife I probably would have kept the bus.
_________________
85 Vanagon GL Westy GW 2.2 (Rebuilt by YT)
"I don't know you well enough to care about your comments". Watkins Cravey |
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Manfreds78bay
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 807
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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The vanagons are the way to go hands down if all the criteria is camping. And you don't want to camp in a show winner bus. At least, I would not. Why would be to pay all that money for something you are going to scratch sooner or later anyway?
I have a 78 and it's been beat on for many years. I love camping with it because I don't have to worry about it getting more beat. And I also like working on it...most of the time. Unless you have deep pockets and an ace aircooled mechanic, you will be working on it too. And not just tune-ups. You will need to do everything.
A vanagon can be worked on by most mechanics. It's quieter. It's all around more comfortable.
Only buy a bus if you are willing to commit a lot of time to it.
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1985 VANAGON GL Digijet
There is no spoon. |
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TrollFromDownBelow
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2005
Posts: 438
Location: VA Beach
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| Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I went through the exact same debate about 7-8 years ago. I was seriously leaning towards a vanagon b/c of superior rust resistance, and HEAT (live in the midwest). Plan was to use as a primary vehicle.
What sealed it was sitting behind the wheel of a vanagon....felt like too much like a regular car/mini van. Wanted that nostalgic feel my '71 had that I owned in college. My compromise was to get a late bay (76-79) with the 2.0 liter and use as a three season vehicle only.
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1976 Westy (aka Tripod)
2.0 liter FI solid lifters
212k miles |
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Juancho
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2003
Posts: 156
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| Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| This is a tough one. I too have owned both. I keep going back to Bay’s, but no question the Vanagon is a superior vehicle in every aspect, save for looks and character. Another thing to consider, I do not regret selling any of the previous 5 Bays, but I do regret selling my cherry ’84 German Westy with only 80k miles on the clock. That was a stupid mistake. |
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poptop tom
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2004
Posts: 1607
Location: The Hoosier State
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| Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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I would not own a vanagon unless it were a syncro.
Really do not like the look of them at all. But that's me.
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'76 Deluxe Campmobile |
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Heliconman
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2008
Posts: 283
Location: Minnetonka, MN
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| Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| One more thing to think about is the late model bay window westfalia has a camping layout very much like the vanagon interior. You could get a lot out of a 76-79 Westfalia. Still have the "cool" factor and a pretty good camping layout inside. The water cooled vanagon will still have some advantages listed in the other posts but if you want a bay window and want to camp the later models are pretty close to the vanagons at least inside. The heat on our 78 gets very hot BTW. |
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ncstagger
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2010
Posts: 284
Location: Fayetteville, NC
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Marleybus wrote: |
| I have owned both over the years and there is something special about a bay. When I had my Vanagon Westy and was driving around and when I saw a bay I was envious. A bay has something a Vanagon does not.....Character>>> |
this, for me.
_________________
71 Westy Tintop - 1600 DP 34PICT3/009 - Pastel White
Resto thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549162
"Take your most realistic time frame and dollar amount.. then add half of that amount. When you get that total... double it. Only then will you be in the ballpark." - sofaking |
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photogdave
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3152
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Kirk
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003
Posts: 5492
Location: North Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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I want a Subie powered Vanagon real bad. How great would that be?!
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MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
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Marleybus
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2013
Posts: 314
Location: Oro Station, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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I have owned both over the years and there is something special about a bay. When I had my Vanagon Westy and was driving around and when I saw a bay I was envious. A bay has something a Vanagon does not.....Character>>>
_________________
1972 VW Westy (Hit by dumptruck)
1963 VW Beetle (RIP)
1974 VW Beetle (RIP)
1981 Vanagon Westfalia (Sold)
1969 VW Beetle Convertible (Wifes)
1977 VW Westy 2.0L FI Chrome Yellow
1978 VW Westy 2.0L FI (Under Restoration)
1973 VW Westy 1.7L Tourist Delivery Orange
Check out my thread!!http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=556709 |
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chazz79
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008
Posts: 2268
Location: ohio
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
I spoke with a woman who rents out both kinds and she recommended going with a water cooled Vanagon for overall comfort in traveling. Essentially, "Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. That seems to be the gist of it here, too.
Thanks for the advice, folks! |
Both are equally capable of bleeding you dry. My bay has DVD screens, eight speakers, led lighting and tons of other mods that are tastefully hidden. You can modernize a bay buy an van and intend on doing the same. Count on @20k to get you a road machine in either category.
The other factor is a point of reference. A bus is a bus and a van is a van. Sitting over the front wheels has nothing to do with nomenclature.
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One day as a lion, or a lifetime as lamb
The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster |
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thewalrus
Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 3014
Location: Belchertown, MA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| richparker wrote: |
| LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
"Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. |
A sin? You don't have to be a purest. My bay window has Sirius satalite radio, a charging station with three 12v and two USB ports for charging and a booming system.
Go? There are plenty of ways to may your bay go. Mine goes real good. Just like a normal car, as it was put here.
My vote is to get the bay not the vanagon. |
X2. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's obsolete.
_________________
'73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb
| notchboy wrote: |
| You ran over some #Vanlife'ers hopes and dreams? |
| 60vwnewengland wrote: |
| Looking forward to next weekend, weed, krunk juice, hookers, blow, hanging with bums, philly, ...the awards! |
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MidWesty79
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2011
Posts: 503
Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin, US
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:24 am Post subject: |
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I love my bay. Short of a splitty, i can think of no other vehicle on the road that is as much a celebrity. Now, in WI, buses are very rare, and so, everywhere it goes it gets thumbs up, peace signs, waves, smiles, stares, pointing, people coming up and asking questions. And, not only does it get a ton of attention, it's all positive attention. Everyone loves a bus. Everyone! Occasionally i'll get a scowling glare from some prissy bitch in a Lexus SUV, and so, I've pretty much come to the determination that if you don't get the urge to smile when a bus drives by, you are a bad person.
I like vanagons, and think they are a fine vehicle. But they just don't have that same feeling. I would most likely buy a full sized toyota camper before a vanagon westy. Way more spacious and probably more reliable.
Oh, and you can certainly comfortably camp in a bay. My girlfriend and i did for 2 months straight as well as multiple week long camping excursions. It's tight, but most certainy doable.
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1979 Westfalia, 1975 BMW 2002, 1996 Mazda Miata, 1979 Jeep CJ5, 2006 325 XI Wagon, 2021 M240i (all manual transmission... as god intended.) |
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Westy Steve
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 1095
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| Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:56 am Post subject: |
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My Dad had a Vanagon, and I confess it was pretty cool. But you'd be giving up a lot of style and a little bit more room for just a smidge more reliability. Both will be maintenance intensive.
Fact is, you're looking at Vanagons and Bays because of the lifestyle factor. Otherwise, you'd get a Ford Van, right? If I'm right (and I think I am), then just go whole hog and get a Bay. But get a good one.
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Have nice 914, want nice Bug |
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richparker
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011
Posts: 7617
Location: Durango, CO
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| Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
"Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. |
A sin? You don't have to be a purest. My bay window has Sirius satalite radio, a charging station with three 12v and two USB ports for charging and a booming system.
Go? There are plenty of ways to may your bay go. Mine goes real good. Just like a normal car, as it was put here.
My vote is to get the bay not the vanagon.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22669
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
I spoke with a woman who rents out both kinds and she recommended going with a water cooled Vanagon for overall comfort in traveling. Essentially, "Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. That seems to be the gist of it here, too.
Thanks for the advice, folks! |
Get a Vanagon. I will eventually.
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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Zelten
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2008
Posts: 1335
Location: Issaquah
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| Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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If you have the money to buy a late Vanagon, that's what I would do. If it's just you and your wife, a mid bay window would meet your needs as long as you don't mind taking it a little slower and possibly not having a knowledgable mechanic nearby. IF I sell my bay, a Vanagon would be my next camper.
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1978 Delux Campmobile
03 Jetta TDI
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