Vanagon Q's...best years / worst years?

[strawhouse]

I absolutely love the interior on my 91, but I wish it had the diesel that my 88 does.
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Pacifist with a gun

[werksberg]

[hiram6]

I have an 85, and in many ways, of course, it's my favorite year. I like the tan interior. I've always liked earth-tones though, so no surprise there. Wasn't aware of the better rust protection of the later vans, so that's good to know.

I think the best advice is going to be, get the newest, best conditioned van your budget will allow. The things you need to watch for (rust, neglected maintenance, damage, etc) are going be roughly the same for all Vanagons.

When you are looking at the difference between an 85 or a 91, you're looking at a difference of 25 years old versus 19 years old. Point is, neither one is young!!!!
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1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

[werksberg]

Neither am I for that fact!

This will not be my main vehicle as right now I have 9x and 4x are register for the street......but I want to thin the heard....
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[ewalt98]

Everyone else has already brought up the good and bad points for the various iterations of the Vanagon, so I will put my personal vote in for the AC Vans.
I've had mine for almost 17 years now, with one top end rebuild on the engine in that time. Driven it around the country several times, commuted in it, used it as a moving van multiple times, lived in it for just over a year in college, and now take the family (the wife and two little kids) camping in it. I bought the AC over WC because of the WC leakage problems, but that isn't really an issue anymore.
That being said, I would love to also have a 89-91 Carat Weekender....I do like the look of these vans with the lower springs and more modern interior with electric windows and mirrors.

I like the idea that the Vanagon that comes along at the right time and price is the perfect one for you.
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Eric
82 Westfalia Camper (Currently getting a little bit fixed up)
85 944
72 GT6
88 F350
03 F150

[werksberg]

How are the automatic trans in the later models like a 1990 model?

Some what easy to covert it to a manual trans? Is most everything already there?
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[iiigoiii]

remember to take into account also whether you will be putting in an engine transplant. if you put a subaru engine into an '84-'85 or an '86-'91, nearly all the important differences between those ranges of years are gone.
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1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Ed. w/ Subaru EJ22 power

[ddonnell]

Too me both have their ups and downs..

I have a 1990 Carat, yes the bumpers shatter it you close your door too hard, and that other than that being said, I absolutely love it! There are quirks, but what car doesn't.. I have just over 85k on the odometer, and the tranny is giving me lip occasionally, but nothing huge. I like the suspension, however at times I wish I was higher so I can fit larger tires and do better off road. The interior is one of a kind. To me, I couldn't ask for much more. Being a college student now, just pop up the table to do homework in between classes and pull the bed down and out for a quick power nap. I want to convert the electric windows to manual ones, the switches and motors are going out on me. One other issue with the later vans is the "VS" (Vanagon Syndrome). Nothing a $2 part can't fix though.
Hope you find the one you are looking for.

Glad you got the disease yet?
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1990 Vanagon Carat-SOLD
1995 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 V10
1966 Baja "The Beast"

instagram #bajabugproject

[wbx]

For me, the only tangible difference that can't be improved upon is the sliding door. It really is better late '85 and up. Other than that, they are all good.

I like the simplicity of my '84 no power nuthin...
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'84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go.

[Robw_z]

I feel I got really lucky in finding a 1990 base model. I didn't know they existed til I found it. It has the higher ride height of the early models, power nothing, no fiberglass bumpers, full rubber flooring, the upgraded 3/4 slider, 2.1 motor(easier to work on, simpler), rear facing jump seats, full rear bed, and the IMO more attractive look of the '89-'91 models. When I go to the car wash I hose out the interior without even removing the rubber mats! Very nice. My 2 cents.

-Rob

[porker buzz]

i have 3 vans 1.9 wbx and aircooled vw and porsche the vw aircooled is loads more reliable just as fast as the waterboxer with a few tweeks , and loads easier to work on and maintain no head stud problems the only down side is the heater but you can always fit a eberspacher or a porsche engine which cures the heating problem

[ftp2leta]

I did a nice write up... in French

http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_historique1.htm

The best year: there is no best year, they are all bad, it's an horrible van.
Do it for you, run away from those Aries-K look alike van wile your still can.

I don't know, buy a Chevy Astro.

A Vanagon will end up costing you anything between 15-20K in a year or 2 anyway.

The only best year/van is mine, period

Just kidding... or not

Ben


And get a real engine in there:

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Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
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[1621]

Rsxsr said it best, we end up with the one that comes along and fits our budget.

That aside, you really can't go wrong with any of the models. Some of the later versions are nice, but overpriced in many instances.

Consider a pop-top, but only opt for a full camper if you actually plan to use it. If you don't plan to use it (much like the 4wd in a Syncro) it's just a lot of extra weight and more stuff to maintain - not to mention the loss of two seating positions. The Weekender packages with the pop top, a rear closet, and no stove-sink-fridge combos are really cool! I think the Weekender/ Multivan option was available from 84-91.

I have to agree that the brown/tan interior endures much nicer than the gray interiors which look dingy after a short time. This would narrow it to the 85-86 model years, (maybe some 87s?).

Any of these vehicles are going to require some rehabbing due to age. It's not hard to take an early model van and make it perform far better than a later model van (suspension, engine, brakes). Just find one that's got a straight body, is clean, and something you see potential in.

Good luck!
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'85 Westy

[werksberg]

I already have a full size Ford e-150 van for work...but I want a VW van for lite camping and meets.

I did ask yesterday a widow of an ACVW legend about his old WBX Vanagon but she isn't ready yet to sell it.... YET!

I'll find one...just like most of you have stated.....it will come when it is the right time.
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[toddc]

so, is there really a "best year"? Do folks think that there is ANY important difference between an 87 Wolfsburg Ed. and a 90/91 Carat, other than the carats have the exterior side bottom trim piece? I've owned both, and am now searching for weekender no. 3, and am wondering if there is any reason skip the 87s-89s and look only for a Carat.

[PDXWesty]

For me, newest and well cared for is "best" to me. I always look for those two things. Newer is better than older, and well cared for is better than neglected. You need to have both to make it work. If you keep that in mind, you will have a much better experience with your van purchase.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[windnsea]

The best year Vanagon or Westphalia is the one that you have in your driveway that is running and paid for!

[MarkWard]

[germansupplyscott]

air-cooled vanagon westfalias are bar none the best value in the vintage vw market. maybe because no-one considers them 'vintage'. maybe because the aircooled engine is seen as a big minus factor. (i don't - as long as you understand the characteristics/limitations of the engine, it will provide lots of useful service) but you could buy two running aircooled vanagon westies for the price of one of ben's vanaru engines. so if money is an object...
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SL

[Classicvibe]

someone mentioned earlier 87-91, but, the only thing that separates the 86 model is the A/C setup, which is not that different, but it is weaker. But weaker than shitty...is still shitty.

I pulled my hair out for years over this one, this is what I finally concluded.

* I would never cook bacon in my van, or wash dishes in my van (Hooray, remove all campers from list).
* I want some living space in the van for camping, putting on my ski boots and hanging out (passengers are out, weekender is in!).
* I would like to go of road, play on the rocks, kick ass in the snow (this requirement did not really narrow the field. A rear locker is pretty sweet, but a syncro is mo bettuh!)

I really wanted an MV, and spent a good deal of time trying to figure out how to get them 4x4. I caved when I found my current 86. Personally, a 23 window syncro would suit me fine! But I settled.

Another note about 4x4. If you are doing your own work, they are not that big of a deal. Certain things are a bit irritating, but I got over them pretty quick. The skid bars get in the way for pretty much everything, but they are easy to remove, and I just take them off for months at a time to work. There is a significant expense to a decoupler, and maintaining the ridiculous AWD system, but that is just a drop in the bucket man! I bought my Van for $8,500. It has nearly $10k more in it now and you would never know, it still looks like the same ol bucket. Maybe another $10k will do the trick?

Anyway, kids+dogs+camping+desert+snow & winter sports+southern Utah = Weekender Syncro or weekender with a locking reat diff. The 3 person bench and two jumpseat option is tough to beat.
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1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter