Talk me out of buying a Vanagon Camper

physast

Lately I have had my mine set on buying a vanagon camper to do some traveling. My wife and I live in DC and are tired of the city, politics and fast pace of the city. I have always wanted to travel in a VW camper since I got my 67 bug in high school. We are restoring the 67 beetle right now which is taking most of our money. We have some saved up and could purchase a vanagon if we wanted to, but....

I also feel that we should be responsible and not throw our money at what likely will be another money bucket. However, I feel 25K (what I am currently willing to spend) in a vanagon should be a somewhat reliable car and will bring enough adventures to make up for the money.

So back to my question. I am dead set on this and unless someone talks me out of it I will likely pull the trigger and get one. It's not that I want someone to talk me out of it as much as I just need some balance because I am currently running full speed ahead.

joshivore · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:15 pm Post subject:

i'm pretty sure you posted this here, as opposed to say...suze orman's financial responsibility forum...because you wanted some people to enable you in your want of a van. go get one!

also, it sounds like you have multiple money buckets? you could unload one to fund a camper then by my math, you're breaking even. (my wife does not think this is good math.)

go forth!

dobryan · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:26 pm Post subject:

24k is a very realistic budget. Get a nice Westy for $15k and then over time put $10k into making it reliable. GO FOR IT! Very Happy

BTW, IMHO don't spend $25k on someone's Westy assuming that it has everything done to it. These are all old and need work. You are better off spending some less up front and driving it for a while to determine what needs work.

I live just outside DC if you want to chat.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

tarandusVDub · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:37 pm Post subject:

Don't buy one. They are old and funky and take way too much time and money. Get a sprinter. Smile

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=587228&highlight=competition
_________________
1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD.

Howesight · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:52 pm Post subject:

It's good that you have a realistic budget at $25,000. So here are the things I would consider as requirements at that price:

1. Get a 1990 or 1991 model since they do not include a failure-prone 3rd-4th gear drive hub. Obviously, I favour the 4-speed over the automatic. Resale values and size of the market, I believe, are superior with the manual.

2. Go West to buy your Westy. For the same money, you can get a Westy in the West with little to no rust. In the East, (esp. up North) with the exception of the garage-kept examples, all the Westys have unacceptable levels of rust. For those with a limited budget for a Westy, they may have no choice but to buy a somewhat rusty example. You do not need to. Note that the single most expensive repair that any Westy may require is bodywork, hence the emphasis on no rust.

3. Be patient, have your funds ready. I got three separate fantastic deals (including on my 1986 Syncro Westy), by waiting, but being ready to pounce on a good deal.

4. Engines: If the Westy has a stock wasserboxer (aka WBX), and if you want to keep it stock, you can either look for a relatively low-mileage example, or budget for a quality rebuild. If you install yourself, then together with reasonable replacement items usually required for a WBX rebuild, budget around $4,500 to $5,500 for the engine and another $1,000 for peripheral parts (eg, water pump, alternator, replacement/rebuilt Air Flow Meter, coolant hoses, new rad, etc).

5. If you go with a decent-running example, do budget (both time and money) for the minimum preventive maintenance:
-new radiator (unless you know existing one is 5 years old or less)
- change coolant to VW "blue" or "pink" coolant (non-phosphate) and use distilled water;
- preventively change water pump or carry a spare new one;
- replace all v-belts (VanCafe, GoWesty and Bus Depot all carry the correct ones)
- headlight switch;
- ignition switch;
- oxygen sensor;
- cat converter if you have emissions testing in your state;
- replace all CV joint dust boots and re-grease the CV joints;
- replace rear wheel bearings or at least re-grease;
- replace "Temp 2" coolant temp sensor;
- new spark plugs, rotor, cap, wires;
- new oil and filters;
- new fuel filter;
- buy and keep a spare fuel pump (easy roadside replacement)

6. Expect to pay more if the engine has been converted to a non-WBX engine. The main conversion engines out there now are Subaru (2.2, 2.5, 3.0, 3.3 litres), Bostig Ford, Audi/VW 1.8T. There are other good swaps that are orphans in the sense of not being very common and some not-so-good swaps (holding my tongue here) that are equally uncommon.

7. Expect to pay more if the WBX is a recent rebuild by a reputable WBX builder. The most respected WBX builders include :
- Vanistan: http://www.vanistan.com/performance_waterboxers.html
- GoWesty: http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_category.php?id=82
- Rocky Jennings: http://www.rockyjennings.com/

8. Rust-free states with an abundance of Westys include:
- Washington
- Oregon (not so great right on the coast, though)
- Montana
- Idaho
- California (Westy Mecca!)
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico

9. There is a seasonal price premium (this is high-price season), but many sellers are still hurting from the recession, so YMMV.

10. Okay, here's my best hint of all: In addition to scouring the Samba classifieds, look through Craigslist and, in addition to searching for "Westfalia", search also for "Vanagon", "Westphalia", "VW Van" and "camper van" and "VW camper". I found two great deals that were described as "vanagon" for a nice westfalia, and "Westphalia" in another case. Their spelling mistake is your gain!
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX

TequilaSunSet · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:00 pm Post subject:

tarandusVDub · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:07 pm Post subject:

What?

_________________
1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD.

joetiger · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:13 pm Post subject:

Buy one! Enjoy the hunt for your Westy, drive it, enjoy it, deal with its idiosyncrasies.

If you find that you don't have the patience for it (unlikely) then sell it to the next guy in line.

Vanagons are fun. Regret is a drag.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

Gauche1968 · Samba Member Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518

Syncroincity · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:28 pm Post subject:

Just in: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1612292

Cool

_________________
'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight=

physast · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject:

PDXWesty · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:05 pm Post subject:

Wait......stop......don't do it.....how was that?

Man, This is the wrong forum for that question.
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto

Type17 · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:06 pm Post subject:

Don't buy a Vanagon. They're horrible. You won't like it.

Hope that helps. Laughing

But if you must buy one, don't blow your whole wad on the initial purchase. Even if every single part has been gone over and replaced something eventually will go wrong. You'll also want to have some cash to work with when setting it up for yourself. I don't know how the market is in DC but out here you can get a very clean camper with no major problems for $15k-ish.

zeohsix · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:08 pm Post subject:

See if you can meet up with Derek Drew he lives in DC offer to buy him a beer....Derek can set you straight on owning a T3 van. Myself, mine has been a money pit but the prize is close at hand a 1.8T powered Syncro Westy for under $30K.....my labor was free, if I had paid myself minimum wage it would be a $50K build.....should be done for 2014 camping season! Can't wait!

physast · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:10 pm Post subject:

photogdave · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:11 pm Post subject:

Yeah don't do it. Be like my friends and go camping in a "reliable" domestic minivan, and pretend to be as comfortable and having as much fun as I am! Laughing

_________________
89 Syncro GL Westfalia 2.1 WBX/WBXaustSS

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Syncronicity · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:13 pm Post subject:

physast · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject:

It seems we have some vanagon owners in/near DC. Cool

I think my first order of business is to find them! I would love to actually see someones van and ask questions. Also would be great to have someone show me what to look for.

regis101 · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:30 pm Post subject:

Just jump in. You know ya want to
_________________
Peace, Regis

dobryan · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:49 pm Post subject:


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