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spiritwarrior Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2012 Posts: 1 Location: Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:28 am Post subject: Buy a Bay Window or Vanagon for a family camper? |
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Looking to buy a low mileage bay window or vanagon configured as a camper. I have some experience with the 2000 cc FI engine as I used to own a Square Back wagon. Also owned early model VW bugs and Karmann Khias so I don't want to fool with the 1600-1800CC air cooled, something was always wrong with them. If you were getting something for a family of five would you go with the Bay window or Vanagon. I believe in case of a bay window the 78's and up were hydraulic value lifters. Looking to pay about 10K for something that is not a rust bucket and the mechanical are in good shape. Thanks. Looked at new recreational vehicle prices and even if I pay more than 10K it will be a bargain. |
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2067 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 4:49 am Post subject: |
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Waterboxer Vanagon will give your family reliable heat on those frosty Korean outings. Warm wife/happy life. _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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Poptopcamper Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2012 Posts: 490 Location: Sheridan, Wyoming
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:10 am Post subject: |
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Depends on if you like to work on your bus on the side of the road occasionally. You didn't like the earlier air cooled so I don't think you will appreciate the idiosyncrasies of a later air cooled bus. What about a Eurovan for hauling Those kids? Or for real dependability, a newer minivan. Then get an old bus to play with. I had a Astrovan and we always got there with the kids. Can't say the same about my old 73 transporter. _________________ If you only have one tool in your tool box, and it's a hammer, pretty soon, everything looks like it needs to be whacked!
1978 VW Riviera
2021 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton
2020 VW Tiguan
2001 Harley Electraglide Classic
1986 BMW R 800cc motorcycle
2002 Chevy Camaro Z28
1999 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50216
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Buy a Bay Window or Vanagon for a family camper? |
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spiritwarrior wrote: |
Looking to buy a low mileage bay window or vanagon configured as a camper. |
There are probably two low mileage Bay Window buses left in the world and a few hundred low mileage Vanagons. Either way it is going to be a quite a search to find a good one. |
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Busdriver79 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2011 Posts: 1655 Location: The Peoples' Republic of "No" Jersey
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:04 am Post subject: |
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Whatever vehicle you choose, get the best one you can find...that means the most comlpete vehicle with all pieces and parts that were issued by the factory....stay away from "fixer uppers"....a bit of TLC is much better than a project vehicle....Pioneer1 said that a Waterboxer Vanagon would give reliable heat and that would be my choice....but you are the guy looking and spending....good luck with whatever you choose. |
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420GOAT Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2006 Posts: 3343 Location: Wilmington, CA on a nice quiet street but still in the 'hood
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:40 am Post subject: |
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aircooled is fun and very reliable but slow.
water cooled is practical and safer but not fun or cool just driving....sorry Vanagon dudes...your shit aint cool. i dont care what you do...its still a Vanagon!! _________________ once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Your comments, usually ignored, by the way own'em sincr '92 and don't plan to stop. |
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420GOAT Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2006 Posts: 3343 Location: Wilmington, CA on a nice quiet street but still in the 'hood
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:24 am Post subject: |
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thats cool, only ones that ignore me are those that live in a bubble....but yeah Vanagons are still not "cool" i didnt say i dont like them, but they are not cool. this op was wanting opinions and ive had both so i can say i know what im talking about, unless you did not know there are VW "classes". _________________ once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7877 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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As far as the Vanagons (and even Eurovans/T4s) go, this question could be broken down further into: Full-camper or pop-top "Weekender"/Multivan? The Multivans have more seating, but lack the kitchenette; they're better suited for large families. You can, of course, add a removable seat to a full-camper, or luck out and find one with the middle seat already installed:
vs. Weekender/Multivan:
(1985 shown; later Multivans seat 7 with 2 rear-facing seats)
The rear bench seat in a Vanagon full-camper is, technically, for two passengers. You can fit three on that seat, and even add a seat belt, but as the kids grow they will not want to all be stuffed onto that seat for road trips.
This may help too: http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=54 .
420GOAT wrote: |
water cooled is practical and safer but not fun or cool just driving....sorry Vanagon dudes...your shit aint cool. i dont care what you do...its still a Vanagon!! |
It's still a Type 2... and we get all sorts of attention where ever we go. Not cool to you, but certainly cool to others. Additionally, the OP may very well not give a rat's behind about the so-called "cool factor"; s/he just wants a family camper.
I love all VW Buses... but I love my Vanagon Westy the most. _________________ ~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 |
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mranker Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 271 Location: Pasadena, CA
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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420GOAT wrote: |
aircooled is fun and very reliable but slow.
water cooled is practical and safer but not fun or cool just driving....sorry Vanagon dudes...your shit aint cool. i dont care what you do...its still a Vanagon!! |
Ha! Ha! Like it or not Goat is the most quotable guy on the Samba. I've owned a 89 Vanagon Weekender and I currently own a '70 bay. Vanagon: Way more like a modern car. Not as cool but getting cooler as modern cars get lamer and lamer. The downside is if your watercooled Vanagon breaks down you're calling AAA (and it's going to cost you many dollars to fix). Bay: it takes a certain kind of person and family. If your family is adventurous and you like to bring tools on vacation and you like exchanging stories about your car with complete strangers its the only car for you. _________________ '70 Bus
'02 Eurovan MV Weekender |
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nodrenim Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006 Posts: 843 Location: Dobson, North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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I've had both, give me a bay any day. |
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420GOAT Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2006 Posts: 3343 Location: Wilmington, CA on a nice quiet street but still in the 'hood
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="mranker"]
420GOAT wrote: |
aircooled is fun and very reliable but slow.
water cooled is practical and safer but not fun or cool just driving....sorry Vanagon dudes...your shit aint cool. i dont care what you do...its still a Vanagon!! |
Ha! Ha! Like it or not Goat is the most quotable guy on the Samba. I've owned a 89 Vanagon Weekender and I currently own a '70 bay. Vanagon: Way more like a modern car. Not as cool but getting cooler as modern cars get lamer and lamer. The downside is if your watercooled Vanagon breaks down you're calling AAA (and it's going to cost you many dollars to fix). Bay: it takes a certain kind of person and family. If your family is adventurous and you like to bring tools on vacation and you like exchanging stories about your car with complete strangers its the only car for you.[/quote
WHATS up MrRanker? only Vanagon Dokas are sweet, and panel Synchros, and westys are cool too. but "vintage cool" no. im even thinking about getting a Vanagon sunroof...cool? no, cool for driving"?? yes!! _________________ once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50216
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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nodrenim wrote: |
I've had both, give me a bay any day. |
If the Bay would just do better in the wind and had more suitable heat it would be my first choice at all times, but alas it does not. |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7877 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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420GOAT wrote: |
panel Synchros |
No H!
Syncro ≠ synchro _________________ ~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 |
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reluctantartist Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2006 Posts: 1927 Location: Bloomington, IN
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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You can always go with an air-cooled early vanagon (80-83). I have been using mine for the past 6 years to haul everything from sheep across several states to the family on camping trips. It is as dependable as our newer cars and you can get a lot better condition than a bay or wbxr vanagon for the same price. My heat works well, 74+ inside at 13 degrees outside. In city driving it is even warmer in winter. Plus you get the simplicity of the AC engine. I like bays but the prices have gotten too high for me. I don't like rusty projects which makes it even pricier to find one. _________________ 1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them. |
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BUSBOSS Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 2161 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like you are leaning towards the modern route and have some bundles of cash available.
If so, I'd go with a VW California Van available in Europe:
I'm with Goat though. Vanagons and EuroVans are like fat chicks and mopeds. Fun to ride until your friends see you! _________________ All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten) |
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chazz79 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 2268 Location: ohio
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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I love my vanagon. The carat mv is the most versatile vehicle I have ever owned. It has the power and convenience I always wanted in my bay and if I had it to do over again I would chose vanagon.
I picked bus first for the same reason everyone choses the bay, it's just cooler. A bay in it's natural state just isn't suitable for the modern world. _________________ 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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CarlSpackler Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Mason, Ohio
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 7:59 am Post subject: |
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My first bus was a '78 Westy. That was followed by a '66 Single Cab, an '85 Westy, a '99 EuroVan GLS, a '91 Weekender, and now a '71 Deluxe. Of the bunch the Weekender was hands down the best. Able to carry seven people, plenty of room to keep all my camping gear in the back cabinet and under the rear seat, and loads of room with the jump seats out. It did fine keeping up with traffic, was fun to drive, and other than a brake line blow-out, never gave me any problems (I sold it with 175k miles on it). It was easy to pull the passenger side jump seat out and strap a cooler in with the seat belt. I made a number of trips with that, and it worked for five as long as the three down stairs got along well. I would recommend putting a skybox on top and adding lifting shocks for the pop top. You'll have plenty of room for everyone, you just have to set up a kitchen outside.
I like the aircooleds (obviously), but the Vanagon is a better camping layout - especially with a Weekender. I did put a two person center seat in the '85, but it was a pain. I would never have sold the '91 except that I got remarried and now have four boys and it wouldn't fit six of us camping. _________________ '67 Micro Bus
'73 Thing
'91 Westy |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16775 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:41 am Post subject: |
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you wont get a thumbs up in a vanagon _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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airkooledchris Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 2698
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:08 am Post subject: |
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do you like to tinker and tune and adjust and fix and monitor settings/temps/pressures?
or do you want to just get in and drive it and more or less not worry about it?
Personally if I was buying one to actually use all the time for long trips and vacations with the family - id get a Vanagon.
Busses are cool and a lot of us use them in the same way I described above - but it takes a lot of time and money to get a baywindow bus into that same state of tune. |
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