Added a Vanagon, will be parting with panel bay...

[TequilaSunSet]

I have been unable to decide on the new motor for my 72 panel, 1600 or other 2000 built upright... or get a pancake 2000 and hope the heads hold up. All I really want to do is drive and camp, like now. Panel will be up for sale...

So I picked this up for $1,800, has a gouge in the sliding door with a cheap respray. 7 years ago a ton of stuff was gone through, like new radiator, hoses, fuel tank, drums, cat etc... so I am hoping it hangs in there for a while longer. ODO does not work, speedo does, slight leak in tranny and power steering. Rides fine, brakes great, slow... oh yeah, and Benz hubcaps EDIT: The PO had it since 2006 and looked like a tall Jerry Garcia (tie dyed shirt included) and he is a drummer in a band (I even got a free CD of his band-Blues/Rock style) He decided he wanted power windows and creature comforts of the modern mini vans (Sell Out!)

_________________
Don't harsh my mellow...
1985 Hightower Vanagon 1.8T- Gone
1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me

[rubbachicken]

nice
_________________
lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'


markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310 or 617 935 4182

[?Waldo?]

The vanagon is better in every way it is different from the bay. Enjoy.

[TequilaSunSet]

[devesvws]

[TequilaSunSet]

[sea_sick]

Nice. The vanagon version of a bay westy tin top. Enjoy the heater! Cheers

[sea_sick]

Nice. The vanagon version of a bay westy tin top. Enjoy the heater! Cheers

[randywebb]

The vanagon is better in almost every way. Exceptions include:

- less suspension articulation on the Vanagon
- a more complex and harder to diagnose engine mgmt. system
- chance of coolant system failures
- some years have brown plastic that falls apart
- some people may prefer the looks of the Bay Window buses
_________________
1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[?Waldo?]

I haven't yet had the experience where additional suspension articulation was necessary in a vanagon and regardless, the vanagon suspension is light-years better than the bay.

Engine management harder to diagnose, hardly. The FI of the bay buses is much the same or perhaps you're saying dual solex carbs or the 1.6 with single solex are better than the vanagon FI [insert facepalm].

The cooling system is much less reliable in the air-cooleds than it is in the water-cooleds and the air-cooleds have the dropped valve seats to prove it.

Do you think the bay model doesn't have issues with the interiors degrading with time?

I suppose you could argue aesthetics but you won't win...

[TequilaSunSet]

[Chuey]

[t3 kopf]

i was an air cooled only guy until i actually bit the bullet and got a water cooled vanagon. thats about the time i realized how much better they are. i do love a splitty and a bay and still would take it if you offered me one, but i find that the wbx is just so much easier to work on. you can actually get into everything without removing the big ass cooling tin puzzle. of course every type2 has its own set of issues that make a preacher curse.
_________________
'90 Carat w/ '95 phase 1 EJ22 OBD2 conversion

[randywebb]

Vanagon vs. Bay Window Bus - I bolded the few detriments

- 5” wider interior than Bus
- floor 4” lower (better design for strength)
so, 18% more interior volume – 176 ft3
- also slightly wider & longer
- easier cargo loading – sliding side door 15% larger & R hatch is 75% larger
- R. cargo area is nearly 8” lower than in Bus

same air-cooled engine as late Bus, but has better sound isolation

Front Suspension is now unequal length A-arms with progressive coil springs, and an anti-roll bar (instead of the Bus’s trailing arms and torsion bars)
Rear Suspension now uses progressive coil springs on the semi-trailing arms
- wayward tendencies in windy conditions greatly reduced
- BUT suspension droop is reduced, so off-road ability is worse – esp. since a R. wheel can easily lose traction
- 50/50 weight distribution and re-designed suspension prevents any of the swaying under windy conditions that plagued the Bus

smaller turning circle 35.1 ft - 6.5 ft. less than the Bus
(34.5 ft.)

skidpad 0.79 lateral g (Bus was 0.63 g)

much safer for front seat occupants
better aerodynamics – windshield canted backwards
windows are larger, as is the rear glass (92% increase)

Brakes – overall very good, with excellent control in panic stops from 60 mph; 60 to 0 stopping distance = 165 ft.
- easy to modulate & no hint of front or rear lockup; fade not excessive (pedal pressure went from
R&T could not get the Vanagon up to 80 mph on their test track, so no 80 to 0 brake tests

“comfort and handling unequalled in any other make or model” at the time

windshield is 21 percent larger than that of the previous Bus and there is a 22-percent increase in side window glass area

rear compartment's floor has been lowered 7.9 in

for 1983.5 water cooled Vanagon:
Curb weight 3,400 lb.
0 to 60 mph = 18.3 sec
0 - 1320 ft (1/4 mi) ... 20.9
Speed at end of 1/4 mi, mph ... 63.5
_________________
1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[TequilaSunSet]

^^ Nice info, thanks!
_________________
Don't harsh my mellow...
1985 Hightower Vanagon 1.8T- Gone
1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me

[shadetreetim]

You crossed over to the dark side... prepare to be shunned. Congratulations, looks like a great buy. We love camping in our tin top, and we just drove the Grapevine without dropping below 60mph.

I think the Vanagons are at their best, loaded for camping, cruising the open road. Enjoy.
_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5