Does your Westy attract attention?

vegpedlr · Last edited by vegpedlr on Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:51 am; edited 1 time in total

I'm new to Westy ownership, but I've been around them forever. I've been surfing, skiing, mountain biking, and camping all my life, and small campers come with the territory. So I'm a bit surprised at how the heads turn when my underpowered brick lumbers by.

1. "I didn't know VW made something cool like that!" Dude, they've been on the road 30+ years. (this one more than once)
2. Scraggly teen skateboarder: "Dude, that's a Westfalia it's got a kitchen inside!"
Scraggler #2: "Really? That's sick!
3. Yesterday while driving in stop and go traffic to test my cooling system with the window down, enjoying the vineyard views, I felt my van's ears burning. Fancy dude in a fancy convertible was ogling my van, talking about it. Asks what year it is and replies "nice van." Then I raced away. I mean, lumbered.

And in campgrounds, people are fascinated by it. Apparently the dirty hippie image is finally wearing thin.

Any other stories about attention received or witty responses?

ETA:
My mechanic was road testing it the other day, and someone he knew offered to buy it.

westyman71 · Samba Member Joined: August 28, 2004 Posts: 170

(At the gas station)

Is that a radiator?
Yes, it is water cooled
How did you rig that up, cause all VW buses are aircooled
They were until 83 1/2. Then they were watercooled
I know my VW buses. They were all aircooled
OK, whatever
Must be some special edition
It is special to me. Sorry, gotta go

smurfpike · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:57 am Post subject:

I always get the "did you make it this way?" Nope they came this way with the full camp setup and a pop top. I also always get the "this has 4WD, did you add it" No i didnt add it and Yes it does have 4WD and yes VW did make a 4WD. I also notice as im driving down the road peoples faces looking like this this Shocked

with a neck snap including the 4x4 guys and me Laughing

The joys of driving a Vanagon Syncro Westy
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dobryan · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:59 am Post subject:

It is a rare day that I don't get a thumbs up, wave, or someone stops to talk to me about it.

When I tailgate for the Skins games I end up giving tours most of the time.

Wednesday I was parking next to a work truck and an older gentleman was next to the truck. I got out and said "Good morning, how's it going?" His response (in a Dutch accent) was "Much better now that I've seen this." And he smiled.

Happens all the time! Very Happy

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Tobias Duncan · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:06 am Post subject:

I would not run a westy in California without a degirling stick.

joetiger · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:10 am Post subject:

Happens constantly. A kid at my local bike shop last weekend saw mine out the window and said, "is that yours? It's pretty much my dream vehicle."

I gave him the usual warnings, i.e. it's a lifestyle choice, blood, sweat, treasure, etc.

He responded, as most do, with:

"Is it a Syncro?"

Mad

ETA: I had a panhandler at an intersection a few days ago say, "if I had one of those, I wouldn't be homeless!"
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Yondermtn · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:23 am Post subject:

Of course.

My '77 Westy gets way more attention than my '90. I work right by the high school and all the kids love the Westys. At stoplights I usually get the "what year?" "I had a 19xx". Lots of people take pictures at stoplights or peace signs, lol.

When I drove a classic Bronco I used to get "Is it for sale?" or "how much?" I haven't gotten many offers on the VWs.
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joseph928 · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:41 am Post subject: syncro

SCM · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:44 am Post subject:

My wife was in a running race a few weeks ago and after her start I was kicking back in the Westy (reading this forum, in fact). I could just barely make out two girls near the end of the pack talking to each other.

"Blah blah, awesome, so awesome"
"Yeah, do you blah blah about them"
"Blah blah blah, they're really slow".

I had to assume that they were talking about the van.
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unibagel · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:50 am Post subject:

smurfpike · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:06 am Post subject:

To add from above, I agree the classic VW's tends to get more looks but my favorite is taking my Syncro Camper to a local car show that is full of American cars and the Vanagon is the crowd favorite with people lined up to check it out, I dont see that at your Camaro, Mustang or BelAir Smile

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rubbachicken · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:44 am Post subject:

i get a lot, especially when people see i'm using lucy as my work van, i get too many fools asking me if i want to sell her, not because they want to own a westy, but they think i'm going to sell her for cheaps so that they can flip her to make money, my answer to those kind of questions is "you couldn't afford her" one guy replied that he thought her could, i told him i'll not let her go for less than $30k, cash ! , he left.
i know she's not worth $30k, she's worth a LOT more than that to me
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debbiej · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:44 am Post subject:

Yes, almost every time we drive it. it has many uses, and people helping me load plants, lumber, groceries, furniture....all are amazed by it. Drive through window employees ogle, we get thumbs up, waves and peace signs on the road, park and forest rangers, fellow campers all at least take a second or third look and smile. Many come over for a closer look. In California, when visiting family, lane change signal usually gets a smile, a wave and a space.

Many places I go regularly, there are people who know us and always ask, "ready to sell that to me yet?" I always say no, mainly because I know they would be shocked at the price I'd ask.

debbiej · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:46 am Post subject:

Double

dhaavers · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:10 am Post subject:

Not usually. Too many introverted scandinavians up here in the NorthWoods.

(The extroverts look at YOUR shoes during a conversation...)

Laughing

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rockfish · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:14 am Post subject:

Driving into the most recent 49er game...four "Do you want to sell it?". Four more while tailgating. Gave 5 "house tours" while tailgating.

After the game - kid with his young wife..."Please convince my wife why we should have one of these!" Cool

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TequilaSunSet · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:18 am Post subject:

Non Westy here (ya prejudice bastards!)

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Yes I get waves, horn honks, thumbs up at stop lights and often "Nice old School" or "Sweet Van" type comments at gas stations... it so cool, would not get this in a Sprinter Razz

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Rodknock · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:35 am Post subject:

The world has a case of camper van fever. "I gotta feva, and there is only one way to cure it, more Westfalia."

Farfrumwork · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:35 am Post subject:

ALL the time.

I live on a very low traffic suburban non-through street and I've had 4 people come up and ring the door bell asking if I would sell my van (1 time before it was a syncro, and 3 times since). And we have quite a few westy's around here.

Like others here, I say 'you would need to bring a LOT of money... more than it's worth', because it's worth more to me.

I told my wife that I should tell people $45k cash... she said NO! Shocked

(she loves the van Very Happy

)
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TequilaSunSet · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:40 am Post subject:


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