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Sjwillis
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2014
Posts: 63
Location: New Jersey
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 Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:07 am Post subject: About buying our Vanagon: story and tips. |
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http://www.alltogetheroutthere.com/which-vw-camper-is-right-for-me/
Were it not for the months that I spent reading posts on this forum before buying our Vanagon, I'm sure that our family's experience would not have gone nearly so well.
So, for folks who are new to VW campers or are just starting out looking to buy one I wrote up some of what I learned here: how we set a budget and figured out which van we wanted to buy, where we looked, etc. It won't replace spending hours on thesamba but I thought it might be helpful for some new folks to see what kind of thinking went into our family's decision process.
Hope someone finds it useful: http://www.alltogetheroutthere.com/which-vw-camper-is-right-for-me/ |
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alijonny
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2007
Posts: 328
Location: Des Plaines, IL
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:23 am Post subject: |
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pretty cool read, Thanks! 
_________________
1965 Beetle
1990 Syncro Westfalia
1983 Westfalia
Last edited by alijonny on Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:15 am; edited 1 time in total |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3476
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:24 am Post subject: |
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That's a nice write-up. I would suggest a note explaining that the prices GoWesty gets for their vans typically cover some extensive R&R and that those prices aren't necessarily representative of what the "normal" buyer can expect to find during their search.
Enjoy your van, it's a beauty!
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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dobryan 
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17296
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Sjwillis
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2014
Posts: 63
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:25 am Post subject: |
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@SCM, agreed, good point. I'll update with a note about the gowesty R&R. Thanks for the feedback.
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1986 Wolfsburg Weekender
1972 MGB |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Subscribed.
Nice write up. |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5274
Location: denver
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:50 am Post subject: |
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I really like your Packing List. Efficient and spot-on for camping with the kids.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"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
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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DAIZEE
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010
Posts: 7552
Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:31 am Post subject: |
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Nice, surely helpful to those looking. Like the family togetherness also.
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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BlueGrasser
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2014
Posts: 562
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:39 am Post subject: Round headlight love |
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I don't really agree with the whole "pre-1986 is not as good" way of thinking that GoWesty implies. If an engine conversion is involved, or is in future plans, then the line is really blurred. I personally like the round headlight look, but I might be a bit biased
We also debated the whole Weekender versus full camper decision and just about bought a Weekender. I'm really glad we got the full camper though. I don't use the stove a whole lot, but the storage and the sink are really useful. Just having a quick place to wash hands and brush teeth make the sink worth it's weight in gold for family camping, but I can see how the space and additional seating would be really nice as well. I think it's one of those things that has pluses and minuses either way and people end up being big supporters of whichever way they happened to buy. 
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Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T |
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tarandusVDub
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1683
Location: Between Here and There
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:07 am Post subject: |
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Great story and great write-up ~ and great van! Congratulations.
Love your website ~ any suggestions for travel apps that work on Android?
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1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
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Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3669
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Round headlight love |
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| BlueGrasser wrote: |
| We also debated the whole Weekender versus full camper decision and just about bought a Weekender. I'm really glad we got the full camper though. I don't use the stove a whole lot, but the storage and the sink are really useful. Just having a quick place to wash hands and brush teeth make the sink worth it's weight in gold for family camping, but I can see how the space and additional seating would be really nice as well. I think it's one of those things that has pluses and minuses either way and people end up being big supporters of whichever way they happened to buy. |
Funny you mention the sink with kids. It is what I miss from our Full Westy. I would miss it more with small children, as they could brush their teeth right before bed. And I could pick them up, stick their feet in the sink and clean them before they got into their sleeping bag.
Right now, with our Weekender, I am enjoying lounging sideway on the full size rear seat, like a couch, and the extra seating is nice, especially when the kid are teens and bring friends.
One trip was four teens in back while no one rode shot gun and they talked the entire time. Then there was the 99 bottles of beer song on wall while driving 20 miles on a dirt road. Too funny.
Maybe I'll replace the rear facing storage seat with a kitchen unit someday -preferably a P22 unit, but I'm not giving up the rear "couch".
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
Complete SA Grill Set-up for sale!
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2748907
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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ThankYouJerry
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012
Posts: 2271
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Round headlight love |
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| vanagonjr wrote: |
| BlueGrasser wrote: |
| We also debated the whole Weekender versus full camper decision and just about bought a Weekender. I'm really glad we got the full camper though. I don't use the stove a whole lot, but the storage and the sink are really useful. Just having a quick place to wash hands and brush teeth make the sink worth it's weight in gold for family camping, but I can see how the space and additional seating would be really nice as well. I think it's one of those things that has pluses and minuses either way and people end up being big supporters of whichever way they happened to buy. |
Funny you mention the sink with kids. It is what I miss from our Full Westy. I would miss it more with small children, as they could brush their teeth right before bed. And I could pick them up, stick their feet in the sink and clean them before they got into their sleeping bag.
Right now, with our Weekender, I am enjoying lounging sideway on the full size rear seat, like a couch, and the extra seating is nice, especially when the kid are teens and bring friends.
One trip was four teens in back while no one rode shot gun and they talked the entire time. Then there was the 99 bottles of beer song on wall while driving 20 miles on a dirt road. Too funny.
Maybe I'll replace the rear facing storage seat with a kitchen unit someday -preferably a P22 unit, but I'm not giving up the rear "couch". |
I have a Weekender and small kids (4 & 8 ) and I don't miss having a sink for one second... and we have no problem brushing our teeth or washing hands  . I also prefer to cook outside. What I especially LOVE is having more space (including a bigger bed) for a family of four AND a vehicle that is lighter and more practical/versatile for everyday use. With a Thule box on top I have all I could ever want for camping storage. If it we're only two of us, I could see feeling the same passion for a Full Camper that I have for my Weekender and my family of four.
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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youderian
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2014
Posts: 106
Location: Tuson, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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Great article! Just shared / liked it on Facebook.
I'm 100% with you in terms of getting the most reliable van you can afford. I've got some basic mechanical abilities - and am looking forward to growing them with VW projects in the future - but I wanted the majority of my time to be spend enjoying it with the family vs. troubleshooting engine issues. That's why a Subaru conversion was really important to me in a van.
Takes a while to find the right one, but very worth it once you get it. Glad you found your perfect rig!
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1990 Westy Syncro with 2.5L |
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tam_shops
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012
Posts: 1531
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Round headlight love |
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| ThankYouJerry wrote: |
I have a Weekender and small kids (4 & 8 ) and I don't miss having a sink for one second... and we have no problem brushing our teeth or washing hands . I also prefer to cook outside. What I especially LOVE is having more space (including a bigger bed) for a family of four AND a vehicle that is lighter and more practical/versatile for everyday use. With a Thule box on top I have all I could ever want for camping storage. If it we're only two of us, I could see feeling the same passion for a Full Camper that I have for my Weekender and my family of four. |
^^Me too! When I was shopping, someone said that the full camper version is better for someone travelling cross country, not staying in any specific place for very long. The weekender, on the other hand, was better for families that stay put and like to cook outside.
I kind of narrowed it down to bigger bed vs sink (because I knew I'd want to cook outside), but, it should have been bigger bed AND more room inside for the junk 4 people drag along AND two jump seats for friends on weekends/trips AND lighter weight w/ better viability for parking at Gymnastics...vs the sink. LOL That said, now that I am doing more winter camping & waiting at sporting events, I think that sink (while the camper is not full w/ camping stuff) will become way more useful!
IMO the perfect set up is the weekender, with one of those European removable sink/stove set ups. I'd love that!
LOVE your write up, what a great story!
tam
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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photogdave
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3166
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Sjwillis
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2014
Posts: 63
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:10 am Post subject: |
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Hey
just wanted to say thanks for all of the great feedback. for some reason i just found the comments that people left on our website (they went into a spam bucket by default). So thanks to the folks who left comments but also glad that to have prompted a discussion about the weekender vs. full camper.
I think the overall assessment that the full camper is good for people who are moving around from campsite to campsite (and/or have very young kids who can be lifted up to have their feet cleaned in the sink is pretty much spot on.
For our kind of camping where we are generally in one place for more than a night or two and doing our cooking outside of the van, I agree that the extra space you pickup on the inside is an advantage.
I think the other thing that makes our case unique is that my younger son has a developmental disability and has some problems with impulse control that would make cooking over an open flame in a van with him pretty much a total disaster so that's another factor for us to consider.
(also, I fixed the samba.org/com typo, thanks for pointing that out)
Anyway, huge thanks again for the positive feedback!
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1986 Wolfsburg Weekender
1972 MGB |
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