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Forthwithtx
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 717
Location: Fort Worth
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 Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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| Vanhalla wrote: |
We built up an Astro over the last year or so. Spent way too much time and money on it and it's still not quite what we wanted. Which was ultimately a VW.
We just bought a Vanagon. |
Can you sleep sideways in an Astro?
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Cheers!
-Karl
'84 GL with 2001/2004 Subaru 2.5L |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32561
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Jennepher 
Administrator
Joined: September 10, 2002
Posts: 4767
Location: Arizona
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15141
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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Nope, the Astro/Safari are a different compromise in interior space.
but each/every platform has it's compromises and plusses.
| Forthwithtx wrote: |
| Vanhalla wrote: |
We built up an Astro over the last year or so. Spent way too much time and money on it and it's still not quite what we wanted. Which was ultimately a VW.
We just bought a Vanagon. |
Can you sleep sideways in an Astro? |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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an American Van would be too reliable
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16494
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Vanhalla
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2016
Posts: 80
Location: Portland
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 8:34 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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Yep, us and our 2 little dogs sleep sideways. I'm 5'7" and a half. We removed the existing panels and put in our own insulation and wooden panels which gained us a few inches on each end.
The Mrs picked up some half sized pillows and made pillow cases for them, which saves wasted space.
If you were any taller you'd have to sleep lengthways, but it works for us.
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1991 VW Vanagon GL
https://www.instagram.com/bjornthebus/
Parts wanted/needed - A high top. CLK wheels. A weekender rear cabinet and head banger. |
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shadetreetim
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1994
Location: Riverside, California
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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While making plans on attending Syncro Solstice this year, my friend with a  Ford van declared he wanted to come too with his family. I thought of this thread as I had previously stated on here I would consider a Ford van and now we would have miles of road to compare the two.
The contenders:
'89 Vanagon Bluestar, mildy lifted, 215/75R15 tires, CHC poptop conversion, 1.8t, .77 4th gear.
'03 Ford E350, 7.3 diesel, auto, 4x4 conversion, Westy inspired interior cabinets and z-bed conversion.
Storage: The E350 extended van with aluminess box on the back bumper easily eclipsed my storage. I planned ahead and ony brought what I thought we would need. Mark just brought everything he has collected to camp with. Including a generator we never needed.
Mileage: We drove through a variety of terrain and at different speeds dictated by freeway, 2 lane highway, and dirt trail requirements. Mark's diesel averaged 2 MPG worse than my 1.8t on every tankfull. At 80 MPH, if I got 14, he got 12 MPG. At 45 MPH through the Shafer Trail, I averaged 19 and he got 17. It stayed incredibly consistent.
Drive-ability: The size of the Ford makes it a beast to maneuver. I usually operated as the scout vehicle, searching out parking spaces he could fit in, meanwhile squeezing into the small spaces myself.
Freeway Flyer: Surprising, I had a huge advantage here. First, his van handled poorly at 80 MPH, he preferred to run 70-72 MPH due to this. If I was in the lead, I had to make sure I didn't run away and leave him. Secondly, his EGT's slowed him down on the hills. As we were driving to and through Utah, we had many a hill to climb. As usual, on the steepest hills I could downshift to 3rd, and accelerate to 75 MPH without shifting to 4th. My 1.8t loves third gear, the engine temps actually drop 5-7 degrees from normal when running third gear on a hill. On the steepest of hills, Mark was dropping to 55 MPH. Early in our trip, his EGT'c climbed to 1500 degrees as he tried to catch me. After realizing his limitations, I started climbing hills where he could keep up. It did make for a relaxing drive. 
Attracting attention: The bright red 4x4 Ford stood out, even in 4x4 rich Moab. Everywhere we went people stared, took pictures, and gave a thumbs up. In stark contrast, my faded, drought tolerant paint job, Vanagon still gathered its normal share of comments.
Fun factor: Lady Shadetree and I had a blast, as usual. For Mark and his family, it was their first big trip camping in a van. They kept forgetting we could pull over anywhere to make lunch. But they came away from this trip planning on many others.
So the differences are there, but they aren't that big a deal. I finished our trip loving our Vanagon. Mark finished the trip loving his Ford. We each have another list of modifications to make to enhance the camping experience.
Bottom line is we got out and camped.
_________________
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 |
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Forthwithtx
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 717
Location: Fort Worth
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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Hard to believe that red beast was within 2mpg of the Vanagon. Looks like a good trip, though!
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Cheers!
-Karl
'84 GL with 2001/2004 Subaru 2.5L |
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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shadetreetim
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1994
Location: Riverside, California
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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I too was shocked at the mileage. He weighs almost double my van.
The Ford is an U-Joint Offroad conversion for the 4wd components. Custom interior by owner. Late model sheet metal cab forward to update the looks.
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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 |
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nemobuscaptain
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Posts: 3874
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10365
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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Ok this isn't an American van but have any Vanagon folks opted for the
Toyota LE?
I find it ironic that it has a fair amount of coolant hoses. In some ways, it's not too dissimilar to the Vanagon.
Input on the Toyota LE is welcome. Or just flame me for posting about a
Toyo in this discussion. 
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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I have supplemented the fleet as shown below. It's larger than the Toyota, faster and better handling. It gets way better fuel economy than my Vanagon at 22.5 consistently. It is mid-engine rear wheel drive with the craziest tight turning radius I've ever experienced. Rugged solid axle rear with leaf springs, stout torsion bar front suspension like a medium duty. Carries 1700lbs.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5076
Location: denver
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:54 am Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Input on the Toyota LE is welcome. Or just flame me for posting about a
Toyo in this discussion.
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A guy in a Toyota LE was pumping gas across from me off I-70 several years ago, and he told me that Toyota brought a Vanagon into their design facility and disassembled it in order to make a similar design. Dunno if that's true or not.
I've ridden in a couple, and they're nothing like a Vanagon on the inside. Lots of velour and a very crowded feeling. I like the looks though, and think a 4wd one might be a fun toy.
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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 |
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Red Beard
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2006
Posts: 463
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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| shadetreetim wrote: |
I too was shocked at the mileage. He weighs almost double my van.
The Ford is an U-Joint Offroad conversion for the 4wd components. Custom interior by owner. Late model sheet metal cab forward to update the looks. |
I'm actually more surprised at your gas mileage than his...isn't the 1.8t supposed to be a lot better than stock for MPG? |
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Red Beard
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2006
Posts: 463
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Ok this isn't an American van but have any Vanagon folks opted for the
Toyota LE?
I find it ironic that it has a fair amount of coolant hoses. In some ways, it's not too dissimilar to the Vanagon.
Input on the Toyota LE is welcome. Or just flame me for posting about a
Toyo in this discussion.
Neil.
[pic] |
My brother has one of those, he is looking to get an AWD express van instead to build out as a camper. Drawbacks of the Toyota are very low ceiling height, cramped interior, too short in height and length to have a comfortable bed without losing a lot of storage and floor space. No pass through from the front to the rear due to a large hump over the mid-engine. Doesn't feel more modern that the vanagon in any way in terms of driveability. Really hard to find one that isn't beat/rusty. |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7915
Location: Arizona
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15141
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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a 1.8T responds quickly to your foot/driving habits.
I get 23~25mpg highway in my 1.8T (150hp AEB) but can of course drop from there.
best my astro AWED gets is 18mpg easy on the highway.
| Red Beard wrote: |
| shadetreetim wrote: |
I too was shocked at the mileage. He weighs almost double my van.
The Ford is an U-Joint Offroad conversion for the 4wd components. Custom interior by owner. Late model sheet metal cab forward to update the looks. |
I'm actually more surprised at your gas mileage than his...isn't the 1.8t supposed to be a lot better than stock for MPG? |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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MURRAYMW1
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2011
Posts: 79
Location: Aptos, Ca
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Ever want sell your Vanagon for an American one? |
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We purchased a used Roadtrek this spring. Just finished its first big trip from Or to Sequioa/Kings Canyon. Pretty sweet. Love the comfort and amenities. Would have died driving the Westy through the Central Valley with no A/C. 105 degrees, topped out at 109!
Westy went up for sale and then I pulled the ads. My pining and whining turned into "alright, you can keep the Westy but those offroad type trips will be without me."
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Mark
85 Westy - current
Past - 85 weekender; 72 camper, 65 van; many bugs 54 - 72 |
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1990 Vanagon Westfalia: