Help in Phoenix, AZ finding a true Vanagon mechanic

[newhero_]

There is plenty of vw shops like Affordable German, Roadhaus, Exklusiv, etc.

I'm trying to find a mechanic that is known for working on Vanagons.

But I am trying to get the best bang for my buck

Have a 85 weekender with overheating problems and need to do some maintenance on my 88 carat.

Thanks for your help

[kamzcab86]

My van goes to H&M Motorworks on Cave Creek (north-central side of town). Mark and the gang have lots of Vanagon experience and are a pleasure to deal with.

http://www.hmmotorworks.com/

If I lived down south, I'd go to Affordable German. Bill, the owner, swapped a Subaru into his personal van, and lots of other van others go there for repairs (not a single "not recommended" out of the 12 reviews on roadhaus.com).

http://www.affordablegerman.com/
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~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

[SpudlyHotPotato]

Bill at Affordable German is who we see.

He and his team have built us a rebuilt 2.1 engine in a span of 3 days, resolved a hunting idle that had an elusive cause, rebuilt a transmission for me, new cat, new muffler, new A/C hoses, fuel lines and reseal, fixed the leaky water tank inside my camper, installed lift springs and spacers, and installed so many other "new" things that there's too many to mention. He also makes it right if any of the work they did doesn't work out, which is where the rubber meets the road. He's a major vanagon enthusiast.

Interesting to hear there's a place on Cave Creek, that's right next to my house.
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Rebuilt 2.1 in a 1985 manual Camper

"Those things are over kill and I want a set" - Jedi

"All my work explores the human desire or obsession for utopias, and the structure of all my works is the search for utopias lost and rediscovered." - Marguerite Young

www.bewilderknits.com

[sub-hatchtim]

you can also try the wedge on indian school and 26th st I think
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58' pg/sg silo fridge westy
58 Dove blue singlecab
76 911S

[gregaz]

The Wedge guys call Bill with Vanagon questions. I was going to go there until I discovered Affordable German. Having gone there, I can't imagine going anywhere else.

Check out their Yelp reviews. http://www.yelp.com/biz/affordable-german-auto-repair-phoenix

[newhero_]

Thank you all for your help. I think Bill at Affordable German is the guy i am looking for.

[Ahwahnee]

[mg93108]

Does anyone know a mechanic that they'd recommend in Flagstaff/Phoenix/Mesa/Prescott/etc?
This is July 2023. I’m hoping to bring back this post.
I have a Syncro that's in Flagstaff but I’m willing to tow it 200 miles...or more if I have to do so. My Syncro runs for about an hour and then dies. Wait about 30 minutes and it starts back up. I'll post about that repair in another thread.
In the meantime....
Does anyone know a mechanic that they'd recommend in Flagstaff/Phoenix/Mesa/Prescott/etc?
Thanks in advance!!

[kamzcab86]

[leecat]

[mitch5]

Bill at affordable German is still the guy you want to work on your van. He has a ton of knowledge and works on even super modified vanagons. As a plus he has a decent yard of junk vanagons to pull parts from if you run into issues with nla parts

[TopBud]

Flagstaff local. I DO NOT Recommend Kens. Lots of us in flagstaff work on our own vans. I would recommend r&r on 89. That is who we take Vw,s to when we can’t fix ours or recommend others. I have an 86 Syncro also. Daily driver. Send me a pm. I may be able to help. I won’t be back in town till the 19th
Tony
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86 bostig SYNCRO
66 convertible Karmann Ghia

[lcolon]

When we had an issue in Flagstaff 2 years ago, we had a very hard time getting someone to service our Vanagon in a timely fashion, both locally and in Phoenix. We finally called TNT Auto Center in Kingman, and had the Van towed there. They called in some specialist mechanic and had the van fixed in a day (dead ignition coil).

If you are willing to have the tow done (AAA long tow service is your friend) and don't mind going that distance, they are worth a phone call. Helped us out of a bind certainly.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia - Vanna
1971 VW Beetle

[TopBud]

If TNT called a specialist, it was probably Rod of Rod’s vw also in Kingman. That’s why we do all our own work in flagstaff. There is a great community of vw drivers. I’d still cal R&R if you are not in a rush.
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86 bostig SYNCRO
66 convertible Karmann Ghia