Automatic or Manual?

[LisaThompson]

With my bad back I'm looking at an automatic Type 2 Bay Window Westy, but I'm receiving a lot of warnings that they break down a lot. Thoughts? I certainly don't want another project. Thank you in advance

[danfromsyr]

you might be receiving warnings that ALL BAY WINDOW BUSES break down alot..
now there will be some high and mighty with really nice bays that say they never break down.. they are also the same people who tell you that a bay bus is easy to work on...

it really isn't a relevant issue between automatic and manual transaxle. both can and do have their faults.. some (many) just live with the faults of a manual because they don't understand thw witchcraft that operates inside of an automatic.
but an automatic bay bus in good mechanical order is as much a pleasure to drive as a standard in good mechanical order is.

[danfromsyr]

I do vote for the 76-79 bay automatics though. for a few reasons that they were a better design than the 73-75 automatics. both in transaxle and fuel injection.

lastly if you are not looking for another project buy a Sienna.. move along, do the things you enjoy in life instead.

[cmonSTART]

Ya, I think at this point in a 40+ year old vehicle's life the transmission type isn't a significant factor.

Care, condition, rust etc are going to be more important to look at.

Will your back issues effect how well you can use a clutch or stick shift?
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[kerian159]

I concur with the 76-79 automatics (no vacuum lines) and much better than the early ones
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1976 Type II Westy P22

"Growing older, but not up!"

[busdaddy]

With a bad back you might want to try sitting in a bay front seat before getting in too deep, it's not the most comfortable seating position (compared to modern cars) and there's not much room for adjustment.
As for reliability?, as mentioned it's not a new car, good preventative maintenance goes a long way regardless of what style of transmission it has.
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[airschooled]

I love all the automatics; either would be a fine choice if it is well taken care of. The earlier style prefers a stock engine configuration for compatibility, while the later style doesn't particularly care what is spinning it.

Make sure you sit in an early bay and a late bay; the seating geometry changed with the seat styles some time in the mid-seventies. I find the early bays more comfortable, but the late bays can use Vanagon seats with armrests, and some people like that.

Good luck!
Robbie
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
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[sjbartnik]

I think there is no such thing as an old VW that’s not a project.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[cmonSTART]

Truth.
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[Wildthings]

[Wasted youth]

[SGKent]

[Abscate]

[WhirledTraveller]

I love my 010 automatic. I cruise 70mph no problem although I prefer 65 for a variety of reasons. VW made millions of these transmissions and stuck them in a variety of vehicles up through the early 90s.

I did rebuild it at one point. 43 year old vehicle you can expect everything to break down eventually. It was easy to rebuild myself and parts are available.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam.

[notchboy]

Hey, I love driving my 74 auto. Fun to drive and the one thing that would make me sell my 77 manual instead.

Try not to listen to opinion so much. As said up above - there is something negative to say about any of it.
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