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tjet 
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014
Posts: 3533
Location: CA & NM
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10250
Location: N. Idaho
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 Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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I have kind of a random pattern of daily drivers as my signature shows. I leave the Vanagon be when there's salt on the roads for the most part but rotate it in to keep the seals lubed, etc. They are all semi retired except the BMW which is truly the daily, so just drive each often enough to keep them exercised.
The BMW is an amazing daily. Smooth, quiet, powerful and the seats. Wow, this car has the optional Sport package which gets you the M3 seats with fantastic bolsters, a thigh support that slides forward under your thighs like a mini recliner for long trips, etc. It's also AWD so no seasonal limitations though the system is kinda sport oriented and not as safe as the Syncro was or the Audi is.
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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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Walty87
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2020
Posts: 172
Location: Central Valley
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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I have a company vehicle that I use the most during my work days... But I drive the vanagon every chance I get. It’s just so much fun! Wife wants me to run to target for the order pickup? Vanagon! Gotta pick up my son from daycare? Vanagon! It really is our recreational vehicle and I should stop driving it so often, but I’m kinda wanting to see if this things going to be reliable or not. So far so good! It’s an 84 vanagon happy camper with a 1.9
I do own a 2015 Kia Cadenza thats been collecting dust ever since I got the vanagon lol. The Wifey has a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, but I think we’re gonna keep the Santa Fe and trade in my cadenza for a new Toyota 4Runner for the wifey. |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 6:25 am Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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This is my back up. Since these are so [ amazingly reliable why would I need a back up?
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1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 674
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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I just sold my Honda AWD Element (my dog couldn't comfortably jump in and out of it due to increased height over the Vanagon side door) for over double what I paid for it, all good there. So I'm in the market again for a back-up/2nd daily driver. I'd love your thoughts/ideas.
BK
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1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs. |
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1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 674
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 9:58 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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Local car lot has this: 2012 Dodge Journey SXT that I never considered. AWD and the 6 cylinder Pentastar engine with beans 283hp!
https://www.alohamotors.net/vehicle-details/2012-d...412aac3000
_________________
1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs. |
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1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 674
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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Looking around I found that Toyota made a late 90's Privia AWD supercharged 4 POT mini-van, interesting right? I'm obviously not looking for any "cool" factor, it's just me and my furry dog most of the time so ripping all the seats out minus the drivers is completely on the table. I want a Vanagon to back up my Vanagon.....did I just answer my own question? Maybe to be continued.
BK
_________________
1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs. |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:15 am Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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Why not go with this Doka?
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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What? Another blue question mark box? I hate that. This was the Why not go with this Doka? post.
Cute. It could be towed behind a Westy as a dinghy. |
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Bleyseng
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2005
Posts: 4752
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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I usually drive the Ghia if its not raining.
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70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles |
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pdm777
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012
Posts: 348
Location: Clovis, CA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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the westy is so much fun to drive in town,
outstanding visibility, easy to park. My son prefers
driving the Westy instead of his Lexus SC400 4 liter V8.
I've always owned a backup vehicle to my various Westys.
sometimes you crave a different driving experience or
need to cover long distances in comfort and speed.
My choice? for the same price as a Corolla (in 2013) I have this:
Easy to wrench on, totally analog, and bulletproof mechanicals.
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1990 Westy Full Camper |
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erste
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013
Posts: 1110
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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| pdm777 wrote: |
sometimes you crave a different driving experience or
need to cover long distances in comfort and speed. |
Exactly.
I stopped working remotely and started driving to work, 50 miles round trip. Did it for 6 months in the vanagon. It's a TDI so it'll cruise just fine above the speed limit, but the wind... Even with good tires and T3 front swaybar. EVERY DAY on the way home it was a fight against the wind, and that's the main downside of daily driving a T3 on my particular commute. It just sucks most days, because you're not going to Arches NP in the wind, you're going to and from the damn office. Different mindset there.
Mine was built for forest roads, to be off-grid for days, full of gear, full bed, full kitchen, pantry, fridge, haul some plywood on the roof, whatever. Really the swiss army knife of vehicles. Not much point in taking all of that to work every day, BUT it was really nice to eat lunch in the van while the cafeteria was closed cause of covid.
I got another '82 turbo diesel, this one with a slushbox, power steering, 2 doors, cushy as can be, and it's 1000x better to daily drive than the vanagon. The backup flipped in my case. Saves the T3 from wear and tear.
Whatever works. Just keep driving them. |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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Wow, you've been going to town on the coupe in a very short amount of time. It looks great!
_________________
Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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erste
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013
Posts: 1110
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:51 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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| Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
| Wow, you've been going to town on the coupe in a very short amount of time. It looks great! |
Thanks for your troubleshooting help! It's been a good daily driver so far. |
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wesitarz
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2012
Posts: 1491
Location: Victoria,B.C.Canada
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| Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 5:24 am Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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[quote="erste"]
| pdm777 wrote: |
sometimes you crave a different driving experience or
need to cover long distances in comfort and speed. |
Wow. That's exactly why I put a Subaru in it. |
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1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 674
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7468
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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Both look nice. How important is gas mileage and ground clearance? I have an '03 Tundra that pretty much gets 15 mpg. My guess is the van will get nearly double that?
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- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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pdm777
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012
Posts: 348
Location: Clovis, CA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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I owned a 95 Previa Alltrac.
Very reliable, and based on a truck chassis and frame.
Be aware that some have head gasket issues.
The low center of gravity and mid-engine make
it handle exceptionally well. Unstoppable in snow,
provided you put snow tires on it.
With the back seats folded, bigger than SUV inside.
I can see paint failure in the photos, roof, hood, sides.
This seems to be priced a bit high for the mileage
and condition, but they are Rare and few for sale.
I would offer $4000.
??? You have a Eurovan, why choose another van for backup???
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1990 Westy Full Camper |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Backup vehicle to your daily driven Vanagon? |
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He has an EV based RV (Vista); not a van.
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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