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SCM Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3114 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:20 am Post subject: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I was driving my Westy to work this morning and saw a tin top right behind me when I stopped at a railroad crossing. We waved to each and I leaned out the window to talk to him a little bit. The driver looked young, like just barely in his 20s, if that, and so clearly excited to be part of the culture. It was really cool.
It got me thinking, I feel like I'm one of the younger Vanagon drivers that I see in real life - and I'm 46!
I know "10degnorth" is just out of highschool, and I'm sure there's some younger "Vanlife/instagram" folks on the web, but I'm curious what age you think the youngest Vanagon driver you've seen in real life was. How often do you see anyone that doesn't have grey hair behind the wheel? _________________ '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: 16501 Location: Brookeville, MD
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michaelasnider Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2013 Posts: 368 Location: East Kootenays, Canada
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Does this count?
My wife (girlfriend at the time) bought our first vanagon when we were 26. |
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:06 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I drove one for a bit when I was about 16, but that was in the last century over 30 years ago. |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3416 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:07 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I gave our daughter a 1989 Carat after she finishes college and wants to travel around to see the country...she was 21 at that time. |
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Tobias Duncan Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013 Posts: 1390 Location: Taos NM
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I met up with a bunch of younger westy owners at a gathering in mexico just before covid. Great bunch of kids but they were pretty wary of the samba.
We dont have a great reputation among the younger crowd.
I tried to tell them that we are not like that anymore and they would be treated well if they showed up here.
I dont think they believed me |
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hans j Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 2714 Location: Salt Lake City UT
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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My first car was a 1980 vanagon, I was 16. Van was 15 years old at the time. _________________ 1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 3018 Location: MD
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I learned to steer sitting on my mom's lap in her Vanagon. I was 6. _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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A 13 year old girl in my neighborhood has a sweet 87 Westy that her dad bought her for when she turns 16. He is fixing it all up for her. I'll bet she's already driving it at times. She sleeps in it at night. |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:04 pm Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Double post. Sorry
Last edited by Love My Westy on Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Alan Brase Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004 Posts: 4532 Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:47 pm Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Slightly related to this post:
I previously had a 20 year love/ hate relationship with a 1982 Diesel Vanagon.
this is the VERY best car to teach someone to drive a manual transmission, because it has a big flywheel and strong tickover (with governor, actually). so it is nearly impossible to kill the thing when you are just learning.
Not my own kids but I taught 2 different daughters of friends to drive a stick with my diesel Vanagon. _________________ Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home |
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Schnippzle Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2021 Posts: 288 Location: Swede in London, UK
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:02 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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The dude who bought my 83 was 23, full of ideas and energy befitting of a youth |
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Rorke Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2016 Posts: 255 Location: Traverse City, MI
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:21 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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When my daughter was 10, she helped me bump start after getting gas. Probably a classic VW bus memory for many kids.
I was very proud of her for keeping her cool.
Now we roll with a little jumper box so she knows she won't have to do it again. |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:06 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Double post. Sorry |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:09 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Double post. Sorry |
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WestyWanter Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2017 Posts: 459 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I bought my first in college at age 22 as a daily, and at 26 just bought my first syncro! |
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Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Used to play in Mom's 79 bus when I was a kid and pretend it was a Huey attack helicopter. Would leave the sliding door open and sit on the ledge pretending to fire a M60. Too many 'Nam movies back then I guess. _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
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bobbyblack Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015 Posts: 4348 Location: United States, Iowa
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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Here's one, 17 at that time (Prom Night 2016). Got herself one of her own at 18!
_________________ '87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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floodwood Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2017 Posts: 163 Location: Cambridge, MA
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2021 3:48 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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I bought my van 2 years ago when I was 23- it is my daily driver and I’m now 25… I seem to be on the younger end of the owner age spectrum… |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15143 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2021 5:46 am Post subject: Re: Youngest Vanagon driver you've seen? |
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a camper on prom night would have saved me from the stiff neck..
slept in mom's Honda that night. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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