VW Westfalia

[Browbry]

Does anyone who uses this site have any comments to make about this vehicle? Any owners or previous owners out there? I met a dude with a nice white one up on Reddy last week. I've always wanted one as I think they seem great especially when traveling to find wind. To be able to park, kite all day, camp there, and open up the next morning for another day is the ticket when windy days can be precious around here!

So far I've learned to get the water cooled one, get the 2.1 liter, check the rubber gaskets on the pop top, blah, blah, blah. I rode by one last night in Linden Hills and noticed it was for sale. Its an 86 with 83k and the seller wants $11500. An internet search shows some have nearly 200k miles and prices are all over the board. Some are asking half of what this lady tries to sell hers for and others more.

I know Tighe has a VW van. Did you ever consider one of these camper top vans? Any take you or anyone who knows anything about these trucks can add would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Bry in MPLS

[boardrider247]

I've owned 3 vanagons and one of which was a westy. Check out http://www.thesamba.com there is more info there then you would ever want to read.

The reason the prices vary so much is pretty much because so does the condition and options. For example a syncro (4x4) westy from a southern state in good shape would be sold for upwards of 50k. But a aircooled westy with some rust is only worth about a thousand bucks. So as you can imagine there is everything in between. And they are becoming considered a colectible now so the prices are going up.

As far as travelling with one if you are able to troubleshoot stuff pretty well and fix things on the fly they are great. But the waterboxxer engine they have is fairly unreliable, and this is coming from someone who has owned well over 20 vw's.

My opinion if you are looking to spend around 10k would be to get a eurovan westfalia. I know they don't have the style of the older vans but they are 1000 times more reliable. Here is an example: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... ?id=630067
Of course those prices are all over the place too. But you can definitely find some good ones for the price you would pay for the same condition vanagon.

Hope this helps a little. And good luck with the search.

Danny

[Craig Bergh]

Hello,

The Westphalia designation is a Camper Kit installed by a German aftermarket conversion company. These conversion were done on VW Vanagons, and also on VW Eurovans. (Actually WInnebago in Iowa does a pretty fair conversion on VW Eurovans as well).

I have owned (3) air cooled and (2) water cooled VW Vanagons.

The water cooled Vanagons are better because they have much more power, and have an air conditioner and heater that actually works. These are very smooth and quiet, and will go 85 mph

However, the water cooled Vanagon engines are prone to head gasket failure at about 100,000 miles. This is an extremely expensive to replace (several thousand because the heads are ususally damaged, and need to be replaced once the leaking begins). Look for antifreeze leaks on the ground under the engine.

I have personally overhauled a quite a number of air cooled, and about (3) water cooled bus engines, This water cooled overhaul is not for the faint of heart. The parts for the water cooled engine is about a grand. The machining is quite specialized, and few shops can redo the heads properly. The VW dealers will try to talk you into just buying new heads outright for about $800 each. (Now you are talking about a $3000 repair).

I recommend the Eurovan instead. The early ones had a 4 cylinder engine which was dependable but under powered. The 2.8 liter V6 is very powerful, and will easily run 200,000 or more. The 2.8 VR6 is a well proven bulletproof engine. Not the greatest gas mileage but a fine engine.

Feel free to contact me if there are questions.

Craig Bergh
Worthington, MN
cbergh@iw.net

[Tighe]

I had a '90 Vanagon for 10 years and now am on year 8 of my 2000 Eurovan. I opted for the nonpoptop version. For both of these I got the screen for over the rear opening. The bed on the Camper version on the main level is small, and the bed up top seems better for kids. There are versions called the Weekender that have the pop top and the MV layout on the first floor. They also have a fridge below one of the seats. This is probably the ideal version of the van, IMO. The MV (which is what I have) has the seats facing eachother and the fold up table. I usually cook outside anyway. The rear seats fold down for a great bed somewhere between a queen and a twin size. It has curtains works great for camping. The poptop on the Eurovan is much lower so you get better mileage but the windows are smaller on the canopy between the poptop and the van. I think the vanagon version has much larger openings, which air airflow and allow you to lay in bed and check out the surroundings. The Eurovan looses a lot of space compared to the Vanagon, when they put the engine upfront.

If you can find a used vanagon in good shape, camper or not, you'll be happy. They stopped making the full sized VW vans in 2003 or 2004 and all of us loyal fans are very sad. I put well over 250K on my vanagon and hope to do the same with my Eurovan. At which point I don't know what I'll do. For 2009 they are coming out with a Chrysler Town and Country rebadged as a VW called the Routan. VERY VERY SAD.
There were going to produce the Maxivan, but killed the project when they discovered they couldn't sell it for under 30k. That is one cool van.

[Emily]

Not a VW, but Aaron converted a domestic van to something like the vanagon.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/rvs/799193149.html

[speedsailor93]

I have owned both air cooled & water cooled Westi campers and did many trips to the Gorge & SPI with them fully loaded with windsurfing gear. I maintained them myself and in general they were reasonably reliable...we always made it home! Lack of power was my main issue with them especially heading through the Rockies hence I went with a Sportsmobile for several years which also has a great full length pop top roof and lots of camper conversion options. They are bigger to drive (mine was a Ford E150 based conversion) and very expensive new but sometimes you see a decent one used on the web. Overall I would say the water cooled Vanagon camper was my favorite sailing and camping van...just be ready to go slower in the mountains & strong headwinds!
Alan

[Browbry]

Coincidentally the next day I drove by a white Eurovan on France Ave parked on the side of the road for sale, and was looking to see if Tighe was in there taking a nap! No Tighe.

Anyways back to the Vanagan.

It is still in my thoughts and was able to juke the seller down to 9500 the other day. For some reason, I am still on the fence. When I test drove it I felt like Big Bird in it b/c I am a tall dude at 6'5''. Still not sure, but guess I get to this common theme which is I know it would provide smiles in my travels.

Say-want-ten-eo!

Thanks for all the valuable info everyone!

-Bry in MPLS

[DavidKnight]

Bry,

I know what you feel like driving a v-dub bus. I'm 6'5" too. My first vehicle was a '69 Westfalia- orange, pop-top. I still have it- although it hasn't been on the road for a few years- it's been in storage in my brother's garage. I have to sit with my knees out to make sure my knuckles can clear while navigating the oversize steering wheel. Man, it's been on some memorable road trips. Along the way, it's been passed more than a Brett Favre football. One time, on the way back from the Gorge, I counted a total of six slower drivers. And one of them was an even older v-dub micro bus. It's been an awesome vehicle- and it's served it's purpose for me. I'm finally coming to grips with considering parting with it. Of course, it's an air cooled version with the undersized engine. I lugged it in 2nd up the rockies. As it hasn't been cranked up in a few years, I'm guessing the engine needs some TLC. The body and interior are in pretty good shape... except for the crazy windsurfing stickers emblazoned on nearly every surface (ahhh... youth ). I also had the license plate WNDSURF but since it hasn't had tabs in a few years, I think someone else has snaked that from me . At least I saw a snapshot of the same plate on the atlas-surfed calhoun blog. I'll snap a couple pics and post 'em.

[DavidKnight]

Here's my well rested '69 Westfallia Windsurfing Mobile...

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