Which Bus to Buy - Micro, Transporter, Vanagon, Eurovan?

Brutus · Post by **Brutus** » Mon Feb 11, 2002 1:27 pm

O.K. Wife and I went to the VW dealer and were looking at Jetta and Passat wagons. I looked at a Eurovan while I was there and the idea of a 0 mile with warantee MV poptop kinda apealed to me. The $28,000 didn't even seem all that unreasonable. Only one problem - wife thinks it's really ugly. Actually, I don't think that is as much oppion as fact

. But it's got the most room and the biggest engine of any VW Van.

She likes the Micro Bus (pre-'67). I like them too but they're smaller, and would need to have an IRS swap for me to feel good driving one on the highway at 70mph.

I sorta like the Transporter - it's bigger has IRS, and is a little easier to swap a bigger engine in (though I don't know what - monster type IV, Buick V6, VR6????). Something big enough to tow a 15' 70hp run about.

The Vanagons are a little ugly, but have the most modern suspension system, A/C and Heat that works, and are real easy to convert to subaru, or I-4 or???

So, I want a camper van, just can't decide on a generation (not a full camper, don't want hook-ups hanging down, just the pop top).

My question is : What generation would you recomend and why? Just looking for things I might have overlooked.

Thanks,

Heath

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Feb 11, 2002 3:18 pm

Brutus,personally I think that for everyday use it`s hard to beat a 76-79 Westy. They can be found in very good condition at a reasonable price.See http://thesamba.com The fuel injected 2.0L engine can be very smooth and powerful enough for distant travels. The comfort level is there and without those heavy payments you can even afford to pamper it a bit.The same goes for the air-cooled Vanogen to 83. Good gearing and power combo. Get a mini van if you want to sink gobs of money in it and drive it only on short trips occasionally. The 68-71 is nearly in this same group seperated only by having the IRS and a little taller gears.Really you can`t go wrong but as you know some choices are just more right than others. Good luck. Bob

[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 02-11-2002).]

Brutus · Post by **Brutus** » Mon Feb 11, 2002 3:49 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Bob Ingman:
Get a mini van if you want to sink gobs of money in it and drive it only on short trips occasionally
[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 02-11-2002).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ugh... the "m" word, yuck. An idea of a "short" trip for my wife and I is Oklahoma to Wisconsin to New Orleans and back. We want to do a couple of Wyoming, Colorado trips, and a New Mexico trip in the next couple of years. Thus the desire to go 70mph (kansas at any lower speed can be considered cruel and unusual punishment), and the need for A/C.

All I really want is a Micro Bus, with the room of a vanagon, the off road capability of a syncro, the power of a MSDS Porsche conversion, the ability to cruise at 85mph comfortably - while towing a 1800lb boat up hill, get 20 miles per gallon, and have it cost no more than a ratted out '75 camper.

IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

tomt · Post by **tomt** » Tue Feb 12, 2002 6:04 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Brutus:
She likes the Micro Bus (pre-'67). I like them too but they're smaller, and would need to have an IRS swap for me to feel good driving one on the highway at 70mph.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You're going to need a lot more than just an IRS swap if you want to drive a split all day at 70+ mph.

It all depends how much wrenching you want to do yourself. If you don't want to do the work yourself while you are traveling the country you should get a late model vehicle, you will find it easier to locate shops/dealerships that can work on it.

If you want A/C you are also looking at a late model.

stevestromberg · Post by **stevestromberg** » Tue Feb 12, 2002 8:32 am

Air cooled Vanagon Westy. I have a 80 they are the best I would avoid a WBX vanagon as you will do a top end sooner rather than later. TIP for you guys with WBX vanagons When bleeding the cooling system raise the front end up about two feet of the ground to get all the air out of the lines and always use the factory coolant . Steve

[This message has been edited by stevestromberg (edited 02-12-2002).]

TomB · Post by **TomB** » Tue Feb 12, 2002 9:38 am

Brutus - I've either owned or extensively driven them all, and my favorite is; well all of them depending on what I need it for. For long distance freeway cruising the Eurovan (VR6 engine) is the most relaxed, quietest, reliable, and best suited to today's driving conditions. However it is poorly supported by VW dealers, and if you need service on a long trip good luck. Most VW dealers refuse to work on them, claiming their lifts can't handle the weight. (An excuse VWoA allows.) In Florida last year my wife tried 4 dealers and all refused to look at a transmission fluid leak with this excuse.
The Vanagon actually has MORE room than the Eurovan, and is more nimble on mountain roads. (I'd rather have my Vanagon Westy IN the mountains, but would rather drive my EV camper to get there...) I happen to prefer the Wasserboxer and have very little trouble with them - but I always do my own work and know the engines well. Overall the later (86^) Vanagons get my vote as the best van design ever; but they do need frequent tinkering.
I'll always have a soft-spot for the older bus models; but living in Texas heat and doing lots of long-distance travel I find the newer models more practical. (But if I lived in Colorado...)
The new EVs have the advantage of being NEW. No deteriorated rubber parts, worn mechanisms, etc. If you buy an old van and REALLY restore it to the same new condition it would probably cost more! It's nice to have the EV I can loan to my daughter for a spontaneous 5,000 mile trip without having to spend a week getting it ready. If you can afford it the EV is really pretty nice. We have about 90,000 mile on ours now, and the tranny leak (hardened orings from lots of towing) and one failed injector are the only problems.

Brutus · Post by **Brutus** » Tue Feb 12, 2002 5:11 pm

Wow, I didn't know the Vanagon actually had more room, though it makes sense, not wasting that nose and all.

I've only driven Vanagons and Transporters, and never for any great distance (none have been mine).

I think I'm leaning toward the latest model vanagon I can find, and doing an engine swap. Either Subaru SVX or VW TDI. I'm sure I could manage either if I take my time. Ideally I'd rather find one that was done right by someone else - mainly cause it'll be forever and a half before I have time to do the conversion myself. I know either way it won't be origional, but I do know nothing any kind of stock is going to have enough juice for me.

Thanks all for the input, if anyone else has more oppinions on what the great attributes of any given series, I'd still be interested in hearing them!

73BAJA · Post by **73BAJA** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:32 am

I can drive 70 all day im my POS '84 Vanagon 1.9L. Well maybe not up big hills.

Brutus · Post by **Brutus** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 12:55 pm

I checked out the tiico web site a year and a half ago, the last time I was looking at buying another vehicle. Almost bought a syncro for $2500, and in retrospect probably should have (instead bought wife a new Saturn - won't make that mistake again).

Thing is, if I'm going to go through the hassel of doing a conversion - I'll probably end up doing one of the more difficult ones (I'm considering the tiico one and the 2.2 KEP Subuaru one as the easy ones) - because after that much work, I'm gonna want more than 130hp.

Heath

PapaG · Post by **PapaG** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 9:28 pm

Brutus:
I must say I really like my 87 Syncro. I have had it almost a year. Lots of room, quiet. Not too bad on power, not great but ok. Some say the later models got a differnt cam and EFI tuning, more top end, but less grunt. I think the waterboxer has taken a lot of flack, some of it is deserved. I think it was the start of a good Idea... Just needed to be a flat 6 cyl.
I like the Idea of the SVX 3.3 subie swap. 230 hp.... and it fits too.
Happy hunting...

TomB · Post by **TomB** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:30 pm

Brutus - an engine swap in a Vanagon can be pretty easy. Have you checked the tiico.com website? They import the full kit from South Africa, where they still make the Vanagon but with a 2.0 Golf engine. The tiico kit includes all the VW factory parts to convert and a new engine and ECU. I'd be tempted to do one, but both my Vanagons are still going strong on the wasserboxers.

[This message has been edited by TomB (edited 02-13-2002).]