New Vanagon

[Amskeptic]

Nice! I think I see a Vanagon in my future too.

As a "complement" to your fine Bay . . . .
ColinVanagon'sGearshiftsRattleTOOYouKnow

[aopisa]

Nice! I think I see a Vanagon in my future too.

As a "complement" to your fine Bay . . . .
ColinVanagon'sGearshiftsRattleTOOYouKnow

Of course. I should have made that more clear....

[yondermtn]

Well, I've been daily driving the Vanagon and the Bay all summer long

I was supposed to be deciding which one suits us best and selling the other, but this is a tough decision.
I've pretty much been driving one for a week and then the other. No question the Vanagon is a more plush ride.
I haven't done much maintenance on either vehicle(knocks on wood) other than changing the fuel lines on the Vanagon. I wish I would have put new injectors in while I had them out. I still have to swap the rear heater valve and I've got a small amount of oil leaking possibly from the main seal- it's slinging oil up towards the engine lid between the engine and trans. Also, it has a hesitation when cold and the idle could be smoother. I have tune-up parts on the way.

The Bay has been excellent to me. Running really well.

fwiw- our 20 month old son loves both of them but prefers the Bay. He is constantly asking for the keys. We've had to back off on letting him "drive" because that's all he wants to do is sit in the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition.

[TrollFromDownBelow]

When I bought my bus .....jeez... 10 years ago, I seriously considered getting a Vanagon, and making it a true DD. As it has superior metalurgy and isn't as inclined to rust away to nothing here in the rust belt like a bus does; oh and did I mention it has real heat that works below 30F? However, after I sat behind one, realize it didn't ooze the nostalgia of the 71 bus I had, so decided to forgo a DD for a 3 season occasional driver. Focused on the Type IV's, as I wanted enough oomph to do 70mph on the highway.

Sooo, if you want a true DD, I would pick the Vanagon. If you have a winter driver, then it is purely subjective based on your tastes, what you want to do with it, and your families desires.

My two pennies.

[yondermtn]

That's kind of what I'm finding out. I don't do a lot of driving. 1 mile to/from work, to the local bank, grocery etc. Probably less than 50 miles/week. The Bay is perfect for this.
It's the times that we do go for longer drives and camping trips that the Vanagon seems to fit the bill.
I'm trying to find an affordable storage situation so that I can keep both of them.

[Amskeptic]

That's kind of what I'm finding out. I don't do a lot of driving. 1 mile to/from work, to the local bank, grocery etc. Probably less than 50 miles/week. The Bay is perfect for this.
It's the times that we do go for longer drives and camping trips that the Vanagon seems to fit the bill.
I'm trying to find an affordable storage situation so that I can keep both of them.

I owned a beautiful brand-new '89 Vanagon GL and the Road Warrior sat around forlornly.
Then I sold the beautiful '89 Vanagon at 110,000 miles so I could go get 588,238 miles on the Road Warrior.

[Boxcar]

Color me Vanagenvied.

OK I risk being crass, but might I enquire a$ to the ticket for the one owner used vehicle?

Two, so I am fond of the first few Vanagon aircooled years, but the waterboxer Colin refurbishable to the point of rock and slingshot proof?

Yonder it looks great, and thanks also for mentioning better tall person ergonomics!

Enjoy the madness!

P$S galvanized bodypanels right?

[yondermtn]

I happened upon quite a deal, I think, on the Vanagon- $4,000

I'm not exactly sure what you mean on the second question. I do know that many people prefer the Bays over the aircooled Vanagons because of the increased weight of the Vanagon. Watercooleds also have many more options for relatively easy engine swaps. With Type IV engines becoming pricier and harder to find a quality built one, I felt the watercooled might last for longer.

I'm not sure on the galvanized panels, but the Vanagons do appear to have superior rust resistance to the Bays.

[Amskeptic]

I do know that many people prefer the Bays over the aircooled Vanagons because of the increased weight of the Vanagon.

300 pounds? Really?
Colin

[Xelmon]

I happened upon quite a deal, I think, on the Vanagon- $4,000

Probably because the owner was like "Oh lawd, it's an engine, and these are expensive, and I ain't going to fiddle with it!"
...
"Hun, waddaya mean 'these are worth good money' even in this state?"

Congrats, one that nice these days is hard to come by. When I was looking at a vanny some 6 years ago, they were already 2-3K for just a van.