|
|
What to Look For in a Volkswagen Vanagon Before Buying.
The Vanagon was originally equipped with an enlarged version of the Beetle's and Bus's four-cylinder engine, but was later modernized with a somewhat more powerful "Wasserboxer" water-cooled engine.
VW even offered a Syncro version with all-wheel-drive and a Westphalia camper with a pop-top sleeping area. Although the Vanagon had many features that no other vehicle of its time could match, new arrivals to its market segment such as the Chrysler "minivans" outsold it ten to one.
The Vanagon eventually aged enough to be replaced with the EuroVan in 1992 which has taken its place in the US model range to the current day. The Vanagon still has a following after its demise, with several websites devoted to it. It is a great way to be able to drive an older VW on a daily basis with plenty of practicality and reliability, although it hasn't began to approach the fame of its predecessor.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Denver, or New Mexico, you're in luck, because Vanagons are plentiful in your area. If you live in New England, the South, or Midwest, they're a little less common, and you may need to travel to find your dream van. The best place to check is your local paper. You'll find the best deals there, sometimes from little old ladies who are selling a van they only drove once and then kept under a blanket in the garage except for periodic maintenance. Carefully check out the tires. They should all be identical, really the same brand and equal wear. On a syncro, you need to have the front and rear parts of the drive train turning at the exact same speed, or damage to the viscous coupling can result. Worst case would be to find different sizes front and rear. This is all detailed in the owners manual. If nothing else, as a negotiation point, I would check the GVW sticker on the doorjamb, divide by four and see it the tires rated capacity (on the sidewall) is capable of supporting the vehicle. If not, budget new tires immediately. Driving it, listen for weird whines, electric motor sounds, which is usually a bad $4000 viscous coupling, and the various clunks, which can be any one of the 10 CV-joints in syncros, including the unrebuildable ones in the $700 driveshaft. Visually inspect those CVs as well, looking for tears in the covers and leaking grease (the driveshaft CVs do not have covers). These are the main concerns for those looking at Volkswagen Vanagons. As long as you're careful you'll end up with a great VW van that you can enjoy for years to come. |