Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 20:20:22 -0800
Reply-To: Brent Christensen <sbsyncro@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brent Christensen <sbsyncro@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What to buy? Many "buying guide" questions
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hans - common questions, all of them good ones. Here are my (non-technical
and unscientific) opinions:
>Are Vanagons considerably more comfortable or powerful than Type IIs?
Ahh yes, I battled with this one too, especially after having a '72
7-passenger in college. Main differences? Better suspension and brakes,
much more interior room, and you won't get blown into the next lane on a
windy day. Parts are more expensive, and there seem to be more parts to
break on Vanagons.
>If I did decide to get a Vanagon, how would I go about finding one >that is
>technically sound?
There are many checks to undertake - there is a good list of things to start
with on vanagon.com
go to the Info section, then go to articles/essays
(or bypass the frames and go to http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/#buying
)
>Do I need to be more careful with the aircooled ones or with the
>water->cooled ones?
That seems to be like the Ford vs. Chevy debate - both sides are passionate.
I for one cannot understand why anyone would want either a 1.6L diesel or
aircooled Vanagon, but obviously not everyone agrees with me. I would steer
towards a '86.5 to '91 Vanagon if you have the budget - the amenities tend
to be nicer (power windows, brakes, steering, etc) and the '88-'91s have
cooler looking bumpers. :-)
>Are there any shops or used VW dealers in the Bay Area that specialize >in
>Vanagons and buses?
Absolutely - there are also a lot of Listmembers in the Bay Area. Again
check out the vendors-->recommended shops area of www.vanagon.com for some
specific recommendations.
Cheers,
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA
>Is there any reason not to get an older Eurovan instead? (I've seen 93s
>and 94s that are not much more expensive than the newer Vanagons). Are
>there things to watch out for when looking at Eurovans? If you had $10k,
>would you rather buy an excellent Vanagon or a good Eurovan?
>
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
