Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 20:54:16 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: First impressions
Bob,
I've had leaky heads, Dreaded Vanagon Syndrome, and broken 3/4 sliders.
I've put 375,000 miles on my Westy, and I'm still in love with it.
Honeymooning right to the grave!
Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Whitby" <rpwhitby@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 7:12 PM
Subject: First impressions
Took the plunge yesterday on an 1987 Westy. The van was about 200 miles from
my home so I got a good long drive to think about my purchase. A few
observations:
1) The WBX engine is too much maligned. The power plant in this van has
157,000 miles on it, yet returned compression readings of 150, 150, 145, and
160. That's damned good for any engine of this age and mileage, let alone
one that has taken a bad rap on reliability and longevity. As for power,
apparently most people on this list haven't spent much time in air cooled
buses. (I speak here of the 1600 cc variety, that being the animal I have
logged way too many miles in at 50-55 mph.) This thing is a rocket by
comparison. I blew the doors of a Ford Fiesta on the way home! My '70
couldn't hit 70 unless it was falling off a cliff, and even then the
aerodynamics of the thing made the event unlikely. This '87 has a sweet spot
at about 70, and I kept looking down and noticing I was going 75. The
speedometer is, by the way, the only way you know you are over taxing the
little 2.1. It is so quiet (again, in comparison to air cooled engine) that
the bus seems powered by the wind itself. I literally had to shout to be
heard in the 70. And this thing is smooth. Rest assured I won't be looking
to do an engine conversion until this WBX bites the dust. I love it.
2) This is a modern vehicle in every sense of the word. Great brakes, quiet
interior, decent mileage. Best of all it handles wind gusts as well as any
van I've ever driven. Anyone who has spent time in a Transporter is familiar
with the "suddenly two lanes over" syndrome, wherein a gust literally shoves
you across the road. I once got sore shoulder muscles fighting a cross wind
for five hours trying to keep my 70 in its own lane. Hardly relaxing
driving. The Vanagon shakes and shimmies a bit, especially when caught in
truck turbulence, but it doesn't develop a magnetic attraction for the next
lane.
3) The camper interior is beyond comparison with the old version. Very well
laid out. Good fit and finish. Everything works.
So that's the report from a new owner happy to be among the fold. Ask me
again when my heads start leaking, but for now I'm in love.
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