I apologise for even daring to ask this question on the Vanagon List! What I'd like to know is what to look for, what to avoid, and what are the weak points of the Eurovan. I have learned a lot from y'all in the last year. You've helped me to keep my Vanagon working well and even to improve it in some respects. I'm aware that some of you are also Eurovan owners, and I would value your opinions. My '84 Vanagon needs some bodywork and a rebuilt gearbox and deserves a new 1.9 TD engine. So it will be in the shops for some time, and I am looking for a replacement. I want to stay with VW, so I intend to buy an early VW Transporter T4 panel van (European equivalent of the US market Eurovan) and convert it to a mobile living and working space for travel photojournalism, which is what I do to pay the mortgage - and repair the Vanagon, which will continue as a leisure vehicle. I expect I will buy the long wheelbase version. and fit a GRP (fiberglass) high roof to obtain enough room for sleeping (in a roof bunk) above the main working, eating and bathroom areas. The new furniture will be from Reimo, and will be very similar to that from Westfalia. So what I need to know is, what should I be looking for in a nine- or ten-year old Eurovan? As the Transporter is a panel van, there will be no interior fittings other than a plywood floor and plywood lining to the sides. So what are the weak points, in the bodywork, chassis, engine and gearbox? In winter, our roads in the UK are salted, so rust resistance is very important to me. I should tell you that the engine is likely to be a 2.4 liter Diesel non-turbo 5-cylinder engine, and that the gearbox will be a 4- or 5-speed manual (stick shift). The van will also have power-assisted steering, although not all the early Transporters had this from new. All advice and opinions gratefully received. Best regards, Tony '84 Vanagon Reimo. P.S. I do
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