Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 10:51:10 -0700
Reply-To: "Richard A. Jones" <Jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Richard A. Jones" <Jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject: Re: air vanagon vs water vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Jonce:
Here are my opinions and experiences with air and
water Vanagons. I own an '81--since new--and an
'87 syncro Westy for the last three years. I
have 145,000 on the '81 and I used it for camping
for a long time. I built a unit that folded out
over the rear seat to make a platform for our
pads and sleeping bags.
Before the '81 I had a '61, a '67 and a '76, none
of them campers. I got the '61 in 1964, so I
have lots of miles and time in VW buses. I
camped in or with them all.
I have only once in all these years, buses, and
trips been stranded and that was when the '81
lost a nut where the shift linkage goes to the
transmission. Some wire and I limped home.
i have always believed that if you take care
of you VW, it will take care of you.
That said, I do have moments of paranoia when I
get way off in Utah or Nevada in my '87. I
think I have read the list for too long! It does
seem complicated, but in reality it is just an
upgrade from the '81 system with more sensors.
Oh, and water. ;-)
The waterboxer is much smoother, more powerful
and quieter than the aircooled. However, an
aircooled Westy would be a great vehicle, as
long as you understood its power, or lack. In
your country, it would probably not be too
noticible. Here we have mountains and high
altitude! Heat is an issue, so I would only
look at an aircooled with a gas heater, like
my '81, but if you only use it in the summer,
that isn't important. Power steering in the
camper is great. The '81 doesn't need it; I
do like the larger steering wheel it has.
I don't know if an aircooled Westy would be
hard to turn.
I would definitely recommend a Vanagon over any
earlier VW bus. The handling, the comfort driving
are far superior. Plus more room in the wider
body.
The only way the Vanagon stepped back was traction.
A 2wd Vanagon sucks in the snow or mud.
One difference I have noticed between the aircooled
and the waterboxers is the paint. Aircooled seem
to develop rust acne all over the panels, but they
don't seem to get seam rust. The later ones are the
opposite. I had my '81 painted (in '97) and it
looks great: http://jones.colorado.edu/jones/DV/BW.jpg
This is at Badwater in Death Valley. The '87 has
great paint still after 17 years, but has a couple
of places of slight seam rust starting.
One note of differences: the first Vanagons ('80s)
didn't have a fresh air blower. My '81 has it but the
'81 wiring diagram doesn't show it, so it was added
about then. It is nice to have in hot weather.
If you have any questions, just ask.
Richard A. Jones
Boulder, Colorado
'81 Vanagon Mr Bus
'87 Syncro Westy El Jefe
('88 911 Carrera)
