Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 13:04:32 -0600
Reply-To: "Steve@EuroCampers.com" <Steve@EUROCAMPERS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Steve@EuroCampers.com" <Steve@EUROCAMPERS.COM>
Subject: Re: Eurovan; to buy or not to buy...
In-Reply-To: <011101c4406e$7b963bc0$9cd13ad8@FirstLaptop>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
on 5/22/04 8:34 PM, zolo at zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET wrote:
> I was wondering if there is any reason to buy or not to buy a Eurovan. I have
> heard some things and I would like to know "from the mouth of the horse" which
> ones and why not to buy.
> Any of you can give me some info?
> Zoltan
You will find a lot of folks trashing the EuroVans on this list.
I suggest you sign on the EV_Update mailing list at groups.yahoo.com
You should be able to get better opinions based on real world experience.
Of course those that currently own a EuroVan are biased, so search the
archives there for past members that have had problems.
My personal experience with 2 1993 EuroVans was excellent. In fact the
first MV I owned went 166K before an engine fire. I suspect the fuel lines,
which is now a recall on all 1993 EuroVan models.
My current van is a '93 Weekender, with 156K on it. It is still going
strong. This weekend I am changing brake pads/shoes, automatic transmission
fluid, final drive gear oil, and engine oil. I find it very easy to work
on.
Early EuroVans seem to suffer some of the same problems that the later
Vanagons did. A few of these are:
Bad radiator fan resistors
cracked plastic engine coolant flanges, and or pipes
body seam rust
Some of the early 1993 models have piston slap. This makes the engine sound
like a diesel on cold start ups, but usually goes away after a few minutes.
Some say the air conditioning and automatic transmissions are a weak point.
I've never had problems with either. I would even go as far as saying the
automatics last longer and give you less problems than the 5 speed manual.
The 1993 models have bad solder joints connecting the voltage regulator to
the instrument cluster board. This is an easy fix by touching up those
connections with a soldering iron.
You didn't mention if you were looking for a newer or older model? Camper,
or Weekender, MV, GLS, GL or CL? There may still be a few 2003 models at
some dealers, but VW stopped production on the VWT4 in Germany last summer.
The 1997 - on models have the VR6 engine and are all automatics. In 2001,
VW upped the horse power to 201. All 1997-2003 will be automatics. They
seem to be very reliable, but I have heard of some air conditioning and
automatic transmission problems, though I think they are rare.
I would never pay much for a used VW van that I didn't know the complete
history on.
-- Steve Lashley
SKL Enterprises Inc.
http://EuroCampers.com
PO Box 401
7A Industrial Drive
Pacific MO 63069
636-271-0567 voice
636-257-2067 fax
888-797-5994 - phone orders