Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 19:39:57 -0800
Reply-To: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject: Re: '88 Westy value?
In-Reply-To: <3872334.1104373383273.JavaMail.jrunberg@mac.com>
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On 29 Dec 2004 at 21:23, John Runberg <jrunberg@mac.com> wrote:
> Shawn,
>
> I'll chime in here. Owned a 82 diesel for a little while, have an 84 westy now and refuse to give up my 90 which I don't have time to work on.
>
> There are HUGE differences between your two vans. Here are a couple that stick in my mind:
> - soundproofing is good on the 88, almost non-existant on the 82. You can add it back (and do better) but why? That diesel is *loud* too.
> - power steering is useful. I wish my 84 had it since it makes negotiating small spaces at low speed easy.
> - interior bits are much better in the 88. This includes all the plastic bits, dash, cabinets, etc...
> - engine options: a stock diesel is a capable engine, but anemic. You'll get there, but with a max speed of 50mph it'll take awhile. You can always put a diesel into your>
> I'd drive the 82 for awhile and see if you like it. We sold our diesel since we didn't use it and the increased fuel economy was not worth all the drawbacks. You might di>
> john
John,
I wasn't aware of the sound proofing differences - I'll have to investigate this one. The
diesel seems to have more of the "tar mat" type over the engine compartment, where
my '88 has none. I guess the diesel needs it. Power steering is one thing - I need to
drive the '82 more to see if I can live with it. It did seem to need a bit more attention
on the 1 hour drive home, but the real clincher will be if I can handle the feel of
manual steering on rough roads. I've driven 4x4s with manual steering and know that
P/S is a good thing when the going gets rough.
I'm not worried about the 1.6NA engine, since if I keep the van, I will be installing a
1.6TD and probably a DK trans, which should lower noise levels considerably. I
hadn't noticed the plastic bits yet, but I'm still at the major cleanup stage, so I'll pay
attention to this also. I did notice some of the brown plastic dash vents and door
handles seem to have discoloured and gone chalky.
We will probably take the advice to drive it for a while when camping season starts;
in the meantime, I'll clean it up and get to know more about the differences.
Thanks.
--
Shawn Wright
I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School
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