Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Sun, 10 Sep 2006 15:50:19 -0700
Reply-To:     mad madeline <mac10wv@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mad madeline <mac10wv@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: eurovan poptop conversion?
Comments: To: Tim Leek <trleek@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <9af41d0e0609100435s142e2e87p2c5fdaf98c7a7ae6@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I don't want to rant on Eurovans, but here are some thoughts about the vehicles... from someone who's owned 4 of them. Transmission, Transmission , Transmission. The transmissons just don't hold up after 50K on the eurovans. And they cost about $5,600 for a rebuilt. And you can't purchase a new trans for them... so you continue to have problems. If you decide on that vehicle, buy an extended warranty. Don't take this the wrong way...the vehicles are wonderful to drive and I loved it for that... but they nickle and dime you to death after 50K. Check on the Eurovan board at Yahoo and read between the lines. People want to stay loyal to VW because they have such fond memories of their Vanagons... but they are really not being honest about what these vehicles are costing them. The gas mileage is only about 13-15 around town ( no freeway soccer delivery). And if you do any camping, you will hate the pop top. It does not rise as high.. and leaves one feeling claustrophobic. Because the engine is in front, there is less interior space n the rear. That adds up to cramped camping. There's nowhere to put anything. After 4 of them (regular '93, '93 westie, '97 winnie, and '01 MV, we decided to move back into a vanagon style and just drive safe. The Vanagon is also our extra vehicle not a daily driver. The Honda I owned was a far superior daily driver and never cost me a dime in the 3 years I owned it. The 2001 Eurovan cost me $2,000 and the warranty another $6,000 in the third year... and the transmission began to go again when I sold it. Actually we traded it in when they peaked in price and did well... but, I couldn't bring myself to sell it to someone. Just think about it before you buy. My thoughts, Mad Madeline

Tim Leek <trleek@GMAIL.COM> wrote: Sad to report that my wife is making me sell our 87 wolfsburg. She worries about head-on collisions, shoulder belts for the three kids, airbags, etc. Picky picky. Said dragon lady is willing to get, instead, a 2000 Eurovan. So I am investigating. Poptop Eurovans of 2000 vintage appear to command $20-$30K. Good heavens. Too much for a 7-year-old van in my humble opinion. However, I've seen many non-poptops of same year selling for less than $10K. There's one for $9K on ebay right now. This is the buy-it-now price, even. What is up with this freaky disparity? Is the poptop really worth $10-20K?

Anyway, here's my question. Can't I get one of those seemingly budget 2000 Eurovans, cut a hole in the roof, and bolt on a poptop? Will it take the Vanagon poptop or is that entirely the wrong shape/size? I imagine these are easier to come by than the Eurovan one. How hard would it be to get an actual spare Eurovan poptop to install on it? Or does this f-up the air conditioning completely? Or something even more crucial... Any advice would be much appreciated! Any experience actually performing this conversion would be even better!

Thanks as usual for the great advice I'm likely to get.

-- When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. - H. G.Wells

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