Date:         Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:01:11 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: '84 value?
Comments: To: kayakjr@comcast.net
In-Reply-To:  <112720071700.25456.474C4D44000E8DEC0000637022165514069D06050E970E05@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Ok, here's what is better about an 85 than an 84 or earlier.
The first one is the sliding door. It's about 4 times easier to open, and
the outside handle doesn't break off. That's the 'main advantage.' 
Next is the parking brake, 84 and earlier parking brakes barely will hold,
the 85 and later parking brake handle is improved 3 ways, and totally get
the job done - like it's bomber, and they can easily be fitted to 84's and
earlier.
Next is plastic main coolant pipes,  Most 85's have these, but early ones
still use the metal pipes. The plastic pipes aren't perfect, they do have
their problems too, so not a super advantage here.
Next is the front suspension- cast lower arms. The stamped earlier lower
arms don't fail or anything, and it is nice to see they put on such a robust
part. 

In 86 they upgraded the fuse box. Those old style ( must date from the 40's
in german cars) ceramic fuses often corrode on the ends and don't make
contact,  Very easily so.  The later style......what I call a 'tooth fuse'
since that's what they look like, *always* make contact. Also, at the back
of the fuse box it's not a bundle of wires stuck onto spade terminals where
they can pull off, or suffer from the general weakness of spade type
connections. It's all plug on large wire connectors.
Next .....the front brakes are different - I don't know if they actually
work better though. someone offer an opinion if they have one. 
Headlights - the work better for the amount of light on the road, but those
are expensive lenses if you need one !  Ouch.   
The 2.1 engine ........sure those are 'better' in some ways.  I suppose they
make 'a little more' power than a 1.9.  One thing I do like about 1.9's is
they just don't seem to blow up much at all, they get shitty, and run lousy,
and have the typical head gasket issues, but they sure run a long, long
time. 
I suppose you could say the Dynamic Oil Pressure circuit on 2.1 is 'better.'
More problematic is more like it though - lol ! 

That's all I can think of right now. 
Except for the fuse box, there are a lot of reasons an 85 is 'a darn good
year' I does not have things, like the Electronically controlled air idle
valve that an 86 and up does, for example, and when you have a problem with
that system .....can be expensive. 
Kiinda like the 71 VW Bus.  First year of front disc brakes, first year of
'normal' 15 inch wheels, and last year of the 1600 before they went to the
Type IV engine, which is kind of a nightmare compared to the ole 1600.
Makes it a unique year with distinct advantage. 
 And 85 with some upgrades ....yup, would be just about right for a good but
semi-modest vanagon.   I like them.
And of course .....in the later years you can get central locking, which I
really like.  Cruise control, not sure when that's first available, but CC
isn't important to me. 
Power windows, I don't prefer those, not sure when that starts.
Fiberglass bumpers - I like those, but they're expensive if you need one,
the side cladding just looks heavy and ugly to me  and is easy to break
around the jacking points , so I'm 'iffy' about those, but they look good
and might help aerodynamics 1 %. 
That's all I can think of right now.
Scott
www.turbovans.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: kayakjr@comcast.net [mailto:kayakjr@comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 9:01 AM
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Cc: scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM
Subject: Re: '84 value?

" The next year, 85 is considerably better, and 86 to 91's much better yet.
"

Can Scott or someone else explain how an 85 is considerably better than an
84, and why an 86, besides having a 2.1, is even better.  I'm curious. 

It seems to me that if you are going to do an engine conversion, then
perhaps picking up one of these 84's is the way to go - no? 

John
87 VW WWW or VW W^3 or is that V(W)^4 ? (Wolfsburg Wesfalia Weekender)