Date:         Sat, 26 Jul 2014 12:02:32 -0500
Reply-To:     Kris Seago <eljefeweizen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kris Seago <eljefeweizen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Thoughts on 2000 eurovans
In-Reply-To:  <CAHTkEuJEKega0U85+SngF3tWHxz3pcCd45k=ikRn983Ybnn4Fg@mail.gmail.com>
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I don't pretend to speak to anyone else's experience, or van, or future with either. I can only report my experience with my Eurovan. In so doing I'd never use the word "painless." I maintain it as meticulously as I'm capable of doing, I change the ATF way more often than recommended, I've spent _plenty_ on parts, hours of time installing those parts, and it has its share of idiosyncrasies. 

Do I feel lucky? No, I feel prepared. I travel with tools, spare parts, and a laptop with OBDII reading software installed. Would I hop in it today and drive another 2500 miles? Absolutely. That's my specific Eurovan. Anyone else's mileage may vary. 

Vanagon content: I have a 1984 Westfalia camper sitting in my driveway with a dead WBX dripping oil and gathering dust.

Kris


On Jul 25, 2014, at 9:30 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> That is great that your van has run so well and given you painless service.   There are many people who'll post that THEIR WBX motor has gone XXX, xxx miles without blowing a gasket, too...
> 
> But the question one needs to ask, to paraphrase that famous tough guy, Dirty Harry....is do you feel lucky, ______?   I don't think anyone can argue that a portion of the WBX powered vans have gone long miles, but I don't think anyone can argue, either, that those are not the vans that have given the WBX motors their reputation.
>    That being said, I have no personal history with either a WBX Van or a Eurovan, but I do have many acquaintances who have had them, and I did do a lot of research when I was looking for an alternative to my big American 4x4 diesel camper truck.   I struck both off my list of likely prospects because I didn't feel lucky...and I didn't want to be paying frequent and expensive parts bills and constantly rebuilding something...
>    I think you gather all the information you can and then weigh the information and make an informed decision...Maybe the Eurovans ARE good some years and have their notorious transmission failures only on some model years...  I think that was the OP's real question..
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 12:14 PM, Kris Seago <eljefeweizen@gmail.com> wrote:
> I replied to the original sender rather than to the list with this earlier post:
> 
> I think it depends on the specific Eurovan. I have a 1997 Eurovan Camper with 218,000 miles on the original engine and transmission. I took it on a 2500 mile adventure earlier this summer without a hiccup. Highway speeds 70 - 75. I averaged right at 20 MPG for the trip.
> 
> Kris S. Seago
> 
> On Jul 22, 2014, at 7:42 PM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET> wrote:
> 
> > On 7/22/2014 6:18 PM, Harry Hoffman wrote:
> >> Hi All,
> >> Are these are notorious as earlier model years?
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> Harry
> > A buddy of mine had one of their Multivans and that VR6 got him 20MPG
> > with the AC on and doing 70 mph.  Haven't talked to him in 12 years
> > though, so .....
> >
> > DM&FS
>