Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:09:24 -0400
Reply-To: KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: difference's between model years
In-Reply-To: <068101cfd9b0$2d824fa0$8886eee0$@gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
As I recall, the reason for the diesel options were so that it could qualify for use by the military (in Germany) which only used diesel for vehicles. The rectangular headlights in Europe are very good. It’s the US DOT rectangular ones that are horrible.
On Sep 26, 2014, at 1:34 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> This is true for virtually all car models, constant improvement is the
> model. My $0.02 on your question:
>
> I think the biggest weakness with the early vans ('80-'83.5) is that VW
> released the rig before they had a proper engine for it. First vans were air
> cooled (continued the use of the 2.0 70 hp Type 2 engine and no heat) and
> 1.6 diesel (50 hp), and then the 1.9 WBX (80 hp) was introduced in mid 1983
> (and commonly developed head gasket leaks early).
>
> The interior was upgraded in 1985 with better front seats (earlier vans used
> the same poor seat as the earlier Type 2s) with armrests and contoured rear
> seats, which are not as good for sleeping as the previous flat seats in
> Westies up to '84 IMHO. I had an '84 Westy and upgraded the front seats.
> In '85 "luxury" items were included more often like power steering and air
> conditioning.
>
> In 1986 the 2.1 (95 hp) engine was introduced along with the Syncro version,
> headlights were changed to rectangular (now deemed inferior to round
> European halogen lights) and later models had more refinements every year,
> including power locks, windows, mirrors, improved air conditioning, improved
> front seats, and "Euro style" looks with a plastic valance around the van
> along with molded plastic bumpers.
>
> Vanagons could not be ordered with your choice of options, dealers were
> delivered an allotment that VW of America chose. So, you'll find various
> models like GL, Wolfsburg, Prerunner, Westfalia Camper, etc., which
> designated various trim and option packages.
>
> Wikipedia has a decent write up on the Vanagon, and maybe some list members
> can improve it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2_(T3)
>
> Stuart
> '85 Westy now after an '84 for 20 years
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Higginbotham, David A.
> Sent: Friday, September 26, 2014 9:40 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: difference's between model years
>
> I know that it is accepted that the later year vanagons are better than the
> earlier vanagons, why? Not wanting to open up a can of worms here, but I am
> curious what were the various improvements made to the vanagons between 1980
> and 1991. Is there a comprehensive list somewhere that someone has compiled
> that lists these changes? I vaguely remember something mentioned about
> something like this here on the list a number of years ago but I have slept
> since then.
>
> David Higginbotham
> 82 Westy (back on the road WHOOHOOO!!)
> Silk Hope, NC
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