1987 Volkswagen Vanagon - Westfalia Camper review from North America
"Best vehicle I've ever owned"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
You can kill these by neglect. If you maintain them, they drive roughly forever.
You have to replace the hoses & belts every few years.
Engines are "water-boxers" - basically an air-cooled engine retrofitted & wrapped in a metal jacket of coolant. You must keep the coolant & oil levels good or you will wreck the engine.
Even if you baby the engine, it will need rebuilding every 80k to 100k miles.
Find a mechanic who specializes in VWs.
General comments?
Mine is a Westy camper. It has a seat / bed, closet with shelves, pop-top, swiveling captain's seats, table, etc. Used to have a sink / stove / fridge unit. I put a storage area there instead. Auto, AC. Two batteries & inverter.
Very comfortable for camping. Lotsa storage space. Makes a good office space. The windows have such a dark tint that you have complete privacy inside.
Long vehicle = 21 ft. You have to take corners wide. It is a BUS, not a VAN. You sit ahead of the front wheels. Good visibility.
Just plain well designed. 300k miles so far and easily many more to go.
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| 1989 - Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1 Digifant I absolutely love this van and will keep it for many more miles |
|
| What a great, unique, utility, sporty, 4x4, roomy, slow, fun, campable car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1987 |
| Year of manufacture | 1987 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.1L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 300000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 15th July, 2007 |