1989 Volkswagen Vanagon GL -Wolfsburg Edition review from North America

Kept having to add coolant 4 years ago-head surfaces became corroded from coolant seepage. Heads were "shaved",head gaskets replaced to the tune of $900.

One of the front wheel bearings went bad 3 years ago-silently- hub assembly (aka spindle) totally destroyed. This repair costed $700.

Transmission went bad 2 years ago-$1200 to re-build.

Hatch struts lost their hold and replaced to the tune of $80 (soon after I bought it)

Auxiliary rear heater core nipples developed cracks 2 years ago-costed $150 to replace.

Driver side elecric window motor and up/down switch on the fritz 4 years ago-replaced to the tune of $200.

This van was purchased new by the guy I bought it from> VW (at the time) was offering an extended 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. He bought it and rightfully so-I was shown a thick file of work orders the dealer had to absorb as the warranty covered all the repairs. Last item replaced before I bought the van-engine.

Actually, the engine only had 59000 miles, the rest of the van 159000 miles.

So really the van has 264000 miles on it now.

This van has more room than any van in its class before or after 1989 (except its successor, the Eurovan).The rear facing jump seats right behind the driver and passenger seats are of the quick release type-very handy when cargo is to be hauled.

It is set up as a day camper and the rear seats fold down and so the combo rear cargo / folded seats provide a bed that sleeps two. A pop up table with overhead fluorescent light rounds out the package.

The quality of upholstery is excellent (Westfalia made it, same company that makes the camper version),given the brutal punishment inflicted upon it by 4 spirited little boys.

The whole van is very comfortable and rides smooth (our particular van sits lower due to purposeful chassis lowering by the factory).

The 2.1 opposed 4 cylinder engine has built in design flaws which VW tried to keep quiet with their dealer only secret warranty-see how many vanagon owners have had to replace headgaskets and/or heads.

I suggest all vanagon buyers consider removing this direct descendent of the old,air cooled beetle engine and replacing it with a subaru 2.1 liter engine out of the legacy model (almost an exact fit-an adapter kit is sold for just this swap) - makes for more power (the vw motor is anemic) and better gas mileage.

Sure, I'd buy another one, like a 1991 model with a subaru engine retrofit. No other van even comes close to it in the comfort and room class.

Oh yes, ours has an automatic transmission which contributes to the poor get up and go-do yourself a favor and get the 4 speed manual version (vanagons never came with 5 speed manual transmissions).