1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsburg review from North America
"A temperamental, moody, do anything go anywhere van"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The ECU has been replaced.
The muffler has been replaced.
The water pump failed and was replaced.
The distributor went out.
General comments?
Water cooled vanagons have the most complicated cooling design I have ever seen. The radiator is in the front, the engine is in the back, and there is a spider web of lines in between.
Also, parts are not cheap and these vans are slightly underpowered.
The standard 14" wheels are unstable at best on the highway at 70 mph and I feel like someone's literally kicking the van off the road.
However, I cannot bring myself to sell this thing because when it runs, it really is the most fun, versatile vehicle I have ever owned. It carries both our big dogs and bikes and a pile of gear plus the roof pops up into a bed.
There really is no other vehicle out there quite like this.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.1L Water Boxer Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 80000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 88000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Jetta |
| Date of Entry | 24th July, 2003 |