1982 Volkswagen Vanagon GL review from North America

The transmission leaked periodically, within one month of rebuild.

The fuel tank reads correctly when full, but shows 1/4 full when really empty.

There is no heat that I can feel.

The dual power refrigerator does not work.

Braking is wobbly.

Accelerates slow.

Uses a quart of oil every six to eight weeks.

The Westfalia is fun to drive: heads turn when I drive around Berkeley or when I camp out along the streets alongside Lake Merrit.

Steep hills cause considerable reflection and assessment of my maintenance and upkeep. But there is something very satisfying about climbing those 'carkiller' hills, doing 25 miles per hour, in 1st gear.

It's like I'm giving the other roadsters a lesson in relaxa- tion. "Hey, I'll get there when I get there"

You must take care of your vanagon. Do the tune-ups and oil changes.

Don't let strange sounds or behaviors of your VW go un-addressed.

I have learned that most times it is better to have things fixed immediately than to take chances and drive.

Its not that my camper is finicky; its just that shes over 20 years old, I have no idea how or if the previous owner took care of it.

For me, the only gas that I even think of using is the Chevron Supreme 91 octane. I know many people say it doesn't matter which grade of gasoline is used in the Vanagon. To them I say they don't know MY Vanagon.