1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper review from North America
"I would find it hard to get rid of because it is a home away from home. Reliable, too"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Head gasket leak at 70000 miles was paid for by VW thanks to recall list with the Better Business Bureau.
Air flow meter went out a short while later. Expensive!
Steering rack boot replaced and new ball joints installed.
Gas leak at filler neck. New seal installed.
Rear shocks blew out after a lot of off road travel, but they probably were the originals.
AC has been fixed twice and died again within 6 months of expensive recharge of the nasty R12 freon. Now in the process of changing over to R134 with new compressor, drier and expansion valve.
General comments?
This van has been a lot of fun for us while traveling throughout the west.
It gets good fuel economy at 19 to 24 mpg and does a fine job of handling rough off road conditions with high ground clearance.
The camper functions well for one or two people and pretty good for three, although a bit cramped. Four is too many for us.
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| 1983 - Vanagon GL 1.9 gasoline It is clear that Annie has been a large part of all my landmark moments |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1984 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9L Manual |
| Performance marks | 3 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 69000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 135000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 18th June, 2004 |