1991 Volkswagen Vanagon Carat review from North America
"I love my magic bus!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
My head gasket has now started to leak, and smells like syrup if I drive it over 10 miles. Of course! My mechanic tells me this is very common in these vehicles.
Interior lighting system has some type of short; the fluorescent light in the back has never worked and the fixture has come out of the roof.
The stereo left speakers do not work at all. Right ones rattle quite a bit.
Electric window buttons come out of the door easily.
General comments?
I love all the room inside. I carry my fishing gear, massage table and all accoutrements, plus kids and dogs at once.
Not a lot of get-up-and-go. Don't think about getting anywhere fast.
The wind wreaks havoc. Not so great on snowy roads; I have several friends who have gone over sideways.
Seats are extremely comfortable for long-distance driving. Kids and their friends like that they can face each other while traveling.
The table is a lot of fun.
Lots of sleeping room for camping. Can carry all the gear and get just about anywhere with the high clearance. This is especially important here in Montana.
Recommended reviews
| 1990 - Vanagon GL 2.1 litre water-cooled flat four Although low-powered, it is the ultimate family people/cargo-mover |
|
| Fun, cool, huge following, poorly engineered and extremely overpriced |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 55000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 81000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 28th August, 2004 |