Vanagon User Comments

"How Do You Like Your Car?"

VANAGON comments from Car Talk listeners


1978 model year
I love my car. My car is why I love driving, this country (in the geographic sense of the word), most of my friends. My car is a ticket into a world of nice, nice people who wave and always want to help when you have a problem. My car is why I know so much about my car, and why I wish I knew more. My car takes me where I want to go. I can sleep in my car, I can drive in my car. Those are my two favorite things to do. I love my car.

I love our car. It's easy to work on, reliable, a lot of room inside. We have a great view of the road. We can easily go camping and haul stuff, including kids. There is a great support group on the Internet for owners of VW buses. We'll buy another one when we buy another car.

1979 model year
I am extremely happy with it.

I fantasize about becoming so poor that I have to sell everything and then live in my lovely fridge green Westphalia. Think small.

I learned to drive in my father's 1960 VW Bus. I've been driving air-cooled VWs ever since; I've owned four VW buses. I'm not much interested in water-cooled VWs, especially the Eurovan. Because I do all the work on my bus, I feel confident going on long journeys (with lots of spare parts and a large tool chest). When something does go wrong, I usually have a good guess what's wrong. I like being able to pull over almost anywhere, close the curtains and go to sleep. I enjoy the fraternity of other VW nuts. If I can, I stop and help someone with a broken-down air-cooled VW. I've found that lots of VW owners stop and ask me if I need help, especially when I've pulled over for a pit stop.

1980 model year

I like my car, even though it's not just a car, it's a Volkswagen. I have a Westphalia camper version of the 1980 Vanagon. I use it for daily driving and camping, and get about 18 mpg. I have been looking for years for another vehicle that combines an RV utility, and space, reasonable gas mileage, reasonable price, in a package small enough and with enough clearance to go off road. There is nothing out there that meets my needs except a Volkswagen camper, and the Westphalia is the best camper around. I wish I had the money for the 4WD version! An it's still simple enough that I can work on it myself, with success.

This is the most versatile vehicle on the road today. A 1980 Vanagon Westfalia.

I like it because it is highly likely that I will sell it for more than I bought it.

Very Happy. Its a PopTop Camper, & I enjoy going to the mountains & ocean

IT'S SPECTACULAR.IF I HAVE A CHANCE TO BUY ANOTHER VANAGON OR BUS,I WOULD DO SO.THIS VEHICLE HAS SUITED ALL MY NEEDS AND WITH A FEW EXTRA'S TOO

1981 model year
I love my car, it is a classic, versatile, and fun. It has a proven track record and will probably run forever, or as least as long as I am willing to dump money on it....

I covet my car. Even though I don't really like to drive I love my VW! It has been in the family for all it's life, and a large majority of mine. My father allowed me to buy it from him (how very German in that he wouldn't give it to me) and I love the ride, the size, the feel of the road, the tallness, and the casual nature of the drive -- the "I'm not in a hurry to get where I'm going" attitude. That is my mantra for the VW camper.

My vanagon is the most convenient and reliable vehicle out of the ten vehicles, other than my bicycles, I've owned. I have had to replace the fuel line, and the oil leaks get a little agrivating, and living in Savannah GA it would be nice to have an air conditioner, but life's tough and I don't think the tiny engine could handle extra drain of power. I won't wish to sell this VW for a while, it is a fun car, almost as fun as my bicycles. Enjoy the show, have a good day.

It's a VOLKSWAGEN

It's a generally a good vehicle, it has a lot of room, which is what we need. It is also conveniently laid out. Many families like minivans, but we find those too cramped and lacking in cargo space.

1982 model year
As a diehard VW Bus owner, I would say I like my cars alot... Right now I have 2 Vanagons (one Air-cooled, the other Water-cooled) a '73 Air-cooled VW Campmobile, and a couple of Audis. The Vanagons and the Camper are the most fun and most Versatile... In the past 20 years I have always had at least one VW and most of the time more than one at a time...

Like it now, as I bring the maintenance back to the baseline and make all necessary repairs I plan to love it. This is a auto that I plan to keep until they pry the keys out of my hands

I like the car. I must, I have two of them. It is very economical, hold lots of people and things and over the past 14 years it has been a very reliable car. I also like sitting above the the height of most cars. It makes some of the asinine freeway merges we have around here a little less nerve racking.

The vanagon is not sexy, not luxurious, etc, but it is versitile as all get out. Its capacity to simultaneously carry people and cargo is unmatched for any vehicle short of a gas guzzeling full sized Detroit van (which won't fit in my garage). It carries 14' long boards, 12' carpet rolls, 4' X 8' plywood sheets, dishwashers, queen size sofabeds, etc. I have carried 8 people, two wheel chairs, 60 lbs. of special medical equip. and luggage for all 8 people for a 3 day weekend trip all at once with "factory" seating for everyone.

I love my van and wouldn't trade it for anything. I love my car. This is the world's all time greatest vehicle. It's a 1982 VW Vanagon Diesel. This car is in such great shape that the mechanics at the delarship have repeatedly asked me to sell to them. It has mirrored tinted windows in on the sides and a foam matress in the back. It is a stick shift with a purple stick and matching edging behind the sliding door. Being in high school with this car makes me one of the most popular guys around. Everyone who rides in it wants one. I can always take EVERYBODY home from the concerts too. My personal best is 16! Thank you VW for making such an extrodinary vehicle as the 82 Vanagon Diesel.

Camper's delight. I have my tent, sleeping bag, and all the camping gear. Mule, [the vanagon's nickname] has taken me from inuvik in the yukon to seeing the space shuttle take off. From Santa Monica blvd. to Gettysburg. With the middle seat taken out,I spend the afternoon laying back and reading at some state park campground. Come night time I make a fire and enjoy being alive.

I love my "Wanagon." I have been driving VWs since 1969, and wanted a "Bus" since long before then. (We got our first Bug in 1960.) The Volvo I've been driving is a very nice car, but it's just not a Volkswagen. After a year, I'm still reaching for controls in the places where one finds them in a VW, and trying to shift the automatic... Even if I buy a new Golf next year, I'll still have the Vanagon repaired. It's nice to be able to curl up in the back of your own vehicle at a campground, when you're away for a weekend or a vacation... And I don't think anything improves upon the physical comfort of a VW seat.

I love the size, both interior and exterior of the vanagon. It has plenty of room for plywood and sheetrock. I can also put a 12 foot canoe inside and close the door. I think I'll have a hard time finding another van that will fit my need for hauling, camping, and carrying the way the vanagon does whithout going to a full size van.

1983 model year
LOVE IT!

This is one of the most reliable, most practical cars I've ever owned. My kids have outgrown basketball and soccer, and are out on their own. However, the old Vanagon (and trailer) has moved my daughter twice, and has hauled tons of construction materials, including intact 4'X 8' sheets of plywood inside, for my son, whose house we're remodeling. And it still gets over 20 MPG on regular gas!

Actually, I recently sold this one to get a newer Syncro. This one was a US camper conversion (AEC) and took me on 3 5000+ mile trips and dozens of 500-1000 mile back of beyond trips over the four years and 45,000+ miles I put on it. Never stranded me and only one significant mechanical problem on the road (failed rad fan switch caused boilover at idle parked in winter high Sierras. I still see it haring around town at 190K+. Yes, it blows in the wind, but I've been in some stiff ones and never felt out of control. Headwinds worse, especially if you're in a hurry as mileage goes down the tubes. So you see, I LIKE these beasts. The waterboxer is a very reliable engine, and Vanagons are much better put together than many other VW sedans of the same vintage. I've also heard that the Vanagon (as opposed to the older buses) are relatively safe due to the crush structure in the front end. Don't know about that myself.

1984 model year

I like my car very much, thank you. It is small enough to be economical to operate and not be a chore to drive while big enough to have useful space. My wife, dog, and I can and have lived in it while traveling for up to 5 weeks at a time. My German brick is extremely rugged and reliable. Routine maintenance is easily performed and normal wearing parts are easily replaced. The dealers grossly overcharge for parts, but I have found a plethora a parts suppliers on the internet that sell quality parts at reasonable prices.

My Westfaila has 150k on it and drives and feels like new. Sure it's gutless, but I still pass wimps, driving much more powerful cars, even up hills. We had an earthquake 3 years ago and my wife packed the car with everything we needed to survive. I camp with five kids and if I had to pack and set up a tent, stove etc. you would be reading about me axe murdering my family in your local paper. Just pull up beautiful spot and pop the top and throw out the welcome mat.

I'ts got character, both good and bad. It has survived many a Vermont winter, so I guess that for the age and environmental conditions, it's doing well.

I love my Vanagon. We've owned a few VW's and this camper is definitely a step up (my last one was a '71 Transporter!). We've taken it all over the western half of the country with very few problems.

Fe and I bought our '84 VW camper in 1994. Since then we've had the engine rebuilt and done other basic maintenance. We've driven it all over the western US and western Canada, as well as using it a couple of days a week as a commuting vehicle. It has pretty good ground clearance for the back roads, which is important to us. We hope to make it last 10 years.

There is not a vehicle on the market that I would rather have. If I could change one thing about my van, it would be to change it into a Syncro (4x4) I live in Alaska and the heater works wonderfully. I have cruised along the parks highway (which passes by Mount Mckinley a.k.a. Denali) at 70+ miles an hour at temperatures below Minus 30 degrees (f) and sat comfortably in jeans and a T-shirt. So,... yes I love my van. It is 13 years old and has been well used. Things are beginning to take turns for the worse. It is turning into a bit of a hobby. I just hope I get to quite working on it soon so that I can get back to living....... Ciao..

Love it!

I wish they still built them,so i could buy a brand new one, instead of a used one

I like my 84 vanagon. It's roomy, comfortable, reliable, easy to drive, easy to fix, very practical.

I have owned two Volkswagen Vanagon campers since 1988 and can see why there is a cult following for that vehicle; it's comfortable to ride in, has most of the conveniences of home, and is attractively designed. had some terrific experiences ,as well, I am choosing to sell the much treasured Vanagon. Just doing some last minute maintenance to ready the vehicle for sale,(tires, hardware, exhaust, brakes, etc.) almost one thousand dollars was spent. Yet when driving down the road, the ride is like no other! One of the finest vehicles I've owned in many repects; I'm going to miss my Vanagon.

It's a pleasure to drive. If you've ever driven an air-cooled VW you won't recognize any of those sluggish traits in this watercooled version. It actually accelerates and goes up hills at a constant rate! The suspension is first rate. My vanagon even has a rear seat that folds down into a bed.

I wish I had bought a Vanagon much sooner! I really love the vehicle.

My van is the best. I can move more people than most vans with all riders having their own arm rests. Front seats are bucket with all rear seats bench. I can move big items with still many riders (1 washer and 1 dryer will fit in luggage area with all seats in upright position). Thanks VW.

I really like my car. I bought it a year ago in Bellingham, Washington, where VWs are the car of choice of about every third driver. VWs are also highly overpriced their because of their kitcsh value. My husband and I moved from Washington to NY last summer, and loaded it up to the brim with all of our worldly possessions. We only had break failure crossing the pass between Idaho and Montana, but that was remedied quickly with new brake fluid. There's a sense of zen that one gets when driving a VW Vanagon, and everybody is at peace while riding in one. But seriously, I've only had minor problems with it which I consider normal maintenance, and we are planning to drive across the continent twice this summer! Needless to say, we've had many people volunteer to accompany us, so we're thinking we'll have a vanload for the trip. We take the van everywhere and don't worry about places to stay. I'm planning on installing new carpet in the back, and my husband wants to put a big slice of toast on the top of it (some sort of foam apparatus). We opted to remove the middle seat for the big move, which makes a great, roomy middle space for sleeping and such.

My VW Vanagon cost $700. I bought it from a guy who didn't bleed the air from the radiator and thus it suffered from a nervous temperature guage. My Vanagon has good heat from the water cooled engine. It is big and roomier than other mini-vans. I dont mind being up front over the bumper because I used to ride motorcycles. I have driven the Van for 70 of its 200,000 miles and I even used it to tow a Corvair from Virginia to California, averaging an incredible 22 mpg. The Van is rustfree and I have maintained it myself for almost eveything due to its good curb height. I did the clutch replacement myself but paid a garage to do the brake work since I do not have a machine to resurface rotors. In summary, it ain't the prettiest, fastest, but it sure is the most versatile and practicle vehicle I have ever owned and I could not replace it for anything costing under 25,000.

1985 model year
This vehicle is first preference among all van design types and styles. If the U.S.Army uses them (europe) I want one!

Its the most useful vehicle i have ever owned although like all my other vws it has its own quirks. they never leave me stranded by the roadside

How many cars do you know of that can sleep four? I can assemble my 8 1/2' fishin' rod inside my vehicle while everyone else is schlepping back to their "Explorers" in the rain. When I am on a date I don't have to ask,"you're place or mine?" Instead I can say, "Top bunk or bottom?" The VW camper- there is no substitute.

It's a great vehicle to take on family trips, and we do so several times a year. I love the views from the elevated front seats with the big windshield. The kids love being able to sit in the back at a table if they feel like it, or crawling to the way back and sleeping....

My VW van is great. Its got quite a few miles on it but with the aid of my mechanic I keep it on the road and it is quite dependable. I like the great visibility, the ample space for hauling pople and things, and the vans versatility. It can transform itself into whatever you need it to be, camping vehicle working vehicle or passenger wagon.

It is my vehicle of choice. I Windsurf and it is a great mobile change room and toy box..

I like it just fine!

I like my untilitarian car

Sitting up there over the wheels while the kids and dogs wrestle or sleep or whatever it is they DO back there, i am utterly confident, content and happy. it never breaksdown. it seems to consciously signal me if something is about to go. it does break, but seems to so slowly and with warning.I feel self sufficient and the road seems full of possibility.Like maybe we'll just keep driving and never go back, or aliens will land on earth and choose us to transport them(we have the room,if they aren't TOO large and don't mind the hound dogs).Or we will return home and discover my former husband is abjectly and pathetically contrite for all the mean things he's done and wants to come back. To which I would answer sympethetically that i understand, but of course, no. I could never again drive in his boring cars, including his dodge caravan or his brand new mercury sable, and he never let me drive anyway. i've moved far beyond him, went out and got myself a good deal on a Vanogon ($4000)(with 103,000 mi's - one owner,an old guy that wears suspenders,works at Volkswagon, and traded it in on a Eurovan(ugh.!). Possibilities....Maybe we'll miss our exit and end up in Texas where we discover Tommy Lee Jonens broken down on a dirt road near his ranch and we rescue him and he is so grateful and impressed with my ability to change a tire that he falls madly in love with me, but agrees to be just friends when i explain i think he's wonderful, but i don't want to live in Texas. Or we get home and discover gold has been dicovered in the back yard, so i will never have to fix the leaky basement or tell the insurance co. i spent the $ they sent to fix the wrought iron fence a kid drove into, on new tires for the vanogon. ANything could happen when i sit up there over the wheels,surveying the distant horizen and all the possibilities. We still have a drive-in movies here in Dillsburg PA. and if i thought it was great in a pick-up, it is heaven on earth in a VANAGON. Lying in the back with the hatch up, we are the envy of every poor slob stuffed into a carovan with THE WHOLE FAMILY. I took several people at work out in the parking lot to demonstrate the turning ratio. One had a new Honda van, the other woman had wanted a vanogon, but her husband made her get a dodge ram. They could not even do a U-turn in the parking lot.And i can parrellel(sp!)park in any space that is as long as the vanogon.The wheels practically go perpendicular to the frame. i particularly enjoy doing this feat downtown during lunch hour when the lawyers are apt to be sitting in their bmw'w and mercedes about to go to their club or their lunch or their affairs just as i am backing into the space in front of them and can watch their faces in the rearveiw mirror the whole time.sometimes i do this just for fun when i am not eating lunch or anything.

Great, can't buy them like that anymore!

I really like my 1985 Vanagon. It has tons of room, a nice tough interior, and though it could use more motor, will actually cruise at 70-75 ( ok, only on a flat"ish" road) all day long. It came with a rebuilt (really) motor, a good interior and I only paid 3400 for it. Sure, there's been some repairs, but nothing more than I really expected, and the sucker's paid for now! All in all, it's the ideal vehicle for us, and I would LOVE to be able to afford the new V6 Eurovan from VW. All the motor I need, and all the room of a real VW Van. IwannaIwannaIwanna!!! -=Chris Tucci=-

I'm very happy with our car. We bought it specifically to travel across country, visiting relatives hither, thither, and yon, with (since deceased) canine member of the family.

I love my Vanagon! Buying it was one of the best decisions I made in my life. When comparison shopping for a van in 1984/1985, my heart wanted a VW; but I went through the exercise of looking at all the alternatives. All the other vans that were big enough were monsters and gas-hogs. They were typically tricked out by the local dealers (here in LA) with red velvet upholstery and drapes - looked like you were stepping into a whore house. Then at the other end were the Dodge Caravans which were not much larger than station wagons. I drove the Caravan and was appalled at how weak it was. Of course, the VW was quite anemic in this area as well, but that was expected. I also checked out the Chevy Astro van; but, again, the VW beat it out in volume by about 25%. Same thing with the Toyota and the Ford Aerostar. After almost 12 years, the Vanagon has over 210,000 miles on it. Yes, there have been problems: air conditioning, head gaskets, steering slave, water pump, CV joints, right front axle, gas tank, exhaust system, cooling system, transmission, ENGINE, etc. But you take all that with its age and utility. Want to go camping? .. throw in all the stuff and go. There is always room for more. Need a couple of 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and some concrete? .. no problem. One time I filled the van with over one hundred WOODEN folding chairs. Try that with a pickup truck! Would I do it all over again? In a minute. Did it cause me some pain and grief? Yes, but we had a lot of fun. You want to know the hardest part? Deciding which of my two kids will get the van (they both want it)... tough! To get out of having to choose, I think I will keep it for myself and they can get their own!!! +++ Bob ([email protected])

I enjoy the commanding view from the drivers seat. Our 1985 Vanagon has comfortably carried our five children and camping gear on several cross-country trips. The upholstery has worn well. It is easy to parallel park because all corners are visible. I regularly get 19 MPG in mixed driving and have had as high as 25 MPG on trips.

I would just like to say one thing my Volkswagon Vanagon with 177,000 miles just had its first clutch replaced. Is that a World record or something? And of course I love my car.

It's a Volkswagen (as are two of the other three cars I own). What more needs to be said.

Before having any work done on it I attempt to diagnose the problem with shop manual in hand. It's a procedure that has been of great value because more than once I was able to supply the correct specs. The mechanic has even requested copies of the pages for the work that he is to perform. One thing that I would like to warn all Vanagon owners about is that they must use VOLKSWAGON ANTI-FREEZE. Phosphate-free anti- freeze will not cut it. The reason using the correct anti- freeze is that if you don't the head gasket (plus another hundred little pieces) will deteriorate--usually at about 60-80 thousand miles. If you see anti-freeze dripping from the engine area be certain to have it checked out right away. It could mean the difference between a new engine and a head gasket job, which translates into about a four thousand $$$ savings. If you do need a head gasket job be certain that only Volkswagon parts are used. There have been problems with aftermarket gaskets deteriorating. GOOD LUCK

I'm having a relationship with it. Whenever it breaks down I think I'm going to sell it, but when I get it fixed 30 seconds of driving it and I'm in love again, feeling guilty I ever thought sudh terrible thought

wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's great. Can't imagine life without some sort of VW in our lives.

I absolutely LOVE my VW Vanagon. The way it is engineered, the way it handles, the way it looks...all totally cool. Plus, it is like being in a little "club". Other Vanagon owners who I pass on the street wave. (I rarely initiate the wave, but always reciprocate). People often offer me money for it...in parking lots, etc. It is my only vehicle, and I intend to keep it forever. I can't tell you how disappointed I am in the new Vanagon models. Motor in the front...it's just not right!

The most comfortable car I have owned for long distance driving.

Love it.

Our Vanagon is a car that has been a real love affair. The design is great, seats are very comfortable durable and supportive, and general body quality is very good. Also it has an amazing amount of room inside. As an owner you become part of the VW van cult and often get waves from other passing Vanagons. After owning one for awhile, you will never be the same.

There has not been a better design for a van. If you want to tow stuff get a truck. With a Vanagon you do not have to. See you at the Deep Woods Ball.

1986 model year
I love my 1986 VW vanagon camper. It's a great multi-purpose vehicle- everyday use, carrying the canoe, and camping. It's been relatively reliable, and it's value has actually gone up since I purchsed it 4 years ago!

We bought the VW (a camper) when stationed with the Navy in Europe. It was GREAT there. We also had it for 5 years in New Hampshire. It was great for camping. Less great in the winters. We now have it in Arizona without air conditioning. It's nice for extended camping trips; also as a part-time car for our 16- year old. Or, po-russki, "moya machina ochen khorosho!!!" (my car is very good)

A lot, because it's the solution to my problem of transporte and it's so economic, and in relation of the eficience it's okay in function of the old of my car it is 11 years old.

I like our Vanagon. We bought it new. It was great when we were starting our family and were running around to soccer games.

I like it a lot so far. I have owned only 2 months but so far no major problems and it seems to meet the needs I had in mind when I began to look for a camper vehicle.

I love it. I've put 30k on in two years. I'd love it more if it were an '87 Westfaila Syncro, but then I didn't pay for that...

My car is great! It's the first car I ever bought all by myself, so of course I would have to say that anyway, but really... it's great! I've had some wonderful adventures in it, drove across the country three times and made several other long (c. 2000 miles) trips in it.

I love it when it runs. I HATE it when it's acting up. I love being perched up high over all those little cars. I can see what's happening.

This vehicle is very handy, cleverly designed, and comfortable.

It's a great van. Don't plan on towing if its over 1000#. It's very comfortable. We just got back from a 2500mi trip we didn't see any other 13 year old make of van or car on the the interstate crusin'. Then it hit me, am I crazy???? Next trip I'll put a big visa card in my tool box just in case! I want to put a better set of tires on the ones on it now are cheap ones that would better suit a car not a van that can cary a ton fully loaded.

It is truely a fun car to drive. The '86 vanagon is great for space if you take out the middle seat.

I love my 3/4 ton vanagon which converts from a seven passenger van into a queen sized bed or covered pickup in 30 seconds, hauls computer stuff galore with ease, tows my trailer to the lake without fishtailing, gets 20+ mpg while doing it, gives me a high view of the road, is very low maintenance (my brother owns the shop), and overall just keeps on trucking year after year. I figure it's good for at least eight more years.

it gets good gas mileage, is cheap to insure, and has plenty of room for my dog.

My Vanagon Syncro has so many good features that I've not been seriously tempted to replace it - nor found any good candidates to replace it with - in 13+years. It has better reliability and longevity than the older VW busses and has road manners like a large sedan. The 4WD keeps it going in the worst of winter weather. I recently found the vanagon.com website that other Vanagon owners might like too.

I love my '86 Vanagon GL. Bugger to anybody who spews evil voodoo about leaky "wasserboxer" motors. The thing rides smoothly, and you can barely hear the engine at 70-75. It has 123K on it, no leaks, and a pyrometer exam reveals no "hot spots" or potential leaks on the motor. I got a good car used for well under blue book, and all it needed was a thermostat, a cooling tower, and an oil change. Granted, I've putzed around with VWs for about a decade, but the Vanagon is a different animal altogether. No, I'm not a hippie. I've driven Rabbits, Jettas, and Foxes, with stock paint and engines, but with a bit of audio and improved tires,rims,brakes and suspension. I had been looking for a Rabbit pickup, so I could haul things, but the Vanagon was a model I'd never considered before. My brother hit a '97 Grand Marquis with it, and the van won. I still have this van. I love this van. In fact, when another nice one came up for cheap, I had no problem with owning two Vanagons. The 2.1L gas Vanagon is an eye-opener after driving the diesel. It's quieter too. My only complaint is the gas mileage. I enjoy being able to look out my driver's window, and down into Suburbans(now Yukon XLs), I just loathe have nearly comparable gas mileage with them. On the plus side, the Vanagon is not as generic as all the super SUVs rolling around locally. Now, I'm sure I'll get the 3rd Degree from the Tappet Brothers for owning one of those infernal Volksboxes, much less two. Ah, well. I'm happy with 'em.

1987 model year
I love it. If they still made them, I'd buy a new one.

I really love my Vanagon Syncro. It's pulled me through snowstorms and torrential rains. I like sitting up high and having a good view of what's ahead (a refreshing change from my other vehicle, a Fiat Spider 2000). It's kind of funky - not the usual minvan seen roaming through Belmont Center. I like being different. It's also terrific for hauling crap around - boy scout camping trips, family vacations, my sister is moving AGAIN.Being a full-sized van, the driver is FEET away from the teen-agers in the rear seat (a blessing during a 4-hr car trip).And finally, it drives like a car - I was able to parallel park this van, first time, with no problem in Harvard Square.

I love my car. My Vehicle is my form of relaxation and provides me with a way to get away from it all. In other word I love my Vanagon!!! It is the fourth VW Camper we have owned.

It's perfect. Dollar-Value aside (that is, I'd have to live with the other car, not sell it and buy mine back with $ to spare), I wouldn't trade it for anything. There are things I'd improve about it, but there's no other vehicle I'd prefer.

The best German Truck that was ever built!

I like it. It's showing its age, but it has been generally reliable and an excellent choice for a growing family for taxi service, boy scouts, soccer teams, and the like. It's short on elegance, but who cares (my wife...) I'm sorry the model is no longer made.

i like the space inside the van

I love my bus. I want to keep it running forever. With 204,000 miles on it , it doesn't owe me anything and works very well especially what I put into it. I do oil changes religiously every 3000 mi. and generally do other repairs myself. Overall, I've put a distributor, water pump, transmission and clutch, and some front end parts into her over the course of the last 105,000 mi. (I bought the bus with 99,000 on it.) The only other stuff I've done to it is brakes, tires, tune ups and oil changes. With the weekender package, the rear passenger compartment converts to a double bed, so I don't need to, though. I can also haul 4X8 sheets of plywood plus other stuff without unbolting anything from the interior. The bus is also comfortable to drive on a trip, with good heat. Plus, it makes a statement, not like so many of the generic "cookie cutter" vehicles on the road today. When it goes, if it ever does, which doesn't seem likely, I'm going to look for another one!

I love my Vanagon.

Vanagons RULE and chicks dig 'em. What more can be said?

I really like how roomy and comfortable my 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro is. It has great visibility (you can even see over the roofs of those pesky minivans) and it's surprisingly manuverable.

Love my Vanagon. She even has a name: Lola-Lola. Also the best SUV on Earth. I sit about as high (or higher in some case) as they do. They can't sleep comfortably or change clothes as comfortably as I can in my Vanagon. My Vanagon's traction in bad weather is darn near as good or better than the SUVs (I don't have the Synchro 4wd option; if my van did its traction would better than many SUVs). I can haul 7 people around in complete comfort (like a mobile living room!).

Vanagon safety. In my previous 82 Vanagon I broadsided a car that ran a red light with no damage to myself and passenger. The van was still driveable.

I like the vanagon. It's obviously not a high-performance car. It's versatile and dependable, very roomy. I'm a large person and find it easy on my back getting in and out and on long trips. The middle seat comes out easily for more backpack, skis, and bike storage. It gets me from here to there for hikes and commuting.

I enjoy my van and am very satisfied with it.

Overall, I really like my vanagaon. It is old, so there are some things that no longer work and it isn't the most reliable vehicle, but I have a great mechanic. It was not a vehicle I chose for myself, it was basically given to me. Now I love driving it - it handles much better than I expected, and having all that space to throw things in is fantastic.

vw should not have abandoned the vanagon design, rather just continue to improve it!

1988 model year
Great! :)

I love my car. I have always wanted a Vanagon Westfaia camper. It all started when I learned how to drive a manual on my sisters 73 VW bus. The car is realtivly uncommon and therefore stands out a bit from others. There also seems to be a tight network of people who love their campers and are always willing to share ideas & help. Other than the A/C it has been one of the most reliable cars that I have ever owned.

We haven't actually gone CAMPING yet--my work schedule hasn't permitted--but every day, when I drive to the Park and Ride to catch the commuter train into the city, I think: I could be driving out West. I could be exploring the pueblos of New Mexico. I could be out on the open road with a full tank of gas and no schedule to meet. Beats psychotherapy!

I find my car very utilitarian yet comfortable. I have been quite satisfied with it. I wish they still made this model. The best thing about it is the room-room for "stuff" (I'm a geologist), room for the passangers (leg, room knee room, arm room, etc.) and room even when carrying a full load of 7.

It's OK. On the positive side, it is huge and can carry anything I want (large dog, kitchen sink, lumber, boat on top, luggage, and our kid before he went to college. It holds far more than the "soccer-Mom" US-made mini vans that are all the rage these days (I just consider those to be tall station wagons anyhow). I actually like the way it looks - simple, purposeful - and I've always been fond of VW, having owned a number of others.

It's a totally comfortable and functional vehicle; fun to drive, with great visibility, handling and worth what I paid. Easy to change oil, belts, plugs etc. Makes a great traveling vehicle.

I love my vanagon. I need the room for 4 dogs and my show stuff that I take state to state for car shows. I own 9 VWs, and think they are smart and simple to work on. I have been running a repair shop since 1981 and have put my hands into alot of forigen cars and I just love the vw's. I will own another vanagon...I have had a 86 and now a 88.

i like my bus just fine.

Much better than any other similar vehicle.

It is a transcendent experience in harmony and an escape from the fast paced world we live in. I have no choice but to be one with the car, the car is such I could live my life in it, which I have so it is more than a car it is my home.

I love my vanagon. It's very comfortable to drive long distances, which I do. It carries lots of stuff (I'm a wilderness guide and use it to go to and from all the beautiful places i backpack, and I load it up with all the food and gear for long backpacking trips). It's got plenty of power (I can pass trucks uphill). It's quiet. I can sleep anywhere in it -- campgrounds, dirt roads in the desert, friends' driveways, hotel/casino parking lots, rest stops, Maple street in Anytown, USA and never get hassled. I love the tinted windows. It's big. My husband and I sleep comfortably on the bed made by folding down the rear seat. We took out the middle seat, making a "room" in the middle of the van. I put my two grandkids car seats on the back seat. (Getting the seatbelts up when you put up the rear seat is really hard and I curse a lot when I do it. That could be better.) Putting the rear seat up and down is not easy. The cup holder situation is not good, either. You need to install your own.

great, wish they still made it

1989 model year
I enjoy my vanagon. great for camping and hauling kids. it is great for cross country trips I like the rear seating area with two rear facing and three forward facing seats.

I love it - it's great for all my camping trips! I'd buy a new one (Eurovan Camper) if they weren't so dang expensive.

I must love it. It is the third VW Van that I have owned.

I love my Vanagon

THIS IS THE SECOND VW VANAGON I HAVE OWNED, THE FIRST ONE I BOUGHT ALMOST BY DEFAULT. IT PROVED TO BE SUCH A WONDERFUL AUTO, IN SPITE OF ITS PERSNICKETY WAYS, THAT WHEN THE TIME CAME TO RETIRE IT, I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE

If they want my Vanagon, they'll have to pry my cold, dead fingers from the steering wheel!

My car is the boom!! It is great, it takes me all over this country and I always have a place to stay. People always want to know about my VW and when driving down the road I always get the peace sign from passer by (on the left).

This is the third VW van that I have driven and I like them all. it has the great advantage of being able to carry large numbers of people and is useful for those trips to the lumberyard. It can easily carry 4x8 sheets of plywood without having to leave the doors open.

1990 model year
I love it. It's big, roomy, carries all kinds of athletic equipment. It's much quieter than my previous VW van and the heater in this one really works. Good for camping, kayaking, windsurfing and hauling trash to the dumps.

It has character.

Love our Westy!! Can't beat the combination of camping & people hauling.

The VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper is my teenage-boy dream car... it's the car I would longingly look at when I went to the VW dealer. It's more than a car, really. It's a dream. It's the dream of an open road and a warm bed wherever you park and pop the top. It's the dream that if things get too crazy, I can just pull up and go. I love its boxy retro looks. I love its acres of honest sheet metal. I love having cafe klatches while the rain drums on the roof. I love laying in bed in the middle of nowhere listening to classical music on the CD player, the tree frogs outside, and reading a good book. I love the curtains and the crystal bud vases (my own addition.)

I bought the Vanagon because I use a wheelchair and it was the easiest to convert. We just installed a lift and hit the road. We didn't have to lower the floor or raise the roof. It's been an excellent solution to my situation. I wish it had a lot more power but it's sure better than the Microbus my parents owned when I was a baby.

I like it. It's conservative, somewhat rare and has plenty of room for the family when and if they all ride together. Only problem is I must remove a ton of things to make room for only one rider. No questions on the car; I bought that book, "How to maintain and repair your VW for the complete idiot. It was a great tool and a money saver too. [email protected]

Fun to drive & easy to spot in a parking lot.

The suspension on our VW Vanagon is very stiff, we can bring everything including the kitchen sink camping and not bottom out and tear off the muffler on the bad back roads to our favorite spots (like I do when I decide to use the Toyota Corola wagon, which my husband just "loves" to replace the muffler. At last count #5) /the vanagon seats 7. Six noisy kids and me. Loads of room for laods of toys.

If VW still made the Vanagon (preferably in turbo diesel) we'd buy another. Our first was an '82. Absolutely the most versatile and roomy vehicle in our experience.

It works for me. I carry 3 big dogs to the beach and 5 or more friends with bicycles to the country. It’s reliable and cheap to operate.

Hey! What other car can you sit over the front wheels and fell like your are swinging from side to side when you are making a turn other than a Vanagon.

1991 model year

i think it is a very well-designed, comfortable and economical (well ... for a great big shoe-box on wheels) vehicle. it's fun to drive, can carry seven people, gets good traction in bad weather and off-road conditions, and has great visibility from the driver's seat. it's a real shame the American manufacturers can't make something like it ... Chrysler has come close, but the Voyager/Caravan is just a little too small for me. the Ford Aerostar and Chevrolet Astro are just basically junk. when testing them, i was surprised at how bad the visibility was, and how difficult the engine was to work on.

I love a VW Van because I can put my bicycle, XC skis in it and can change in it and can go camping in it, etc... It's way bigger inside than a Astro or other mini-van.

Look, my VW is a camper, and whenever I'm not driving the company tank, I'm out camping, hunting, fishing, or just goofing off, it's my second home away from home. As a self contained unit, has its own solar panel, water tank and purification system, and all the rest of the goodies which would let me park it anywhere, I try to spend as much time off just recharging the batteries out somewhere away from the phone, the public, and the hoard of customers who call at all hours of the day and night. You guys should try this sort of R & R! By the way- how many other motor homes get 18MPG?? Mine does!

Well it's a vw, what do you expect? It has never left me stranded, except for the time I was on my way to minerology final. It holds everything I want to take anywhere, and I don't worry if it gets another dent.

We owned an '86 VW Vanagon. When we were expecting our 3rd (child), we shopped around and drove almost every minivan our there. One day we took a good chunk of our luggage (empty) and went to the VW dealer. We put the bags in and drove around. My wife was the one I had to sell on it. I was convinced of it even though it had the least attractive looks. One drive sold her. We put 90K on it before we traded it in on a '91 Vanagon. We now have 116K on the '91. Once when we were head up north in the winter in February at night for the funeral of my Dad, my wife was driving and it was cold and icy. We got to the point where we needed to pull off and fill and change drivers. She signaled for the offramp and found the ramp covered in ice. I woke up and went up front. She kept it straight, but down below was an island separating the lanes. We hit it dead-on and ended up on top of it okay. The body was damaged from a 4"x4" sign post we sort-of side-swiped. We'd driven over a metal post holding a small reflector on the tip. We checked the van out and ourselves and then limped on the ice to the gas station. We limped on north up to Salina, KS on the ice. When the road was clear of ice, the transmission wouldn't shift out of 2nd. We pulled into a motel and the next morning I took it to a transmission place my brother suggested. The way there the car shifted fine. The mechanic and I drove it and everything was okay. The car tracked and the transmission shifted perfectly. We went back to the shop and he looked underneath, pulled the dipstick and smelled it. He said as far as he could tell everything was okay. He'd have to pulled the transmission and open it up to know anything further, but as far as he could tell, nothing was wrong. So I took it back and we drove it until we traded it without one transmission problem. It took that impact well because we hit the curb of the island dead-on, but I also believe it took it better than any other minivan would have. It's a tank and get's similar mileage(16-19mpg), but it turns around in a parking lot like a bicycle and has more space inside than a U-haul moving van. The "weekender" package allows one of us room to sleep while the other drives. We almost got rid of it this summer, but we ended up keeping it and I'm grateful. It has its obvious limitations, but I live with them very easily.

We've owned VW Vans and Vanagons for years. They carry more than any minivan, and are much more versatile.

Sleeps more people than a BMW or a Lexus. (More fun to drive than the Lexus.) Easier to see over other cars than my old Fiat.

I like my Vanagon a lot. It is a good compromise between power and economy. It could use a bit more power, but when I fill up, I appreciate it. It is also a good compromise between size, maneuverability and comfort. It has a short wheelbase which allows me to maneuver into and out of situations most people (even in small cars) wouldn't attempt, and yet it still is reasonably comfortable on the highway (except in gusty weather). I can haul full size sheets of plywood and all kinds of other stuff (and even lock it up while I go inside somewhere to eat - try that in a pickup). I have traveled all over the US and Mexico in it and it has never stranded me. It is as predictable as the tides.

Me gusta mis Volkswagens! I love my Volkswagens! J'aime mes Volkswagens!

The vehicle discussed is the most practicle and universal mode of transportation and traveling I have ever owned. And I have owned a few diverse vehicles - 1969 International Harvester converted school bus with a 304 short-block, 1983 Honda Accord, 1998 Jeep Cherokee, ...and 1987 Toyota Landcruiser. It is great in town, just like a minivan, in the the woods, on the beach or in the city after a postgame football celebration you have a small RV. It's not got the best pickup (zero-60mph in a bit), but I don't need to rush. Thanx for your radio show! FYI - if you ever get a stumper question relating to the malfunction (not working at all) of the wipers, turn signels, and such on this vehicle. And, all fuses work... it will be in the ignition switch, which worked perfectly well to begin with!*? ~

I love the space inside. I have a son who uses a wheelchair and its great for moving the chair about. I will keep the van for 12-15 years since I don't have to use a lift or ramps on it (when I roll the wheelchair in and out).

For the purpose of hauling around 6 children (and occasionally more-we are foster parents) we have found nothing else that gives us the room and comfort that our VW van does. We love it.

Great Vehicle. I've owned only 4 vehicles in 25 years, 3 have been VW Vanagons. Great vehicle for touring, camping for two people. Great ground clearance for the more daring.

A comfortable utilitarian car

I like my car

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