Comments on Big Blue's Online Carburetor: Keynote Presentation: What VW bus/van is right for...

Jahmikes - If you are in California, consider smog...

2012-02-03T21:41:11.448-08:00

Jahmikes - If you are in California, consider smog inspection. Older is better in that case!

Jahmikes - early bays have the early engine until ...

2012-02-03T21:39:57.889-08:00

Jahmikes - early bays have the early engine until '72. I dog the early engine, but it's what I learned. I will say I have dreamed of top engine access for Big Blue (a '68) which is available on the '72 and newer. Might be worth it.

There's a strong argument to be made that the best bay window is a '71.

Great article! I am in the same position as Art.....

2012-01-30T12:55:02.828-08:00

Great article! I am in the same position as Art.. trying to decide which bus is for me. I had a '77 in my late teens and traveled all over the US in it.

I am leaning toward 76 - 79 westfalia but mostly because i like how the interior is arranged. Does anyone have thoughts about purchasing an early 70's vs late 70's?

I am only mildly mechanically inclined so any insight from the pros would be more than welcome!

thanks.

michael

First of all, great post! And strange, in my firs...

2012-01-27T09:24:11.613-08:00

First of all, great post!

And strange, in my first post on the Samba five years ago was entitled: "Which VW is for me?"
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2011796&highlight=#2011796

My recommendation to ArtBeatnik, and anyone else considering owning a vintage car, is to assess your interest/ability to learn mechanical concepts. If for whatever reason you aren't interested one bit in how to maintain your vintage car, then you definitely will need to have a local mechanic who knows the type of car you are purchasing. If you are in a smaller area, it may be hard to find someone who knows how to work on air-cooled VWs. Like others have said, it's not like jumping in your newer car and driving off all the time, never worrying about the mechanics of the vehicle. Who ever really thinks about replacing the fuel lines in a newer car? Well, as a lot of us know, if you don't do it in your air-cooled bus/beetle, you may end up with a smoldering pile of German engineering. Of course (and I think we will see this quite a bit more in the future) there is the option of getting a vintage ACVW, and having someone put a modern engine in it, like the Vanagon Subaru conversions that are growing in popularity. You are right, a lot of folks on The Samba can be jerks...especially if you haven't done a search or misspell a word. But there are some good people on there, and especially on itinerant-air-cooled.com. I personally prefer the later Bay Window buses because of the fuel injection. I also wouldn't mind a Vanagon, but I'd probably want a Subaru conversion one, because of all the horror stories I read about the water-cooled ones, and the early air-cooled ones.

I can relate to having a love for VWs but not bein...

2012-01-25T10:44:26.106-08:00

I can relate to having a love for VWs but not being all that mechanically inclined. My advice would be to take your time deciding what it is you want. The one regret I have is when I see a Bus that seems to be in much better physical condition than my own, but is the same price I originally paid to obtain The Pig. I love The Pig though, my daughter and her fellow 2 year old compadrre have already grown an affinity for it as well. Penelope has recently started begging me to take her on rides around the lake all the time! I always resolve myself to never be in a hurry when I'm in the bus. The first few extended trips through the Rocky Mountains I was filled with anxiety about the long lines of vehicles forming behind me as The Pig slowly traversed the steep grades. My anxiety was eventually replaced with apathy. Who cares if they are riding my ass, I'll just take it that much easier. I have a 76 and it has definitely cruised at 75, but I never have had the courage to do it for more than a couple of minutes. I'm just more comfy at 65 or below. High winds really push you around driving the highways in my part of the world, and I just cherish life a little too much than to take unnecessary risks. The Vans look appealing to me, I like the interior set up, and its slightly bigger in there than my bay window. That high top looks sweet by the way. I dont regret my decision to buy the bus at all, I have gotten everything I expected out of it and more. If your an introvert or wish to be left alone, start working on your communications skills, and get ready to have your bubble invaded, because these things attract attention. There is just something about them. I found a great mechanic that keeps my bus rolling, and I can say mine has not been all that expensive to maintain.

I started a comment, but it got really long, so pl...

2012-01-25T09:01:32.140-08:00

I started a comment, but it got really long, so please see my response at http://www.pennyntranny.blogspot.com

Brett, that was so nice of you not to feed him to the sharks. The Samba is invaluable, but those guys can be brutal!

1. But still, excepting some details, Darwin was r...

2012-01-25T06:51:33.643-08:00

1. But still, excepting some details, Darwin was right.

2. Big Blue's Primary Driver is doing 1960s VW engineers (the guys who'd know) a slight disservice here. An up-to-spec 1972 or later VW bus will, mountain passes and traffic excepted, cruise quite happily at 75 mph all day long. It's my hobby horse and I like to ride it, but it's true. Those engineers didn't just make up numbers to list as "Maximum and Cruising Speed" in the owner's manuals. Drive as slow as you want and pick all the apples you want, by all means. Just know that if your bus can't go 78mph (1972+) or 65mph (from the mid-1960s), then something is wrong with it. Early early buses--the ones you'll never be able to afford, no offense--are the only ones whose truly glacially slow speeds are a matter of fact, and not of legend.

3.-5. I'm not sure why BB's D is touting air-cooled Vanagons here, but much learned opinion (not mine, mind you; I'm an unabashed late bay window guy all the way) holds that air-cooled Vanagons (1980-1983.5) are the worst of the bunch. See: http://gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=54

All that said, I really think you (or your wallet) have to be a bit of a masochist to own an air-cooled VW. If you buy it thinking you'll be reliving some fairytale past that never existed, I'll give you two frustrating years in the scene.

IMHO.

Alright,
whc03grady.