Van Experts - 1989 Westfalia

[BavarianBeast]

Hey All,

I am looking at buying a coworkers 1989 VW Westfalia Vanagon. He has owned it since new in 1989. The thing is insanely good condition with everything working. I think it would be awesome to take camping and other small road trips. It only has 150,000km on the clock.

I am just curious what a reasonable price is for these? Are parts readily available? Fairly easy to maintain?

Thanks for the input.

Cheers,
BB

[sputnik]

Those things have a relatively high resale value, especially if they are diesel models.

It is not uncommon for people to spend $20-30k for a minty one.

EDIT: Here is a site to get an idea of the value of these things.

http://westfaliasforsale.com/

[roopi]

So hip of you.

[BavarianBeast]

Thanks Sputnik.

Originally posted by roopi
So hip of you.

Haha, indeed. I certainly don't fit the stereotype that would drive or go looking for one of these.

It's really more of an investment for me. He is letting it go for very little, and he's maintained it so bloody well that it seems to be a gem.

I also do a lot of hunting trips and camping trips in the summer. Looked at getting a trailer for my truck, but this is way cooler

[Canmorite]

Paging RedlyneMR2.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Having owned both an 86 vanagon westy and a 92 eurovan westy I have my opinions about both.

The 89s are the last year of the Vanagon and definitely the best. It may or may not have a/c and cruise, originally not even available on the Vanagon. Make sure the fridge turns on easily, they're propane powered and a pain to get working properly. Have a look at the engine, its a boxer engine which means the headgaskets love to leak. Use a coolant conditioner on all coolant flushes to make the HG last. The vanagons are slow, bad on gas but they're badass and everyone loves them. I would say someone could ask $15 000 for a van like that but at the end of the day you'd probably end up with $8k to 10K in your pocket. In my opinion, they aren't worth anymore than 10K just because for a few more grand you could probably find a Eurovan which is much more road and service friendly.

Road trips are amazing with these things. I got denied access into the US last year because they were too lazy to complete some needed paperwork at 11:30 at night, they sent me back, I literally parked and camped in the border crossing parking lot overnight. Having a car that you can park down town and pop the top to sleep in is the best!

Good luck

[ercchry]

Going from buying a new house in cash to a van down by the river... How cruel the markets can be...

[ShermanEF9]

parts are still fairly available. my friend actually just finished subaru swapping his. what a world of difference it makes.

[corsvette]

They're worth a small fortune to the right buyer. A friend sold his 87 last summer for $12,500, it had a rebuilt engine and was very nice but not mint. He asked 15k and it sold within 2 weeks.

They have a cult following. You can't go wrong buying it >10K. You'll also enjoy using it, my friend met so many people because of his westy. He broke down once and TWO separate fellow Westy owners pulled over to try and help. I'd love to own one some day, such a cool unit.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

If you do buy it, I have a recommendation for where to service/get parts for it. I used to work on German cars and we'd use these guys for parts and help with the old stuff.

Bushmasters on Edmonton Trail. They have a ton of parts available and extensive experience with the air cooled VW's. I've never walked in there without leaving with what I came for.

I'm always terrified of a front end collision with those things haha. You're better off jumping out of the car!

[HomespunLobster]

Originally posted by AE92_TreunoSC
If you do buy it, I have a recommendation for where to service/get parts for it. I used to work on German cars and we'd use these guys for parts and help with the old stuff.

Bushmasters on Edmonton Trail. They have a ton of parts available and extensive experience with the air cooled VW's. I've never walked in there without leaving with what I came for.

I'm always terrified of a front end collision with those things haha. You're better off jumping out of the car!

Just don't wear a seatbelt. You'll go flying out of harms way.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by corsvette
They're worth a small fortune to the right buyer. A friend sold his 87 last summer for $12,500, it had a rebuilt engine and was very nice but not mint. He asked 15k and it sold within 2 weeks.

They have a cult following. You can't go wrong buying it >10K. You'll also enjoy using it, my friend met so many people because of his westy. He broke down once and TWO separate fellow Westy owners pulled over to try and help. I'd love to own one some day, such a cool unit.

I can't understand why people pay so much for these.. never meet your heroes.

[finboy]

I almost bought a syncro (4wd) one last year but backed out. These things pretty much have been to the moon and back, and the lower the miles, the higher the price. If you can get a later model (1991 was the last year) you get some added features, but they are pretty basic, later models got a 5 speed which was nice.

Big things to watch for:
-coolant lines, they run the length of the vehicle and are prone to clogging
-fuel lines, the #1 recommendation is to swap as soon as you get them, they can light the engine on fire if they leak or rupture
-check for rust on the seams and by the windshield, rust free doesn't really exist in the vanagon world
-really look for rust behind the kitchen, vw out insulation behind it and it soaked up moisture from the fridge, rusting out the body behind it.
-transmissions are a weak king, even when you upgrade the motor, the transmission (which are usually 4 speed) aren't exactly stout
-be handy, everyone on thesamba.com (main vanagon board) have massive threads on their ongoing upgrades and repairs, it's a 30 year old german vehicle with camping bits, there will always be SOMETHING to do/fix

Pricing is tricky, they can sell for crazy money (like $80k us) for fully restored, later model syncro's, or reasonable prices. Lately the canadian market has deflated a bit, as all the rust free westy's are out west, where no one has a job, but US buyers are still interested due to the exchange rate (which is now diminishing against their favor still). A lot LIST high because they see the $80k ones on the samba, then linger. Ex. A syncro westy in Winnipeg has been listed for probably close to a year at $26k, another on the island sold for $15k in similar shape.

Don't expect to go fast, factory spec is 90hp I think, the vanagon/westy owners I have talked to stick to the right lame and top speed is about 105-110km on a flat surface with no head wind, mountain passes are a bit more nerve wracking.

I would still love one, they have a lot of character, and the community is really nice, but there is a reason it is cult like, they take a lot of commitment to keep running, and there is endless money that can be spent upgrading. If you decide against it, please send pics, would love to hear more about it.

[BavarianBeast]

Thanks for the input everyone. He is asking $8000 for his. 180,000km and it is probably the best looking 27 year old car I have ever seen. No rust, no scratches, I have no idea how he managed to keep it this mint. The only minor thing that appears to be wrong with it is that the clutch is slipping and will need to be replaced which isn't a big deal.

I think I'll be pulling the trigger...

[JRSC00LUDE]

You'd be crazy not too for 8k. I'd love something like that to take my son out in. Do it!

[toastgremlin]

8k is actually pretty reasonable for a Westy from what I've heard. Probably the first one I've heard of below five digits in the last few years that wasn't a parts van.

Subaru swap it when you do the clutch?

[Kjonus]

If you don't buy it let me know as I'm interested.

[craigcd]

Yup I have been looking for a while now, that is an amazing deal.

Been entertaining JDM Mazda Bongo's or Toyota Hiaces(although they are very pricey) because i cant justify spending top dollar on a 25 year old high km vehicle.

Not sure what would cause me more issues a old Westy or a JDM import!

[Redlyne_mr2]

Worth it for 8K, do it!

[78si]

I have an AWD 98 astro van GTRV. http://www.gtrv.com/
Its like a VW but you can pass cars and tow a trailer.