In 1984 I purchased a new Vanagan and turned in my 1974 VW bus. The performance was like night and day. I shipped my VW Van to the Philippines and back when I had a military transfer to that country. I had to have the catalytic converter taken off 30 days before loading it upon the ship because they didn't have unleaded gas in the Philippines. The change resulted in a 7 mpg increase in performance. On one occasion, I had nineteen people comfortably in the van. No seat belts were required overseas. With the standard7 people in the Vanagan it is possible to have plenty of room for luggage without crowding.

@privateprivate1865

Жыл бұрын

I heard the wasserboxer leaked and didnt hold up well when compared to the earlier air-cooled versions. What you say friend 🤔☮️

@Thomas63r2

Жыл бұрын

I owned a couple of the air cooled VW vans. I would rate them as a 60,000 mile engine. Good thing they were cheap to rebuild.

@pyronitro

Жыл бұрын

19 people in a van! i had only 14 in my old bay bus in the Philippines in the 80s. i miss that bus.

@yanni2112

11 ай бұрын

@@pyronitro I miss the Philippines, 87 WestPac!

i miss the shenanigans they used to do in these old reviews, made it fun

In 1984 my father bought a Vanagon. It was a great van, very roomy and we took it on a lot of camping trips, but it suffered from the following: Lack of power. On hills it was very sluggish. On hot Southern California summers, the engine got really hot. The water pump was inadequate, it had to pump water from the rear engine to the front radiator and failed constantly. The clutch suffered from the same issue and had to be changed twice a year. On long trips it would develop vapor lock, and you would have to wait 30 minutes or so (especially on a hot day) to start the engine. It had a plastic radiator that failed after a few years. Other than that, it was a decent van

Haha. I think this was the very first video I watched, been pure addicted these retro videos ever since. Even though I'm not from America, we have plenty of these over here in Britain too and these retro reviews are brilliant.

I am german and people still love these VW T3 vans here. Even with rust and several kinds of damages you have to pay a lot of money to get one, in relation to other used-cars. I am saving money for quite a while now and still can't afford one.

The slalom is impressive!

I own an 88 Syncro (the all wheel drive version) and I LOVE IT!!

@MrZodac

3 жыл бұрын

Take good care of it ( or him, if he´s got a name as it is tradition here in germany ) . :-)

@dietdoubledew8986

3 жыл бұрын

@Castiel Tony Dunno if anyone cares at all but why is your account created at the same date as Lincolns account?

@dietdoubledew8986

3 жыл бұрын

@Lincoln Elian It took me 2 minutes or less to figure out that instaspawn will not work and only steals data nice try bot.. Btw the source code of your comments shows that this was proably manual edited..So if you want access to a real bot network contact me via pm

VERY professional review! Not only does the Vanagon prove to be the best , but the review, too!

I used to have one , with camping package , full bed and lots of storage , not the camper , i used it a lot , very comfy, it all ended when returning to Maryland from Florida , the engine split open , still great memories.

The best van I've ever owned. I wish I still has it. I'd jump at a ti top in a minute.

best car i ever owned! went in snow awesome! hauled as much cargo as a chevy suburban. scrapped 1200 lbs in it with no engine lag. you forget its a van n think youre driving a rabbit. pretty zippy. i had the water colled 2.1. got so much ass in it 🍻

I remember the rear-engined rear-wheel drive Volkswagen Vanagon. I've never owned one, nor have I ever driven one myself, but I have ridden in plenty as a passenger when I was a boy. It's a shame that Volkswagen discontinued the rear-engined Vanagon. I've always liked the idea of having the engine in the rear of the car, driving the rear wheels.

@caseyl3789

4 жыл бұрын

I thought Volkswagen was going to bring these back. Similar to the new beetle that are now cancelling? A modernized version of the 1960s Volkswagen microbus?

It's the Shaggin' Wagon!

@egenolfhenning4084

8 жыл бұрын

+SabreLilly yup

I still have my 84. Unique vehicle. It's a love it or hate it type vehicle.

@brettcannon7741

7 жыл бұрын

Now I bought a second 84. This one the westfalia version. They really are irresistible.

@fernandoperez5137

7 жыл бұрын

brett cannon de le van a soltar las llantas traseras con todo y tambor

@artiegohome

7 жыл бұрын

Did you see the episode of Wheeler Dealers where they purchased a VW van and "converted" it into a camper?

@brettcannon74

6 жыл бұрын

TackleberryFife I did! It's happening more and more as westfalia's become too expensive.

@albear972

4 жыл бұрын

Im in your second description. 😎

Looks awesome snaking through the cones!

Probably some of the best rear bench seats I’ve seen in a van. Actual armrests in the 3rd row!

I also drove these in the US Army stationed in West Germany. These were great very utilitarian. Put several troops, cargo, and also flag officers with the center table and facing seats. Swiss Army knife of a bus.

Love this one. As reliable and rugged as could be.

I always loved this one box van style, yeah your legs are more at risk sometimes, but in my opinion i love the bus like view It gives and this is how a real van should look.

@trinifirst6702

6 жыл бұрын

The Vanagons have a built in "bull bar" in the front of the van. You're safe from font end collisions

2:39 That was a big plot twist...

I've never driven a Vanagon, but I have driven a mid-1980's Toyota Van, which is also has the front seats over the wheels, and things like that, and I've never been afraid.

My favorite episode of Motor Week.

Very good review, VW is also manufactured in South Africa and when Germany discontinued this vehicle and replaced it with the front engine fwd, SA kept the old vehicle in production using 2.6 l Audi 5 cyl engine and include an extra low first gear for caravanners towing big vans. Increased the glass size and added an internal fridge and full airconditioni g Stopped production in early 90's

I still own my 1987 Vanagon Syncro I bought new. If Volkswagen still manufactured them I would buy one in a heartbeat.. The vehicle especially the 4x4 version is awesome.

I bought my 1987-1/2 Vanagon Multivan new in early 88. I have over 300,000 miles on it. It’s presently in for a new 2.4 litre engine. It runs on Ronal rims and has some Projektzwo features. On flat terrain in have seen nearly 100 mph indicated. We have eight vehicles but this is a favorite! (Others include Porsches and a Rolls-Royce).

do you guys have any reviews of the 80s econolines? or mid 90s 3000gt not the spyder or 3rd Gen mitsubishi eclipse?

My family in the late 1980s switched from an earlier model VW camper to one of these. It was a huge positive change. Any nostalgia of the older type of VW campers had worn off by that point. The newer one was automatic with a more powerful engine. It was more aerodynamic so less wind noise. It had power steering I believe. However, the consistent problem we had with VWs was that the engines would generally go at about 100k miles. We had to replace engines a number of times with different vehicles. I later had a VW Fox where the same thing happened. I traded that car. I believe that was the last VW my family has had. We love reminiscing about them though.

@Tegelane5

2 жыл бұрын

VW should have used ordinary 4 cylinder gas engines like those in Golf2 and Golf3. They fit as euro T3 diesel is same size.

crazy how the 80 in america was a completely different place

@jake_of_the_jungle9840

3 жыл бұрын

HumbledGod good things never last

@BabyBugBug

3 жыл бұрын

Better than the garbage that exists now.

@punchy207

2 жыл бұрын

@@BabyBugBug yeah ok

The engine is in the back because it was used by the German military (Bundeswehr), so bullets can't damage the engine if it hits the front. Also you don't have to get out of the car to jump start the battery if needed, and the center of gravity is exactly in the middle of the car, as the chassis is completely symmetric front to back, and the weight of the engine in the back is about the two adults in the front. And, one wrench (size 13) is all you need for all the nuts in the car. Engineering is not about cupholders and armrests.

@MrGoogelaar

7 жыл бұрын

NorceCodine Tell us more about the jump starting part...

@TRAUMACORE

7 жыл бұрын

USB and Car Battery Charger 150 in walmart

@Potaterfilms

7 жыл бұрын

it's a matter of opinion

@lorenzo_br5803

7 жыл бұрын

+Soren G "By 92"? The bettle was made in Mexico up to 2004 and the VW microbus was produced up to 2013 here in Brazil!

@MyFabian94

6 жыл бұрын

In a Crash I would rather be in a T3 than a T4.

My grandmas neighbors have one of these. They lifted it and put big off-road tires, put a camo wrap on it and put an exterior roll cage on it. Very interesting to see it in the same garage is an Acura MDX in a Lexus IS350

I had one..you had better check the coolant often because if it gets low an air bubble will form resulting in a hot spot and burn a hole in the intake manifold. Very expensive repair. Otherwise, very comfortable and well designed van. Especially the poptop camper model

Show me any other bus of this time that's still on the road. These T3's are now collectables.

@lee2217

4 жыл бұрын

They are only on the road because people are willing to weld and rebuild engine

@matthewstorm5188

4 жыл бұрын

Not to mention resale value. Vanagons have a cult following that is willing to pay LOTS of money for these things. Because of this, it is worthwhile to keep them in good running condition. The same thing is not true about, say, a Caravan or Aerostar. Even if both of these minivans (and others) may be more reliable and roadworthy.

@lee2217

4 жыл бұрын

Matthew Storm I agree they have a cult following but they are vastly overpriced Demand affects price Scene tax doesn’t help

@shadowthesi

3 жыл бұрын

The Toyota Van from the 80s

@officialvicelitti9436

3 жыл бұрын

they mostly sell for more than they did then now

My dad had this car & we had a lot of fun camping trips in it :)

Hey motorweek, do you guys have a review of the Trailblazer?

They are super popular in hippie areas with many camping people, the westfalia camper conversion is all over the place, they were Euro-slow even into the much newer vans, even for the early 80's 0-60 in 18.5 is a bit terrifying!

@johnkempf1808

3 жыл бұрын

18.5 is a bit terrifying! What is your hurry?

Fabulous van

RESPECT.

Very nice. "The Syncro Heresy" is for the 4x4 edition.

The VW bus is one of my all time fave vehicles, so I can't ever find a fault with it, and now with water-cooling, we can finally get good heat too.

The most efficient use of space , short on power

The movie Mac and me had a vanagon. It was a silver 1987 though.

Good fricken video!

I miss the early and sometimes whimsical days of this show!!!

I had 2 friends who had one. Both suffered a huge amount of electrical problems after only a few years. Super fun vehicles.

@johnkempf1808

3 жыл бұрын

Compared to modern electrics the Vanagons wiring is childsplay.

The 1983 Vanagon, though, was the last (non-Latin American) VW made with the air-cooled Beetle engine!

I love Volkswagen ♥️♥️♥️

Very Nice. I never saw this one. How bout the Audi 4000 or 5000 (C2), VW Quantum, MK1 Jetta, Porsche 924, BMW 320i, MB 240D 300D w123 or the Peugeot 604????

Visit a town called Pulaski Virginia . For some reason a guy has bought up a local long defunct Dodge dealership and flowershop to store his accumulation of what appears to be hundreds of these type of VW vans . The town recently took him to court and he's received a fine . As far As I know the vehicles aré not for sale . I've also heard he's accumilating more in other towns . To each his own . IMO .

I have a friend that's very into these vans, he had a westfalia that had a newer turbo bettle motor conversion and a AWD syncro that he would take offroad. Very strange to drive though sitting on the front wheels

Digging those Calvin Klein jeans.

'84, not '86. I have this on DVD.

Not the first water cooled engine in a vanagon. I had an ‘82 west with a diesel that was water cooled. 48 sweet horses. 😩

@brettcannon74

2 жыл бұрын

They sold less than 1200 of those in USA

I seen the T2's in mint condition but I don't see T3s anymore. German vehicles are so expensive to fix. My first car was a 1993 VW Fox. I loved it

NICE ONE

Sunglasses, long hair and moustaches, it's really at 70's 80's movie.

Wow, 0-60 18.2 seconds. that's at sea level.,

Who invented the cabover designed vans originally?

This is when moterweek actually evaluated vehicles.

Where did they say the engine was?

2:35 So this is what "The Last Real Man" Silas Young did before becoming a pro wrestler... unless that's Bill Cowher.

Back then vehicles sure did have a lot more places to hide your pot.

I used to work in a VW dealership in Canada. I remember these things would be sitting around in the garage for weeks waiting for parts or for mechanic to figure out what was wrong with it.

@estudianteenfermeria6788

4 жыл бұрын

This vans are so special!. The mechanics they must be kwons their job, the tune ups!, the fails, an any mechanical problems!. Many modern vw mechanics the dont know nothing about air cooled, older vw jettas, rabbits mk1, sciroccos!, quanttums, vanagons,etc..

@stuartbear922

4 жыл бұрын

Digifant

2:42 sooo needs the Benny Hill theme music there, yakety sax

Cool :)

The T3 is my favourite..

"This korny chase scene seemed quite irresistible."

Beautiful car hill climb with this weight goes realy hard for this car

I swear I saw someone drive a Vanagon last week in New Jersey!

My nanny had one of these. It was a Vanagon Westphalia.

looks just like my 84 GL.

Not mentioned are the far superior results in front crash tests. Also the fully independent suspension and rack and pinion steering make the Vanagon superior in cross winds.

Here's a MotorWeek Retro Review of the Volkswagen Vanagon from 1984.

THis car is absolutely crazy

I currently have an 84 Westfalia automatic. We have camped out of it probably a 100 times. I am selling it soon to let someone else enjoy it.

4:46 This guy =)

I love my van.

@fernandorocha-dx1wv

7 күн бұрын

Very nice and comfortable VW vanagon, fantastic van and great space interior

0-60 in 18.2 i can fart faster than that lol

@mrflamewars

7 жыл бұрын

I know this for a fact because I have a 2000 Corolla, and I am certain my little beige, base model corolla could blow a Vanagon into the weeds. Holy crap the wasserboxer is an immense piece of shit.

@brettcannon7741

7 жыл бұрын

Now it makes all sense. You drive a 2000 Corolla! Sad.

@glendaly6367

7 жыл бұрын

Toyota Corolla is one of the best made vehicles of all time. They are quiet, smooth, solid, and have reliability that cant be beat. The Camry is the only thing that beats it, and the Accord is just as solid and reliable.

@mi16t

6 жыл бұрын

John wassershitter LOL i can piss faster than it can reach 60

@mi16t

6 жыл бұрын

Glen Daly agree on all points but it is also appalling to drive. Lots of zzzzzz

HOT mustaches!

My dad has an air cooled vanagon. We lived in the rockies. I'll never know how we managed to get up some of those mountain passes haha

@johnkempf1808

3 жыл бұрын

I live there now. Dropping to 2nd works but traffic behind you doesn't.

My parents had one when I was little. I was always afraid it was going to tip forward on to it's nose

@RoadCone411

3 жыл бұрын

Ironic because it’s probably the one thing it wouldn’t do!

I have owned 3 Vanagons. Hated the air cooled engine. The 1.9 & 2.1 engines were pretty good. Each had over 150,000 miles when I sold them. The Westfalia models were very comfortable campers. The only drawbacks were lack of horsepower and air conditioning. The Vanagon had a rear mounted a/c unit that hung from the rear ceiling. It robbed valuable hp & was ineffective.

@brettcannon74

4 жыл бұрын

Yes is why I took the belt off the compressor of my 84 westy. I'd rather have the storage up there than that fan

Those VW engines were gutless...

@alextran8188

4 жыл бұрын

@ true but when you are going up I-5 Towards California from Oregon you need all the power you can get. Especially if you are fully loaded.

@stuartbear922

4 жыл бұрын

Keep them away from mountains

@MichaelLewis-dj2sl

4 жыл бұрын

How dare you, thats almost 90hp.

it moves a lot of people, just not very quickly.

I think they are Rabbit (Mk1 Golf) taillights

@kamrankhan-lj1ng

2 жыл бұрын

U r right!

i always like the 90s one alot better this year look like a gti golf 84

A slow box...but dang, if I don't still love 'em.

5 жыл бұрын

They will do the speed limit, what more do you need?

amazing...$12,000 new...they're at least 2 to 3 times that now if they're in good shape

a classic. made to last. yeah, the engine is weak by today's standards but it'll be built better than most vehicles nowadays.

i have a 1984 vanagon hes right its VERY hard to control in the wind!

@stuartbear922

4 жыл бұрын

You need like 6 ply tires. Especially on a Westfalia.

Most of these are now running a STI engine in them. So don't be surprised if you see them flying

yes they are 944 Tailights.

I drove the hell out of one of these in NeedForSpeed II

T3 just one of the best vehicles ever to be built.

This report is total bullshit! I have an 85 vanagon and I can tell you this vehicle rides beautifully and is the nicest ride of anything I have ever driven. The uturn seems to happen on a dime! It cruises easily at 75 mph!

@Potaterfilms

7 жыл бұрын

what rpm are you pulling at 75

@MyFabian94

6 жыл бұрын

No Rev Indicator.

@wildbill23c

6 жыл бұрын

Wasn't this available in a 4WD model as well?

@goclunker

6 жыл бұрын

0 rpm, as it can only do 75 on the back of a tow truck

@Eatinbritches

6 жыл бұрын

This is a strange comment. The review was very favourable, it mentions the short turning circle and decent cruising ability. RPM at 75 MPH is something like 3500-4000 rpm IIRC.

I’ve got one. It might be slow but doesn’t matter with this

I'm Ron Burgundy you stay classy San Diego¡

67 to 82 hp?

I want one.

And to give it true Fahrvergnuegen install a 3.0L Subaru H6 engine with Freeway Flyer transmission!

27 MPG highway for a gasoline van is impressive even for today standards altough a 2.5 diesel should have been included

@brwi1

6 жыл бұрын

yeah. a camper model gets 16-18