What I Wish I Knew Before I Bought a Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the Volkswagen Vanagon, particularly the Westfalia camper version, and the experiences of owning and maintaining this iconic vehicle. It provides insights from the perspective of a Vanagon owner, covering topics such as the vehicle's design, reliability, and suitability for different types of owners.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Vanagon Westfalia

1. What made the author seek out a Westfalia?

• The author wanted a car that he could enjoy during the summer and go camping with, while also driving something unique and not commonly seen.
• The ability to sleep in the vehicle wherever he goes, without having to pay for campgrounds, was a major appeal.
• The Vanagon Westfalia combined the author's passions for automobiles and travel/camping.

2. What was the process of finding and purchasing the author's Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author spent about a year searching for the right Vanagon Westfalia, as they were already expensive at the time.
• The author was looking for a van in good condition, with a focus on the body, as he didn't want a project car.
• The author had to act quickly when a reasonably priced Vanagon Westfalia became available, as they were in high demand.
• The author eventually found his van through a well-known Vanagon enthusiast in the local community, who initially advised the author against buying a different van due to the amount of work required.

3. What upgrades and repairs did the author make to the van?

• The author replaced the original 14-inch wheels with 16-inch steel wheels and BFGoodrich KO2 off-road tires for a more rugged look, even though he doesn't actually go off-road.
• The author added HELLA fog lights at the front and a ladder at the back to access the roof rack.
• The author replaced the tent material over the pop-top, as the original was in poor condition.
• Beyond these modifications, the author tried to keep the van as original as possible.

4. What is the most underrated aspect of the Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author believes the Vanagon Westfalia is an incredibly intelligent and well-designed vehicle, with every inch of space utilized effectively. The author feels the modern Volkswagen California camper vans are still inspired by the smart design of the Westfalia.

5. What is the most overrated aspect of the Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author doesn't find the mini-fridge and stove unit in the Westfalia to be very useful, and prefers to use a portable stove and cooler instead.
• The author had an issue with a propane leak in the van, which led to an evening of burning off the remaining propane.

6. What is the most memorable experience the author has had with the Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author had a breakdown while driving to Tennessee, which led to the van being towed to a Volkswagen shop in Pennsylvania. The author had to fly home and later return with his father to pick up the repaired van.
• This experience made the author realize that the Vanagon Westfalia is best suited for weekend trips, and not for longer journeys, as there is always the worry of something going wrong with an older vehicle.

7. What type of person should not own a Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author believes the Vanagon Westfalia is not suitable for someone who is not a car enthusiast or does not have a passion for mechanics and working on older vehicles.
• The author states that these vans are old and require constant maintenance, so someone who just wants to use the van for camping trips without any worries should not own one.
• The author acknowledges the Vanagon's reputation for reliability issues, but believes it's more about the age and mileage of the vehicles rather than inherent problems with the model.

8. What does the author wish they had known before buying the Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author suggests that they may have been better off buying a Weekender version of the Vanagon, which has the pop-top but without the full camping setup that the author doesn't use much anyway.

9. How would the author describe the driving experience of the Vanagon Westfalia?

• The author notes that the Vanagon is significantly slower than a modern vehicle, with a unique driving position and handling characteristics that require some adjustment.
• The brakes are also not as strong as a modern car, so the driver needs to slow down progressively and not go too fast.