for VW T3 Bus OFF-Road and Outdoor Accessories for VW T3 … I easily lost traction in the 2wd vanagon good snow tires were mandatory in the white stuff. To be sure, the vanagon is a compromise. Gowesty Front Lift or Standard Springs – Pair [2WD T3 T25 Vanagon] $ 321.38 Select options; Related products. But, it’s a price one pays for fuel economy and longevity. Sure, a jeep is more capable, but the syncro is nicer at night , More of my van and trips here: http://shufti.wordpress.com. I don’t recall it being slow, although we were in city traffic, and it was also someone else’s work vehicle, so I wouldn’t have been trying to “see what it can do” anyway. Those absorbers are ideal for lovers of sportive but comfy driving experience. And when the time came to actually buy a minivan in 1992, the Vanagon was not a realistic option, and not just because it was out of production. Let’s face it; American minivans have always been designed more for carrying kids in the back than full-size adults. None of us want to remove our “Syncro” badges ,but honestly they are just 4WD Vanagons now . In the videos of those syncros off road, the suspension seems to have a pretty decent amount of travel. Post navigation ← VW T3 Vanagon Westfalia Atlantic 2WD Adventure Camper For Sale (SOLD) CampervanCulture.com Arctic Overland Series Part 1 → It’ll only take half a generation for the facts to be forgotten and young folk to wrongly believe people were buying new T1s in the 1960s! I always thought you guys were kidding about the “CC Effect,” but there it was, alive and well and in my face yesterday. Thanks for the article. Service hotline. But a really stellar box: Tall, straight, solid, rigid, superbly space efficient, and with nice big windows to boot. Please accept cookies to help us improve this website Is this OK? Having the front locked does affect steering quite a bit. They added more front crash protection to the Vanagon by installing hidden crash bars around the cab. But the increasingly popular solution is to re-engine the Vanagon, and the options are extensive. The name of the Technology which makes them an awesome 4 wheel drive system is called “Syncro” . For you non Vw guys , Yes our vans have “SYNCHROS” in the Transmission . Even the 2WD versions have exceptional traction, thanks to the rear engine. I didn’t even think that was possible!”. Getting into the back of a Vanagon through its giant sliding door is more like walking into a genuine bus than clambering into a glorified station wagon. I was comparing it to typical American vans, which really don’t have a comparable suspension. No doubt roomier and more capable than US vans but so are most things including the very expensive Benz mentioned above. These shock absorbers are engineered to outlast and outperform the competition. :o), Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2011 - 2021 Curbside Classics. Jan 7, 2017 - Explore Live Work Wander's board "Vanagon 2WD", followed by 496 people on Pinterest. Hersteller: Volkswagen Original. Westfalias and Syncros have a substantial premium, more so if it’s a Westy Syncro. And the Wasserboxer liquid cooled engine is known to have certain weaknesses, which can be mitigated considerably with the right maintenance as well as improvements. There is a cool factor to the camper. Gowesty VW T25, T3 & Vanagon 2WD Suspension Lift Kit Bundle (Free Ball Joint Spacers & Decals) $ 644.68 Read more; VW T25/T3/Vanagon T4 Rear Lower And Upper Spring Seat Set *4* $ 116.64 Add to cart; Koni Adjustable Twin-Tube Shock Absorbers – Rear $ 306.98 Add to cart; Koni Adjustable Twin-Tube Shock Absorbers – Front $ 276.28 Add to cart I’ve crawled in and out of Highlanders (barely made it), Traverses, Pacificas, and more since then, and only the Ford FLEX (gag on name again) trumps it for solid three row access. I guess where vehicular needs are concerned, most people are a bit closer to hippies and surfers than to scrap metal dealers:). Anyway, when it comes to sheer “Teutonic virtues” both VW models were outclassed by the Mercedes models. There is no car using the Japanese name for trade wind. More typical might be in the low-mid  twenties and up, depending on equipment and condition. Doggone it, Paul – You have just about sold me on one of these. It seems that some cars and trucks are predestined as they get older. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. You can modify it to be be better at one or another but the factory got the compromise pretty bang on. (T2 gasoline and T3 diesel), two Mercedes vans and two Ford vans. How much would a 1990 Grand Caravan AWD fetch? But he thought he had scored the deal of a lifetime. Maybe so, after reading this writeup! I learned this week that Passat is german for trade winds. (In the late seventies VW couldn’t offer a diesel at all) It’s a cliché folks, but the Mercedes TN really was the van-counterpart of the W123 and W124 diesel. How I lusted after one back in the day…. THESE ARE PREORDER ITEMS BEFORE ORDERING, PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND … Which makes it eminently suitable for a long life, in the right hands. In 2005 it was the best 7 seat wagon I could find that got reasonable gas mileage. Alistair. But I do remember being very favorably impressed with the ride, the road feel, and the cornering. I guess there is something to be said for the alpha-numeric names after all. The idea of one being used to haul kids over the Santa Cruz Mountain summit on Hw 17 almost daily with an automatic and air conditioned Vanagon just didn’t sit (with mommy). My old 72 westy, with its torsion bar suspension was more compliant on rough trials, better traction compared to my 2wd 82 vanagon westy. In the days of the VW T3 the scrap metal dealers drove Hanomag-Henschels (and the later Mercedes editions, I’m sure you remember them) and the hippies drove a, well…., VW T2 The Ultimate spring and suspension set ups for your VW T3/ T25 2WD or Syncro . Pretty often I see an emblem on the back of an old Volkswagen Golf with 2 rabbits mating. Kia does not offer a Pongyang. Brief history of VW T3 SYNCRO. for VW T3 Bus OFF-Road and Outdoor Accessories for VW T3 … Vanagon are now inevitably in the hands of its lovers; anyone who bought one naively decades ago and moaned about the performance or lack of power amenities or reliability and wished they’d bought a Caravan has long passed it on to more appreciative hands. All components are manufactured from the highest quality materials and machined to exacting tolerances. There was one that really stood out. Anyway, a timely and unexpected CC encounter. Modestly Stiffer & Slightly Taller than Stock moderately stiffer but designed to meet VW specs for vehicle ride height, alignment and shock valving. i’ve never been in one but i’d love to try it out. My dad and me once test-drove one of those, and that was pretty impressive. I remember riding in it once, thinking how slow and underpowered it was. (there was also a 4×4 BTW), These were great vans, but at least a class bigger (or two) than the Type 3. It’s not easy to justify to my friends why we drive this vehicle. Oh I see the JDM imports, deli as etc, around here and some are attractive. brought a tent along so the lads could sleep outside if they wanted, and that night they pitched the tent in front of the van. It’s all business here, with that big steering wheel and industrial-grade gear shift. Golf? I don’t think VW ever did better with names than it did with Rabbit and Fox. I hate do this but I have to argue your point on the long spring travel and traction of the vanagon. But you don’t. BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 front suspension for VW T3 2WD . 1-3 workdays . Paul, I don’t think VW sold any syncros with front lockers in the US. Where to start? The T3, especially the synchro, really is one cool van – which is probably why they’re still so darned expensive. With a box, obviously. My son’s scoutmaster toted a group of hyperactive younguns all over Texas in one of these. Oil Pressur Switch / Temperature Sensor for VW T3 Bus; Ignition, Distributor, Control Value for WBX VW T3 Bus / Glow System for TD VW T3 Bus; Oil Circuit for VW T3 Bus; Fuel Facility for VW T3 Bus. Lovely evening on the west coast of Vancouver island, end of August past. The Volkswagen Type 2 T3 is the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter named the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, Microbus in South Africa, T25 in England and Ireland, and Vanagon in North and South America. Its independent suspension all-round has long spring travel but is well damped. But it couldn’t wait, so blame yourself for its deficiencies . It was manufactured in Germany from 1979 until 1991. Most comfortable car I’ve ever had. It’s quite an experience to consciously buy a vehicle where you are embarrassed by the name. If you’re looking for a cheap chair-like seating AWD vehicle, find a Trooper or even more rare Acura SLX. it has an aftermarket quad-headlight grille and brush guards though, so while not exactly pretty, it’s one impressive-looking little rig. I compare owning a vanagon westy, and especially a syncro to owning a small boat. While I’ve never owned or driven a VW Vanagon, I have ridden as a passenger in an 80s rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Vanagon, and while I agree that it is different from the American minivans by Chrysler (Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, etc. GoWesty-designed progressive suspension lift kit for your 2WD T3/T25/Vanagon. Vanagon 2WD Schwenk Springs set of 2 rear & 2 front Springs You will find these Springs to be a huge improvement to your ride! Still have the 2.1 wassrboxer engine in it. What better starting point from which to build the ultimate multipurpose vehicle. Nothing could touch it in terms its ability to accommodate two (or more in a pinch) in a vehicle that is also perfectly suitable as a daily driver. I am from South Africa and don’t have all the options you have. I think you could sell me on this vehicle if I had the money. The T3 Vanagon was one of the most remarkable vehicles ever built, and has one of the most fanatical followings out there. It’s big enough on the inside to be comfortable, yet it’s small enough on the outside to be able to park where the American minivans can’t, because the engine sits so far ahead of the passenger area. The VW inline gas engine is the easiest swap by far, but its power curve is not ideal, especially for a Syncro. The steering is unassisted, but not really all that heavy, especially once the wheels start rolling just a bit. €125,00 BILSTEIN B6 front suspension for VW T3 2WD Add to cart. The seats in the Vanagon are kitchen chair height, as well as very comfortable. Required fields are marked *. Larger joints can be fitted which allows more travel and allows you to raise the van without damagingt the joints. A lot of these Mercedes TN/T1 models from the eighties are still on the road, doing their daily jobs. Before our first trip I said to my wife let’s do one and then sell it for a 4motion. VW T3 repair sheet metal side panel behind left WBX . Designed for hwy and rough road travel. Sometimes I have to turn around on a narrow road, often there is a lot of brush encroaching. Ford Freestyle. The control knob on the dash is a pull and turn to activate compared to straight pull for the rear locker. Produktinformationen: VW T3 silencer system complete incl. This entry was posted in campervanculture.com and tagged mods, t25, t3, upgrades, vanagon, vw, westfalia on October 10, 2016 by Daniel. That’s  a picture of CC reader Alistair somewhere in the back woods of British Columbia with his Syncro Westy. $ 605.10 ARB Flip Flops Size UK Size - 7 to 8 $ 36.30 VW T25 T3 Vanagon Hi-Lift Style Jack Adaptor For Factory Jacking Points $ 36.30 We needed a mommy-mobile, and a used Vanagon wasn’t going to cut it with mommy on many levels. More information 30% harder as original absorbers ideal... €299.00 *. BILSTEIN B4 rear suspension for VW T3 2WD Add to cart. I am not sure you can use the words, “durability” and “VW Van” in the same sentence, JP. I rode with him on a few deliveries, and he let me get behind the wheel once or twice. My folks ended up buying a slightly-used 1991 Fiat Ducato 4WD Camper (4WD also by Steyr-Puch, incidentally). Telephone support and counselling under: Know what I mean ? He bragged about it continually and it never seemed to break. I just think that from a practical standpoint, the VW is probably a better fit (if not by much) for most people. Yes, it’s not perfect; but it has a number of qualities that are unique, which convincingly convey greatness upon it.”, Are we allowed to use this argument against the author when he disagrees or dislikes the subject matter? Yeah, what can I say, I love my syncro and it does what I want it to do. All Hail the Vanagon! It’s a game. Cornering at speed — or even just taking the typical twists and curves of the average freeway — caused the elevated tail-end to fly around in a way that made me feel I was on the verge of losing control of the thing and spinning out. And the all-wheel drive Syncro version takes it to a whole other level; to the very peak of automotive Valhalla. great writeup on a cool vehicle. It also had a 2.4 liter diesel engine with perfect gearing for towing jobs. Accessories: Offroad / Campinng / Special Parts / Adhesives and Sealants for VW T3 Bus Specialties: Cruise Control / Rear Light / Mirror / Roof Rack etc. A big American van might have a smooth ride on the freeway, but the Vanagon’s supple legs come into their own once the road turns, or turns rough, or one turns off the road completely. But I like a good stiff structure, I like chair-high seats, I like manual transmissions, and I like durability. I could go on and on about the Vanagon, which is a bit odd, since I’ve never owned one. It just did everything better. Definitely a dream car of mine. But you don’t. There are just two aspects that have kept me from really wanting one so far: the thought of hitting something head-on without any crumple zone at all, and the fact that they always, always seem to rust at those vertical seams between the body panels. You need to keep on top of the maintenance and fix the little things. At each little town we visited we made friends just because people we interested in our vehicle. And it turns out that VW made my dream vehicle, to a T, even if I didn’t pursue it just then. considering the Mercedes T1: those are pretty great. I admit it is not for everyone and that is a good thing too. See more ideas about vw vanagon, vw van, vw syncro. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But size-wise, I’d say that they’re in a different league; great for camping, but a bit too big as a daily driver (alhough my aunt used hers that way for years). The desert area being an attractive winter destination for Canadians, they must have driven that sad thing all the way from BC, a testament to its durability, I guess. http://shufti.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/img_2734.jpg, the pic from last month’s trip (exploring the Klanawa river watershed on the west of Vancouver island). Actually, come to think of it, a somewhat eccentric friend years back in San Diego acquired one of these Vanagon Westfalia Syncros. And it just looks like it was meant to be there. Das erste und bis jetzt einzige Gewindefahrwerk für den T3 mit TÜV-Teilegutachten! We also test drove a Westfalia conversion (sold through MB dealers; they called it “James Cook” with decals to match). I hate the term T3 for these….. Neither T2s or T3s are 4wd vehicles (excepting T3 syncros), so their ability to move over rugged or slippery terrain will be limited compared to something like a Jeep or 4wd pickup truck. I can trump that. American vans seem inevitably to be rattletraps, sometimes even when new. But the added crash protection is a big plus. I remember saying to my friend, “Dave, this van handles almost like a sports car! The new Explorer is pretty cramped by comparison. Despite being a good foot shorter than a contemporary Grand Caravan, the Vanagon was massively roomier inside. Single tires at the back, but sometimes with the heavy-duty rear axle with dual tires. Hansen Motorsport Gewindefahrwerk für den VW Bus T3 2WD in Action. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=156366&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0, http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=498427&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0. I can do a cheap one, since I need neither the Westy package nor the Synchro. VW T3 2WD Radflo Shock System Like all Burley Motorsports products, their Radflo shock absorbers are deliberately overbuilt. I didn’t mean to say that the suspension travel on the syncro is poor, just that it is noticeably less than the older breadbox van. As we say here, “the sun rises for free”. I was, what, 12? These vans and light trucks were basically fool- and abuse proof. That’s why there’s more weight up front than the older transporters, and not as good rear drive traction. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wooriegi/7052610561/in/set-72157610911117470. Various conversions are done to the engine. I for one feel uneasy when people (not just Germans!) I had a chance to ride in one again just recently, and all my impressions formed in the past were reinforced: the solid body, the excellent ride, the superb view, the firm but comfortable seats, despite being thirty years old. Well, the Vanagon really wasn’t a minivan; it was a European full size van, the equivalent of our Econolines and such, despite being less than 180″ long. But the use of German names just doesn’t translate well here. Often driven by scrap metal dealers (or other “recyclers”), they mostly drive the single cabs with a flatbed. All Rights Reserved. There was a point in my younger life where I imagined what my ultimate vehicle would be; one that had the least compromises and could do more things than any other: drive and handle well, be roomy enough so to able to live out of it, have four wheel drive, be long-lived, and have a turbo-diesel engine for good efficiency. The XXXXXXXX was one of the most remarkable vehicles ever built, and has one of the most fanatical followings out there. VW Spring is coming! Firm but Responsive Feel - … Eliminate the sag Schwenk Springs for all 2wd and syncro campers, vans, Dokas and singlecabs And God as my witness, I still OWN one. I enjoy tinkering around with my van, it is a hobby. It’s a shame that the diesel was discontinued for the Vanagon. Again concerning the Mercedes: those are pretty rare with 4WD, at least I’ve hardly ever seen one. It was, by far, the best van he ever drove. I wonder if an Alaskan type camper on a 4wd Toyota truck would be more useful for what I want. The Vanagon is again unbeatable in that regard. It is a daily driver and is a hobby. Not original at all. That was neat too, but a bit big on the outside and hideously expensive. Great article as always. The VW T3 was a good workhorse, but it was outclassed by a fellow-German from 1977 onwards. I’d only driven full-sized US cargo vans till then, and had not liked their ride at all — especially when empty. “inevitably many of the comments (or even the text) will be utterly predictable: it’s so slow…underpowered…unreliable…couldn’t compete with American minivans…it’s so slow…underpowered… Ok; I get it. They are made in America by a leading automotive spring manufacturer that supplies many aftermarket companies. So, I’d have to pass on these as too slow, expensive, difficult parts and service, etc. But the Syncros are in a league of their own. The result is that Vanagons today still command prices way beyond that of any old minivan. No minivan has ever been able to seat three across in the back with anything approaching the room and comfort of the Vanagon’s back seat. General import We all like to gripe about the tsunami of alpha-numeric model designations (240D, 740i, XR4Ti, etc) but the counter argument is the never ending stream of stupid model names from Volkswagen. But anyway, now I can admire the ridiculously named Vanagon on its own merits, and I judge it to be worthy of the VW Bus tradition. (“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me….”, speaking of hippies), Oh, I agree the Mercedes is a great van and very tough and durable. And remember, even the newest one ( not counting the South African production) is 22 years old. - Powered by. (In the late seventies VW couldn’t offer a diesel at all), It’s a cliché folks, but the Mercedes TN really was the van-counterpart of the W123 and W124 diesel. Seal kit, without cat for the 2WD 2.1 ltr. VW T25 T3 Vanagon Westfalia Skylight Plastic Insulated Double Skinned *BRONZE* $ 91.98 Add to cart ‘Culture’ Diff-Lock T-shirt – Black $ 18.40 Select options; Interior Festoon Bulb Upgrade [VW T2 T3 T25 T4 LT] $ 6.13 Add to cart The early air-cooled ones really were a bit overwhelmed by typical American conditions and expectations, although one can certainly build up an air cooled VW engine to make them less pokey.

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