"M.T. Blake" (autohabit)
07/12/2018 at 19:00 • Filed to: ridiculousness, vw vanagon, vw, vanagon, westfalia, synchro, 4wd, diesel, Goodnight Oppo
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"M.T. Blake" (autohabit)
07/12/2018 at 19:00 • Filed to: ridiculousness, vw vanagon, vw, vanagon, westfalia, synchro, 4wd, diesel, Goodnight Oppo | 3
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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I’ve always known that the VW Vanagon was over priced, but this is madness! I’ve found two examples of the Vanagon for sale that must have some sort of a pulse on a market that should be ready to stroke out any day. Let’s check the pulse and have a defibrillator on standby, because these can’t be the future. They can’t... Can they?
Pop the top and pop open the wallet.
Example Number One:
This looks like a time machine to the camping world of the 1980s. A time when, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , you’d be perfectly happy to mount a getaway in this mini-RV. Just switch the blue Chevy step-side in the movie with this VW going a lot slower.
This is a 1983 VW Vanagon “Camper” ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). There is a little damage on the top and the wheels look less than impressive. It is wearing original California Sunset license plates which lead me to believe it is a native California car, or at minimum it was brought into the state early in its life.
I wonder how many of these look this good now?
The seller is advertising it with 343 miles on it... where did this thing come from? A museum? Or did a guy who bought it in 83' die after the Russians invaded, only to have the VW sit in probate for the last 35 years?
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Now, I’m not going to pretend and make you believe I am a ‘Westy’ type of guy. I don’t know a lot about them other than hippies used to live in these and now hipsters with Snap-chatty money are buying them.
What I do know? There are very few people that are going to buy it at a price like this...
$105,000.
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I’m not done yet.
I have another example far cheaper (its going to be relative) but much more heavily used.
How much cheaper? About half.
How much more used? One thousand times more used.
Driving lights? This thing goes fast enough to need them?
I’d much rather have this one. It is a 1986 VW Vanagon Westfalia Synchro . Say that three times fast (or “ Toy Boat” if you’re good at tongue twisters). This one is 4wd. It has bumper things, a high lift jack bolted to it, and solar. You want solar... You know you do. It also has something that ties most of my current writing together. A “new” diesel conversion!
Just like cousins from the hills, keeping it in the family.
I love the conversion. All Westies should come with a diesel. Period. No other engine makes as much sense. Even the Subaru engines aren’t as good as the VW diesel. More torque, better mileage, and even better ( arguably ) reliability.
Basic. Simple. The gauges look like skin tags though.
I’d much rather have this second example than the first. Anything 35 years old is a mess. I know. I’m approaching this age every day. If I’m getting fat and growing hair in weird places, what do you think is happening to a VW? Probably returning to its hippy roots and trying to become one with mother earth again... aka RUSTING away.
With 332,138 miles this seller is asking a mere $47,000 for a vintage camping experience.
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It turns out that it costs a lot now-a-days to capture the spirit of camping in the 1980s. If you’re really set on a VW Vanagon, these are two great examples of what you’re money can get you.
I’d much rather buy a plane ticket and get a room in a really, really nice hotel for the same money for the next 35 years. I bet in some countries you could BUY a hotel for $105,000... and maybe the plane to get there...
vicali
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 19:15 |
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First one is not an 83. 84 or 85 maybe with lights like that, but 83 had the old westy camp interior and was air-cooled. That is a wasserboxer- bottom grille and rear heater in the bench give it away. With a complete repaint and 343 mile that’s either a rebuild (with a leaky luggage rack - roof above pass) - or they mean 343,000. Price typo means $10,500 is a bit high but not crazy.
Syncros pull big prices, for $47,000 I would be looking at a GoWesty rebuild, not something put together by a local vw dealer. Tdi is cool but the whole point of an old vw is the wasserboxer sound under the back cover. Otherwise it’s got some good parts on it. $25,000 is more reasonable.
GoWesty has a good one;
http://www.gowesty.com/vehicle-details.php?id=15
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M.T. Blake
> vicali
07/12/2018 at 19:20 |
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I had a feeling there could be some issues with the first ad. It looks far cleaner than one with a typo of miles.
Even 25k is too rich for me. I don’t understand the Westy craze. Too small and no bathroom. I’d rather get a pickup and camper for the same money.
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vicali
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 19:26 |
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M.T. Blake
> vicali
07/12/2018 at 19:36 |
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I think I could understand a lot better if I had bought, used for ten years, and got all my money back out of it! Looks like you had some fun and made memories with yours.
sdwarf36
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 19:41 |
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I work in a classic/specialty repair shop. There is always at least one of these in the shop at any time. People love them. But being on the east coast, we see some really ‘soft’ ones. “Look-I found a Syncro for only $10k!” Means that $10k was the cheapest part of your flashback.
dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 20:04 |
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Let me say that I also don’t get the Westy craze (at least for the cash), but I will venture the following explanation as a defense of their popularity. They’re wicked cool.
First off, the floor is crazy low, which means you actually have a ton of headroom, and decent “living” area around the table that literally anyone can get to. A truck camper involves some pretty substantial stairs and feels really cramped once you’re in.
Next, the pop up tent is actually remarkably comfortable. It has a little cushion, and is reasonably weatherproof while still being pretty cool as long as you have any kind of breeze.
Thirdly, the tiny wheelbase makes it feel like a much smaller vehicle than it actually is. As long as most of your driving isn’t highway, this is fine. However, the short wheelbase, crazy thin doors and completely anemic engine means that anything over 55 feels suicidal, especially in today’s traffic with all the giant SUVs, 18 wheelers and bro trucks.
Honestly, I wish Tesla would make a modern version, but I can't imagine that actually would. Batteries in the floor, no drivetrain... Apparently people will pay $100k for them...
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vicali
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 20:43 |
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We talk now about when the kids are grown getting another van- that will be at least 15 years or so away so I’ve started saving for a Roadtrek..
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M.T. Blake
> sdwarf36
07/12/2018 at 20:56 |
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Haha. Cheapest part of the flashback.
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M.T. Blake
> dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter
07/12/2018 at 20:59 |
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Good points. The Tesla part is genius. Elon needs to hear that. Their customers already pay 100k. They’d pay 300k for a Tesla RV.
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M.T. Blake
> vicali
07/12/2018 at 21:01 |
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Having one for grandkids? That would be a lot of fun! Start saving now. The RV world is expensive if they’re really large or small. Anything in the middle is oddly attainable (24-27ft).
zipfuel
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 21:52 |
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“ Anything 35 years old is a mess”
Am 35 and inlaws own a Westfalia - can confirm
To be fair t heirs actually is now really well sorted but its had an engine rebuild, a respray a new propane tank and some electrical upgrades.
Given the way the market is going I have no problem with them sinking money into it but my wife would never want it - she hated riding round in that thing as a kid.
What the nostalgia brigade forget about these is that being stuck on the hard bench seat waaay back there above a clattering engine, feeling motion sick and fighting for space with your siblings and three golden retrievers does not make for a fun multi hour road trip....
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vicali
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 22:04 |
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Selling our westy meant getting a 19ft travel trailer. It’s still good, but different than rolling into a site, popping the top, and cracking open a beverage.
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M.T. Blake
> zipfuel
07/12/2018 at 22:47 |
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You are making me feel depressed about my age. Two drinks in and might need another one now hahahhaha. I would agree that any money poured on their Westy isn’t anything that should be worried about. If theirs is clean they have more of an investment at this point. Fortunate for them. Unfortunate for anyone who is into the Westy culture. I never had an opportunity to have a road trip like that when I was a kid. Since being an adult we did a road trip with for adults and two dogs in an XJ Cherokee. It was miserable. I think I understand.
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M.T. Blake
> vicali
07/12/2018 at 22:50 |
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Anything that is essentially an RV is easier than a trailer. Of course you can leave the trailer and take the tow rig into town...
Spoon II
> M.T. Blake
07/12/2018 at 23:28 |
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Sweet mother of pearl! My neighbour is actually selling one with a Subaru engine stuffed in it. I’m curious what he’s asking for it now
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M.T. Blake
> Spoon II
07/13/2018 at 00:38 |
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One hundred million dollars...
duurtlang
> zipfuel
07/13/2018 at 03:43 |
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Am 35 and inlaws own a Westfalia - can confirm
I’m 35 too and my father in law lives in Westphalia. Does that count as well?
bhtooefr
> M.T. Blake
07/13/2018 at 06:22 |
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What I wonder is... this is a uniquely American phenomenon, re: Vanagon Westfalias being completely stupid money, right? (And IIRC Eurovan Campers, while not as completely insane, are also expensive.)
I mean, a new T6 California Ocean is £55,857 on the road, which would roughly translate to $55,857 MSRP in the US due to how taxes and such work.
I really do think a lot of this is simply... the market will bear the cost because there’s really poor supply of smaller camper vans. And, because the US RV industry has totally focused on the $100k+ full-size Class B market, as well as Class Cs and Class As, they don’t know how to make a cheap, small European-style camper van.
You also have startups like Recon, but I mean, a Recon Envy is $28,500... without the actual van, it’s another $21,900 for the Nissan NV200, and the result is smaller, using cheaper hardware, and less functionality than a California Ocean. Meanwhile, something like the Hillside Dalbury is £28,995 in the UK - sure, it’s based on the shorter wheelbase non-American NV200, and that’s with a 1.6 diesel with a manual (more expensive engine, less expensive transmission), not a 2.0 gas engine with a CVT, but still, when you consider that it’s a whole camper van for the cost of Recon’s conversion once you factor in taxes and all ...
(As an aside, I’ve mentioned this before, but I still think the Pacifica Hybrid would be ideal for a conversion, run everything off of high voltage, no propane bottle needed.)
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M.T. Blake
> bhtooefr
07/13/2018 at 10:20 |
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Very well said. Excellent examples. I do think it is a shortage of Class B style RVs that is helping drive demand. Anything small or large is expensive. Anything in between is relatively affordable.