Are Volkswagen Vanagons Worth it in 2024?

[@ryanschuster9908]

Having had my '87 Vanagon Westfalia Syncro T3 for a year now I have a few pro tips for anyone looking to buy to live in: - Mine also has a lift. When it's windy you are a sail and really need to take it slow. - Check. The. Oil. Every. Week. Also get an oil gauge installed. My oil was changed in March. I put 1-2k miles on it through May. Turns out the Subaru engine sprung a pressurized leak, meaning the oil was not leaking while parked, just while driving. The oil light was (unknown to me) broken during this time. The oil all leaked out, the engine seized, and I had to get a new engine. $12k and four months in the shop. - A lot of Vanagons (especially Syncros) use old or custom parts put together in custom ways. If something breaks it will be a difficult fix and most mechanics won't touch it. You could know all there is to know about vehicle maintenance and be a great amateur mechanic, but if you're living on the road you don't have the specialized tools, parts, and lift equipment necessary to fix serious issues by yourself. - Insurance companies will go by the blue book value for an '87 Vanagon which is way less than what your customized Syncro is worth. I'm lucky enough to have domicile in a state where I can bring in a 3rd party arbiter for a claim to review all the van upgrades and come up with a value based on those upgrades. There's still to guarantee I would get a fair payout. It's a risk you have to take. - No one will finance this. You have to buy with cash. - Re: old 4WD van with custom stuff - you can get the vehicle inspected before you buy it, spend 3 months getting it fixed up by a Vanagon specialist right after you buy it, and it can still break down. These are great to live in and have all you need, but mine became a HUGE financial liability. It breaks my heart because I wanted one of these for years and put a ton of effort into transitioning to van life. But I'm seriously considering putting it on the market, buying a used Toyota Sienna, and building that out to live in. Not so fancy, no pop top but more reliable, easier to fix it if breaks, and way cheaper to buy.

[@Sebastianstonum]

These are GREAT vans and thank you for the shared knowledge! The practicality of these vans is there but they are starting to show their age which comes with more maintenance than your regular vehicle. Living in a westy it becomes one of your hobbies not just a van. I love my westy but I do imagine what it would be like to not be forced to work on a vehicle every now and then haha

[@conchscooter]

Great points. Ten grand at GTVR will put a pop top on a Toyota Sienna. My back up plan if my wife stops wanting to camp and I have to go solo….

[@briansbroncoadventura6899]

Picking up a 91 next week, looking forward to new adventures

[@Sebastianstonum]

Sweet!! You’re going to love it!

[@ericmed]

If you’re into Espresso, the Flair manual lever machine is such a game changer in a van ☕️🚐

[@mrteroo8953]

@@ericmedA game changer for your bank balance too...

[@ericmed]

@@mrteroo8953 They have one as low as $100-220 plus a decent grinder

[@noogavan3368]

YES, they're worth their weight in gold! Love my '90 Vanagon Westfalia Syncro. Since 2016, made amazing, life-long memories with my fam as we traveled across the US and Canada on numerous occasions. The '05 Subaru ej25 in it has proven to be super reliable, not to mention the power gain. My kids are grown now but jump at the chance to venture out in it together to the likes of Moab, or the Tetons, or in our backyard in the Smokies. And agreed, be ready to talk about it at gas stations, campgrounds, and the like...

[@Sebastianstonum]

Everyone loves a westy! Great to hear you’ve had some good trips, definitely have to make it out to the tetons, it’s incredible out here!

[@mrteroo8953]

This is the best walkthrough of a T25 / T3 / Vanagon I have seen on YT. Thank you.

[@Sebastianstonum]

Thank you🙏🙏

[@coolbrian]

So good!! 👌🏻

[@conchscooter]

I was told my Promaster is a “Sprinter wannabe” but I’m not a mechanic and broken VWs in my youth convinced me I’m better off in a 2020 Promaster with space for a porta potty and low enough to fit in a container. I love reliability and driving and traveling but I love your enthusiasm for your Vanagon and wish you the best. Cheers from Peru this month and I hope chile next month.

[@JosiahRoe]

82' Vanagon with a 1.8t conversion from the Arctic to Baja (the former a dozen times), and you'll get there on the second try. Vanlife is life on hard mode. Doing it in a Vanagon is life on Export Mode.

[@rickhurst9058]

Best camping platform of any of the VW campervans, but so much work! I've owned two, but they broke me keeping them on the road!

[@Les_Grossman]

I have a Syncro with lots of upgrades, new paintjob, 3 diff locks, no rust, technically as good as it gets...... and just ordered a 4x4 Sprinter and will get rid of the Vanagon as soon as the new rig arrives;-) Its unbeatable off road cool and big fun and everything but I prefer more creature comfort for the future!

[@amsterdam1964]

Sebastian - Love the videos! My '86 is lifted like yours and I go through CV boots way to frequently and have always argued that it's the steep axle angle contributing to the premature wear. What did you do to lower your drive train, and did you have to get shorter axles? Thanks!

[@grahames9228]

You said it, Vanagons are super cool. In fact, all VW Kombi vans are cool. And that's what sets them apart from all other vans. Enjoy it.

[@Sebastianstonum]

Kombi’s are the OG cool. Us vanagons are just trying to keep up with the coolness

[@josephpiskac2781]

Something to think about. I never planned van life my housing was attacked and I felt forced to move into my SUV. Too small with nearly three years it was ridiculous. So I moved up into my RAM PROMASTER CITY VAN. Small though it works for me. Brand new three years ago no problems.

[@Smokeybeesnatural]

I love my 83 Westy. They have so much more style and character than all the other laimo vans out there 😅

[@Sebastianstonum]

We, westy owners are far superior. Hahaha

[@jean-claudebonillo1535]

One big plus for the Vanagon it's full independent suspension .

[@Sebastianstonum]

Full independent suspension is so nice!!

[@canterburyfour]

Thanks for the tour. Can’t wait to see the engine tour. Why the T3 upper control arms over the Burley?

[@Sebastianstonum]

Lots to cover with the engine! I ran the burleys for awhile but I needed new heims and they were backordered so I went with the t3’s while freshening up the front suspension

[@HighCentered]

These newfangled machines are too complicated for my tastes. I’ll stick with the simplicity of my air-cooled ‘71 Westy. 😉 Keep on truckin’, Sebastian. I met you briefly at Small Car!

[@Sebastianstonum]

Hey now you don’t have to come at us like that! Have fun with your valve adjustments! I remember, I’ll try and make it out there again!

[@stephenrogers9664]

I own an 87 Syncro, & just bought a very clean 90 Syncro campervan all in original cond. When I drive them I have the biggest smile out. Yes if it’s hot I’m hot if it’s cold I’m cold as it leaks in wind, & rain. To me they are the best van out. Just wondering also why don’t you just tap into your main diesel tank for your heater ?

[@Sebastianstonum]

They are so versatile and those syncros are crazy good offroad! I haven’t yet just out of procrastination

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

I had one, lived in it for two years, think they’re better than anything currently being produced in America, but my wife can’t operate a manual transmission and I’ve heard too many horror stories about the automatics.

[@Sebastianstonum]

@@alexwilsonpottery3733 really? I haven’t driven an automatic but I’ve heard they were pretty strong since they have a trans cooler. There are a lot of little components that can go wrong though

[@OlisGarage]

Great video Sebastian! I would love a detailed engine and transmission video. Especially your ALH experience. My van also has an ALH that I installed, so always nice seeing other people’s installations! I’d also like to know what trans temp gauge you’re using and how you got oil pressure to show on the scan gauge 3. The ALH doesn’t normally have an oil pressure sensor. Take care!

[@Sebastianstonum]

There’s definitely a few things with mine that aren’t done particularly right. But it works! The idiot who built it(me) didn’t know what he was doing

[@OlisGarage]

@@Sebastianstonum haha! I am in the same boat 😂but on the positive, it means that when something goes wrong you know what it is. What kind of mpg are you getting?!

[@pyronitro]

Thanks for the tour! definitely sounds like a love hate relationship. i know how that feels. 😂Curious how the weboost is working for you? also, you have the 62L or 72L Alubox from the number of snaps you have.

[@Sebastianstonum]

I think it’s the 62L. Definitely a love hate relationship haha. The weboost works pretty good, and unusable 1 bar will turn into a streamable 2-3 bars

[@pyronitro]

@@Sebastianstonum can you say which model weboost? i bought a booster before and it wasnt working for me. dont want to throw away money again... is it the drive reach overland one? Thanks!

[@tylyndahkharrod]

Prefer the hiking… but interesting what is in the container on top of van? Haha it was sealed pretty tight..

[@Sebastianstonum]

Haha there’s more spare parts and tools up there

[@samueljlarson]

Most comfortable rig I've ever slept in (fit queen size mattress) but most annoying rig I've ever owned (slow, poor mpg, overheating issues, electrical gremlins, etc).

[@Sebastianstonum]

Same here! Haha it’s comfortable yet extremely stressful at the same time

[@Les_Grossman]

100%

[@GF-pc5bt]

Love the vanagons…..

[@Sebastianstonum]

They’re the best!

[@Gurjangjagat]

Did you mention what the Tire size was?! 🤣 jkjk

[@Sebastianstonum]

@@Gurjangjagat I’ll add it to the intro next time😂

[@terryl5878]

Your next van will be a sprinter no doubt 😉

[@Sebastianstonum]

Maybe one day but not today!

[@uniwerksdesign]

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