I recently saw this ad on craigslist and though I am not going to buy it, are these good vans (though I know its not worth 5 grand but thats just an example of the van)? I ask because I went to Europe (specificially Turkey) and everywhere I was seeing lots of old VW Transporters of all ages and a relative of mine has a 97 still going along. Is it a different scenario in the US, or were these the reliable cheap to maintain old VWs?
I also want to note that I see many of these in Euro countries with 300 400 500k kilometers and the first listing I see here has 250k miles and CLAIMS to have no mechanical issues.
Those are endless moneypits. If you really like them and can get it really cheap and only want it as a toy then okay. However that is a lot of ifs. Personally I think that you can do much better with your money.
Yes definitely for 5 grand there are much better options I just see them running virtually forever in Europe though and thats why I asked. Thanks
(From the perspective of a wagon and van enthusiast:)
The Volkswagen Eurovan (T4 Transporter) isn’t a good van, the VR6 or the I5 petrol engines form what I herd are not reliable and are complex piles of trash, and I never saw the D and TD series of engines.
Also avoid VW automatics, I herd they’re built even worse then their newer DSG money pits.
If you know how to fix your cars by your self and how to order obsolete parts from Europe and just REALLY like that van - why not, there’s a whole community around these older VW vans as they’re pretty special.
But if you’re planing to put any kind of serious money or mileage into it, I’d avoid it. For conversions something like a diesel manual Mercedes Sprinter (/VW Crafter - same exact van) or even a Diesel manual Ford Transit are much better.
you can expect to get 200,000 miles or more easily (more like 400,000 if you’re buying them new and maintaining them properly) out of those even when you’re buying them second hand after years of them driven daily and being treated like work tools - I happen to know van operators that don’t even fill the full amount of oil and avoid any other maintenance and they still run for ages.
I've never heard of any problems with those vans. Back in the day they were the bomb for conversions - they were available from the factory with kitchenettes, etc.
The cost of maintenance depends on your mechanical ability. I have no idea if that van has a hood or a doghouse, but I would assume you probably have to tear a fair amount of stuff out of there to get to basic maintenance points.
where was it made?
I believe they were imports and made in Hannover.
then they may be better built than all the VW cars from the 2000's. Not sure about parts availability though.
Yes it seems that the parts are basically nonexistent so I would never buy one but also its basically a Transporter from 94/95.
I see them over 400k km all over Europe but I don't see many here. I wish they kept it because they are definitely great vans made in Germany + diesels...
I guess Americans were too busy looking for Mustangs and Camaros to bother with a "not so mini van" as VW called it.
they were more popular in the 60's
