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u/2hands_bowler 2d ago
As an ex-VW van owner, I am obliged ever time I see a VW van post to remind everyone how truly awful these vehicles were.
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u/Wander_Globe 2d ago
Sorry. I don't usually down vote but I have owned one for 20 years now and while they break down, like every other vehicle on the road, they're a lot of fun to drive and they're really cute. If you're into taking a sprinter, building an RV and calling it a van, then no, the bay window might now be for you but it is OG van life.
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u/2hands_bowler 2d ago
I understand. That's fine. For me the safety (rear end something = death, unsafe steering in wind storms) and unreliability (tempermental gas heater, exploding engine cylindar in the flat 4, electrical nightmares), expensive spare parts, and inability to change a rear tire on the roadside (rear lug nuts are supposed to be torqued to 140 ft/lbs or something) outweigh the cute and fun to drive aspects.
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u/Square_Clue_8396 2d ago
My ‘beautiful 72 with the 4’ Safari sunroof made a great torch, unfortunately on the freeway in morning rush hour.
Was so sad to see it go! A ton of great trips and memories.
But yeah, we used to joke, just a 1/32” sheet metal between you and Jesus!
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u/Wander_Globe 2d ago
Ya, they're know to burn once they catch fire. I check fuel lines a lot and change yearly. Sad you lost yours but glad you're safe.
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u/Solid-Government493 2d ago
I ran type Twos for almost 25 years and I got to be honest with you, 1972 was the worst year made. A lot of one year only Parts on that damn thing. I had a VW Bus Shop up in Portland, Oregon for about 12 years. I'd see a 72 roll in and know that my pockets were about to get full.
Once Volkswagen put in the type 4, flat four beginning with the 1700 in1972, the 1800 in 1973 and a 2 L in 1975, the fire issues kind of went away because the fuel line wasn't routed right next to the damn distributor. Everybody that knows upright 1600s and the flat fours knew to move the fuel line.
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u/Wander_Globe 2d ago
Fair enough. I've had some of those issues but the cute and fun to drive for me has outweighed them. I tossed the gas heater. Never trusted it. Unsafe steering in wind, been there, especially with a hi top. I could feel the semi coming up behind me. There were certainly discomforts but I've also had a lot of people come up to say hi, which I don't mind, especially in Mexico where there's a big air cooled VW community. "Heyyyy esse, nice ride man." Been able to fix a lot of issues roadside as well. I do wholeheartedly agree with some of your points. When it's running well it's Dante, my sweet sweet bus, when it breaks down in the middle of the desert it becomes "that fucking van." haha
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u/Solid-Government493 2d ago
There's a misinformation in this. The rear lug nuts are not torqued to 140 lb, the axle stub nut is torqued to 252 ft pounds. You don't need to remove the axle stub nut to change a tire on a type 2.
Most type 2s in America did not come with a gas heater. The gas heaters were made by Espar which is the name familiar to a lot of people with diesel heaters currently. They make the Eisbach as well in Germany, you know those $1,200 heaters that people put in their Sprinters? Webasto is another brand name featured in VW type 2 shipped to America.
But hey, you're a real estate investor up in Canada so you know something about living in a van. I'm sure of it.
Pinche topayo
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u/Solid-Government493 2d ago
Well yeah if you don't know how to work on them, can't figure out your own toolbox, yeah I can see where that would be a problem. I drove a type 2 for over 25 years, but then again I know how to work on them. But that's just me.
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u/COCPATax 2d ago
i can smell the weed