Faults:

Air intake cracked.

General Comments:

I bought my '84 from my Dad, who bought it from the original owner. It was driven around an area with no salt on the roads, so even after 25 years of Canadian winters it's still rock solid everywhere. Pull into a campsite, fire up the stove, pull the curtains and you're cooking dinner in your living room in 10 minutes... quicker than setting up a tent!

My Dad drove it coast-to-coast and back across Canada, and I drove it nearly coast-to-coast myself, camped very comfortably every night, and it's been our second 'around town' vehicle for four years with only one problem. The intake manifold cracked and messed up the air/fuel mixture causing some really rough running sporadically and one breakdown. After tracking down the problem, one part replaced and we've been good to go since. Could've used duct tape, but didn't want to spoil the pristine condition!

Two new babies and no means to install car seats means her days may be numbered with our family, but she's beautiful, rock solid and a fabulous way to spend some time in the woods! For those concerned about power on hills... what's your hurry?!? Gear down and chill! Get in touch with your inner hippie and relax.

Faults:

Transmission had to be repaired after about 20 years of use.

Low power up hills, and the gas mileage isn't very good.

General Comments:

This car is huge inside. You can walk around the car and it feels spacious. For this reason, it is perfect for trips, hauling materials, projects, etc.

Some reviewers have called this car unsteady or "like a floating fastball" at high speeds (i.e. over 55 mph). Once on a car trip, we were in our '84 Volkswagen Vanagon on the highway in the desert in eastern WA, and the car was struck by a "dust devil," a small sandstorm or tornado. The car was shoved sideways several feet while driving at around 65 mph, but we never lost control. This car is large enough to be hit by a tornado, and steady enough to weather it.

Faults:

Coolant leak,major problem... on engine heads.

Too cold to run in winter.

General Comments:

Engine really gives nice performances for a 80 hp. When driving such vehicule, think to observe nature around you... (and please respect it)...so keep secondary tracks and enjoy the road.

Faults:

Head gasket leak at 70000 miles was paid for by VW thanks to recall list with the Better Business Bureau.

Air flow meter went out a short while later. Expensive!

Steering rack boot replaced and new ball joints installed.

Gas leak at filler neck. New seal installed.

Rear shocks blew out after a lot of off road travel, but they probably were the originals.

AC has been fixed twice and died again within 6 months of expensive recharge of the nasty R12 freon. Now in the process of changing over to R134 with new compressor, drier and expansion valve.

General Comments:

This van has been a lot of fun for us while traveling throughout the west.

It gets good fuel economy at 19 to 24 mpg and does a fine job of handling rough off road conditions with high ground clearance.

The camper functions well for one or two people and pretty good for three, although a bit cramped. Four is too many for us.