Went to look at a VW Transporter today it was exellent inside and out but it had 113000 on the clock it was a turbo diesel 1990 model. we decided not to buy it as we didnt know enough about them, can anyone out there tell me what to look for eg: faults they have if any. As i like the layout of them and would like one for me and the Boss.
they are a really good bus, we've got a 1982 Westfalia which in my opinion was the best one that was made.
The main thing with these busses is to buy on bodywork, that can cost a fortune to put right whereas the mechanicals aren't so much of a problem.
With the watercooled ones the main thing is to make sure that they have been well maintained/had the coolant regularly changed due to the distance between the radiator and the engine and pipes that may corrode.
Best sites to have a search on for further info are club 80-90, and the brickyard T3 site.
Prices are climbing more and more due to the prices of earlier campers going up so much with demand in the VW scene and people going for the type 25 as an alternative, then realising how much better they are as a camper.
Any further info you want let me know and i'll try to help
well, its 16 years old, so 113000 isnt out of order!
At this age go for the 2 litre petrol, not the diesel.
Bodywork is your main point. Look at all the weld joins on the corners for signs of rust or touch up. ALso these VWs rust where the petrol tank sits, and its a bugger to repair - and very costly. New petrol tanks are only available for some models of Transporter these days.
If the bodywork is OK, then mechanically, you can get a new (recon) engine afor £1,000 - £1,500, and £500 gets a recon gearbox - although Ive heard some horror stories of engine rebuilds. You will find the gear lever back to front by the way! Ease the clutch slowly when in first, see if the gear knob pops out..... bad sign.
Otherwise they just seem to keep going - but dont expect a 16 year old van to be fault free, they require regular upkeep. I was thnking of getting one earlier in the year, but your 1990 example would set me back £5k - £7k - for a sixteen year old vehicle! I considered that I wouldnt have a 16 year old car, so why run an old van.
(In the end, as Im no mechanical wizard I got a caravan!
Geoff
------------- Veni Vidi Velcro.... I came, I saw, I stuck around!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: VW Transporters
