This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thanks for the article. And if I was a bit younger and less spoiled by the space and bathroom of our Dodge  Chinook, it’s what we’d be using for our backwoods haunts. There was a point in my younger life where I imagined what my ultimate vehicle would be; one that had the least compromises and could do more things than any other: drive and handle well, be roomy enough so to able to live out of it, have four wheel drive, be long-lived, and have a turbo-diesel engine for good efficiency. Accessories: Offroad / Campinng / Special Parts / Adhesives and Sealants for VW T3 Bus Specialties: Cruise Control / Rear Light / Mirror / Roof Rack etc. BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B4 rear suspension for VW T3 2WD . Reviews of the Vanagon back in its day consistently raved about its stellar handling and ride, unlike any other van, full-sized one or minivan. The desert area being an attractive winter destination for Canadians, they must have driven that sad thing all the way from BC, a testament to its durability, I guess. How much would a 1990 Grand Caravan AWD fetch? But the Syncros are in a league of their own. But the Vanagon, even completely unloaded, felt reassuringly stable in a way I’d only experienced in passenger cars — and some of the more expensive passenger cars, at that. €125,00 BILSTEIN B6 front suspension for VW T3 2WD Add to cart. I can do a cheap one, since I need neither the Westy package nor the Synchro. I guess there is something to be said for the alpha-numeric names after all. But the added crash protection is a big plus. I did do a head job this last spring, not expecting much more from the old motor, just wanted one more year from it so I can make up my mind wether I put in the subi 2.5 I have taking up space in workshop or go for a 2.0 inline 4 VW motor ( yeah, I know, less horses but I had an 1.8 inline 4 in my old 82 westy for 14 trouble free years). See more ideas about vw vanagon, vw van, vw syncro. Great article as always. One more pic, can’t upload right now, just give link. It seems that some cars and trucks are predestined as they get older. (T2 gasoline and T3 diesel), two Mercedes vans and two Ford vans. Modestly Stiffer & Slightly Taller than Stock moderately stiffer but designed to meet VW specs for vehicle ride height, alignment and shock valving. Even the 2WD versions have exceptional traction, thanks to the rear engine. It, too, was kind of a beater, and not being any kind of a camper, I couldn’t for the life of me understand why he wanted this thing. The Ultimate spring and suspension set ups for your VW T3/ T25 2WD or Syncro . Its independent suspension all-round has long spring travel but is well damped. Despite being a good foot shorter than a contemporary Grand Caravan, the Vanagon was massively roomier inside. :o), Your email address will not be published. We all like to gripe about the tsunami of alpha-numeric model designations (240D, 740i, XR4Ti, etc) but the counter argument is the never ending stream of stupid model names from Volkswagen. The 2.5 L Subaru has become very popular, because it fits under the stock engine lid and has such a significant boost in torque and power, as well as being a rugged engine, generally. I don’t think VW ever did better with names than it did with Rabbit and Fox. I’d only driven full-sized US cargo vans till then, and had not liked their ride at all — especially when empty. Very disconcerting. Before our first trip I said to my wife let’s do one and then sell it for a 4motion. All Rights Reserved. Of course, the optional front differential locker (which this one seems to lack) is desirable in these extreme terrain situations, but then this isn’t exactly the kind of use most Vanagons will ever see. Not original at all. The VW inline gas engine is the easiest swap by far, but its power curve is not ideal, especially for a Syncro. FIAT DUCATO-CITROEN JUMPER -PEUGEOT BOXER, KONI KONI adjustable front suspension for VW T3 2WD, KONI KONI adjustable rear suspension for VW T3 2WD, BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B4 rear suspension for VW T3 2WD, BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 front suspension for VW T3 2WD, BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 rear suspension for VW T3 2WD, BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B4 front suspension for VW T3 Syncro 14", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B4 rear suspension for VW T3 Syncro 14", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 front suspension for VW T3 Syncro 14", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 rear suspension for VW T3 Syncro 14", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B4 front suspension for VW T3 Syncro 16", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B4 rear suspension for VW T3 Syncro 16", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 front suspension for VW T3 Syncro 16", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B6 rear suspension for VW T3 Syncro 16", BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B3 front spring for VW T3, BILSTEIN BILSTEIN B3 rear spring for VW T3. One thought is that they worried about misuse/liability. It is a daily driver and is a hobby. One of my least-favorite elements of the custom big van thing was that however much you dress them up, the van never really let you forget that it was a big, relatively flimsy box on a platform frame. Actually, come to think of it, a somewhat eccentric friend years back in San Diego acquired one of these Vanagon Westfalia Syncros. I remember saying to my friend, “Dave, this van handles almost like a sports car! Maybe so, after reading this writeup! Vanagon 2WD Schwenk Springs set of 2 rear & 2 front Springs You will find these Springs to be a huge improvement to your ride! It’s all business here, with that big steering wheel and industrial-grade gear shift. I learned this week that Passat is german for trade winds. It all depends on the depreciation whether a vehicle is expensive (to buy). Again concerning the Mercedes: those are pretty rare with 4WD, at least I’ve hardly ever seen one. Really, if the going and towing got rough, you wanted the Merc. It also had a 2.4 liter diesel engine with perfect gearing for towing jobs. If nothing else, the fortunes of the T3 do suggest the big gap between what consumers say they want when they look at vans, minivans and SUVs and what buyers actually want. for VW T3 Bus OFF-Road and Outdoor Accessories for VW T3 … Doggone it, Paul – You have just about sold me on one of these. I still think Vanagon is the dumbest name ever, except for maybe Routan or Toaureg or how ever the hell you spell that. And the all-wheel drive Syncro version takes it to a whole other level; to the very peak of automotive Valhalla. Ford Freestyle. Often driven by scrap metal dealers (or other “recyclers”), they mostly drive the single cabs with a flatbed. Brickwerks - Suspension Lift Kit - T3 2WD - Parts, spares and components for VW T3, (T25, Type 25, Vanagon) T4 (Eurovan), LT (LT1, LT28, LT30, LT35, LT40, LT45, LT50, LT55) & MK1 Caddy GoWesty UK I have very limited experience with these — and with all VWs for that matter — but I did have a friend who worked delivering parts for a VW/BMW dealership in the ’80s, and a dark blue one of these (probably 2WD) was their cargo van. GoWesty-designed progressive suspension lift kit for your 2WD T3/T25/Vanagon. Geez, whoever comes up with names for VW should be fired. Yeah, procrastination is no stranger to me. Your specialist for improving the off road performance of your van (Mercedes Viano/Vito and Sprinter, VW Transporter T3, T4, T5, T6 and Crafter). VW T25 T3 Vanagon Stainless Steel Full Exhaust Kit (1.9 & 2.1 Petrol *2WD ONLY*) 1984 Onwards. Eliminate the sag Schwenk Springs for all 2wd and syncro campers, vans, Dokas and singlecabs We needed a mommy-mobile, and a used Vanagon wasn’t going to cut it with mommy on many levels. Speaking of engines, that is obviously the Vanagon’s weakest link. I didn’t mean to say that the suspension travel on the syncro is poor, just that it is noticeably less than the older breadbox van. It’s not easy to justify to my friends why we drive this vehicle. I think you could sell me on this vehicle if I had the money. Was it slow? We also test drove a Westfalia conversion (sold through MB dealers; they called it “James Cook” with decals to match). When these debuted, I thought the Vanagon name was so stupid, that I just refused to like them. Your email address will not be published. He was in a newish Cadillac SUV, but the clients were driving their beater Vanagon Westfalia Diesel VW, with British Columbia license plates. Within the first day of our 10 day trip, we could not find one reason to spend 5 times more. Where to start? We covered that here. I hate the term T3 for these….. brought a tent along so the lads could sleep outside if they wanted, and that night they pitched the tent in front of the van. The idea of one being used to haul kids over the Santa Cruz Mountain summit on Hw 17 almost daily with an automatic and air conditioned Vanagon just didn’t sit (with mommy). I love that van. The seats in the Vanagon are kitchen chair height, as well as very comfortable. I remember riding in it once, thinking how slow and underpowered it was. Alistair. there were 4 of us plus 2 large dogs. The result is that Vanagons today still command prices way beyond that of any old minivan. But a really stellar box: Tall, straight, solid, rigid, superbly space efficient, and with nice big windows to boot. There was one that really stood out. But parts are a bit harder to come by and there is less living space inside. Or shot. I don’t recall it being slow, although we were in city traffic, and it was also someone else’s work vehicle, so I wouldn’t have been trying to “see what it can do” anyway. Kia does not offer a Pongyang. “inevitably many of the comments (or even the text) will be utterly predictable: it’s so slow…underpowered…unreliable…couldn’t compete with American minivans…it’s so slow…underpowered… Ok; I get it. But still, the relatively uncomplient (compared to say a landrover or land cruiser ) suspension is noticeable at times. The VW T3 is a good commercial verhicle, no doubt. And that was the Mercedes TN (built from 1977 to 1995). I don’t have the numbers to hand, but in short the independent suspension ( cv jointed half axles) on the van limits the suspension travel. Oil Pressur Switch / Temperature Sensor for VW T3 Bus; Ignition, Distributor, Control Value for WBX VW T3 Bus / Glow System for TD VW T3 Bus; Oil Circuit for VW T3 Bus; Fuel Facility for VW T3 Bus. Gowesty Front Lift or Standard Springs – Pair [2WD T3 T25 Vanagon] $ 321.38 Select options; Related products. It’ll only take half a generation for the facts to be forgotten and young folk to wrongly believe people were buying new T1s in the 1960s! Just like a boat. I even proved that I can do slow, with the right vehicle (like my 4 cylinder 96 Odyssey).