Dangerous thoughts...

[eatcustard]

T3 in North America is called Vanagon

Same as in Liverpool, my Vanagon

[highlander]

you are being daft! have you driven one

Well, I have. The T25 has far superior steering - the lack of power steering is rarely an issue, whereas T2's (sorry, "Bays", cos I have been corrected above that all Vw's are T2's) are very heavy and vague on the steering. On performance - there seemed no difference between a 1.6 a/c Bay and my 2.0 a/c. Both don't really like the world beyond 60mph, and don't want to get there in a hurry. I thought the Bay was more economical...just

i would be having dangerous thoughts too if you think a 1600 bay is more economical and there is no difference in performance !! I think your engine is knackered mate!!! I have a garage full of type 4 engines and spares... you tell me what you need?? i tell you how much

[AngeloEvs]

It's down to what you want from any camper. If spares, easier maintenance (or fewer worries) are your primary requirements and everything else less important then go for a 'Bay'. Our first Vdub was a 1.6 a/c and we enjoyed owning it but certainly appreciated the more refined and spacious watercooled T25 which replaced it. I share some of your concerns and sometimes have exactly the same 'dangerous thoughts' but my memories of driving the old 'bay' in the winter still make me shiver. Why not go and view a few 'Bays', take them for a drive and see if you like them more than what you have. All the best!

[Dartmoor]

It's down to what you want from any camper. If spares, easier maintenance (or fewer worries) are your primary requirements and everything else less important then go for a 'Bay'. Our first Vdub was a 1.6 a/c and we enjoyed owning it but certainly appreciated the more refined and spacious watercooled T25 which replaced it. I share some of your concerns and sometimes have exactly the same 'dangerous thoughts' but my memories of driving the old 'bay' in the winter still make me shiver. Why not go and view a few 'Bays', take them for a drive and see if you like them more than what you have. All the best!

Thanks - good advice. It does seem the case that spares are more plentiful for Bays - just look at the VW Mags! And the Bay is still being made...in Brazil. Yep, heating...not too clever in my T25 either, but then it is Aircooled!

Basically the T25 is a more modern vehicle, and bigger - and it shows - more room, better steering, more car like cab and seating position, better brakes, better handling and so on.

But I still think a Bay may be easier to live with if the spares are cheaper and easier to buy...

[Dartmoor]

you are being daft! have you driven one

Well, I have. The T25 has far superior steering - the lack of power steering is rarely an issue, whereas T2's (sorry, "Bays", cos I have been corrected above that all Vw's are T2's) are very heavy and vague on the steering. On performance - there seemed no difference between a 1.6 a/c Bay and my 2.0 a/c. Both don't really like the world beyond 60mph, and don't want to get there in a hurry. I thought the Bay was more economical...just

i would be having dangerous thoughts too if you think a 1600 bay is more economical and there is no difference in performance !! I think your engine is knackered mate!!! I have a garage full of type 4 engines and spares... you tell me what you need?? i tell you how much

I think my engine is fine - I was comparing to a 2003 Danbury 1.6i a.c Bay which we hired before I bought the T25. The 1.6i new a.c engine from South America was willing enough, and absolutely more economical than the 2.0 litre I have.

[kevtherev]

What nicknames do the T4 and T5 have?

next to T3 campers...crap and crappier

seriously? they are so generic... I doubt they get names.

I was comparing to a 2003 Danbury 1.6i a.c Bay which we hired before I bought the T25. The 1.6i new a.c engine

To a 25 year old engine?....unfair comparison

[Ian Hulley]

I believe the T4 is/was referred to as the 'Eurovan', having traipsed round France with 2 last Summer I have to say they were both fine and went everywhere our's did ...... to be fair I haven't had one so can't comment on their benefits and drawbacks.

Ian.

[mrhutch]

why stick with the Aircooled lump? A T3 diesel will return much better performance and MPG than an Aircooled

[Bilbo Blue]

I was told by the type 2 owners club that the splitty, bay and T25 are all on the type 2 chassis. It has nothing to do with body shape.

[Dartmoor]

why stick with the Aircooled lump? A T3 diesel will return much better performance and MPG than an Aircooled

...partly put off by all your water coolers who post tales of woe with overheating, air locks, head gaskets going, etc...

I rather like air-cooled - just read about a splitty going through deserts with enormous temperatures. The engine started to falter due to fuel vapourising on its way to the carb! Solved by wrapping damp towels round the carb feed and carb - the engine itself never over-heated.

With these vehicles that are now so old, I have always thought that the radiator is such a long way from the engine, separated by lots of pipework - hence some of the problems reported.

[mrhutch]

I don't think that is true.. bays and splits have beam front suspension, T3's have independant wishbone suspension, plus a split is shorter than a bay, which is shorter again than a T3

[rainman]

Maybe my engine's knackered but I haven't found my 2L a/c any better performance wise than my old 1.6 bay. The bay wasn't kitted out for camping so possibly was a whole lot lighter.
I opted for the wedge (afraid to use numbers now in case I get it wrong!) because the bays were a bit too much of a fashion accessory when I was looking to buy a couple of years ago. Jamie Oliver was poncing around in one which should be enough to put anyone off.

[mrhutch]

IMHO it all depends on what you want to use your bus for, and how much you are spending...

If it is a daily driver, workhorse, communting with occasional camping/shows etc... then go for a more modern engine/bus.

If it is going to hit the road a few times a month, camping, shows etc.. but you have another vehicle for the general life stuff like shopping/lifts then go for a bay/Aircooled T3

Then again, you could spend 6K+ on a good westy and have the reliablity and creature comforts of a modern car but have a vehicle that is more than capable of setting off from blighty on friday night and have you waking up in the south of france in a day or two in complete comfort..

I love the Aircooled engine, my first T3 was an Aircooled Devon, but reality and fuel prices dawned and I had to make the switch to a diesel.

having said that, there is a twin-slider Aircooled project sitting on the drive at the moment

[Ian Hulley]

Then again, you could spend 6K+ on a good westy and have the reliablity and creature comforts of a modern car

Then again you could look in Technical at the number of broken JX and 1Y diesels of late and the number of 'Westy' technical issues and spend your money on a very nice Komet or Villa or Leisuredrive or similar.

The truth of the matter is that buying anything 20 years old is largely down to pot luck.

Ian.

[mrhutch]

very good point Ian... personally love the villas and lesuiredrives.. Ringo's van is a great example of a daily driver with high annual mileage but perfect for camping.