Old bus OK for teenage girl?

cassie wrote:
>
> I am a boomer who has always loved the old VW buses. Now my 16 yr
> old
> daughter is dying to have one and is saving up. My question: is this
>
> insane or not? She is not all that mechanical but says she is
> willing
> to learn. I am a pretty handy single mom but have not really worked
> on
> cars. Is it possible to consider a 70's vintage bus basic
> transportation
> rather than a project? Are they safe to drive? How hard is it to
find
> mechanics to work on them (we live in central NJ)? Any advice on
> years, models to look for or avoid? Any kind of advice would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cassie in NJ
>
How far are you away from Burrlington?
Jim Hendricks
liz225@msn.com

cassie wrote:
>
> I am a boomer who has always loved the old VW buses. Now my 16 yr
> old
> daughter is dying to have one and is saving up. My question: is this
>
> insane or not? She is not all that mechanical but says she is
> willing
> to learn. I am a pretty handy single mom but have not really worked
> on
> cars. Is it possible to consider a 70's vintage bus basic
> transportation
> rather than a project? Are they safe to drive? How hard is it to
find
> mechanics to work on them (we live in central NJ)? Any advice on
> years, models to look for or avoid? Any kind of advice would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cassie in NJ
>
Hiya...that's a very good question... me being a 21 year old male who
has always wanted a bus... finally got one last august... and i love
it... as for basic transportation? i would definetly say it's
basic... mine is in near mint condition... for winter use... i
wouldn't count on it... unless you got a good heater, mine runs
great... in fact i had mine sitting for three weeks (unstarted)
until yesterday, she turned over twice and fired up like she was
brand new... as for cost effectivness... nothing better... insurance
is dirt cheap... $600 Canadian which equates to about $400 dollars
US / year... gas is cheap too and long lasting.. then you have the
personal satisfaction of owning a vintage VW... no need to say
anymore...altho... a good idea would be to find yourself a good
german mechanic, who's got many years of working on VW's under his
belt... i got one a few minutes from my place and he's great...can
fix anything...

cassie wrote:
>
> I am a boomer who has always loved the old VW buses. Now my 16 yr
> old
> daughter is dying to have one and is saving up. My question: is this
>
> insane or not? She is not all that mechanical but says she is
> willing
> to learn. I am a pretty handy single mom but have not really worked
> on
> cars. Is it possible to consider a 70's vintage bus basic
> transportation
> rather than a project? Are they safe to drive? How hard is it to
find
> mechanics to work on them (we live in central NJ)? Any advice on
> years, models to look for or avoid? Any kind of advice would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cassie in NJ
>
Hey Cassie,

After reading a bunch of replies I'll put in my opinions. I think
the bus you want is a 1971 - 8 passenger with a sun roof. Much
lighter than the camper - tons of cargo space. The sun roof is
really fun. And most important it is the last year to use the same
engine as the bug - much less expensive to fix and easier to work
on.

Pick one you really - really like and want - take your time because
if it isn't going to be fun to just drive you will not want to do
everything it needs on a regular basis.

Why the 71? it is the first year with power disk brakes up front.
STOPPING IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOING. 1972 and later use a
very different much more expensive engine. Bug engine and power
disk brakes only year with that combo.

If you find a later model and a good deal - go for it - I find the
1978 to the later style Vanagons to 1983 to be the best of that
bunch.

Now - practical?? Not really (handling, brakes, and performance are
amoung the worst you could find on the road today) Compare it to a
1960 ford truck and the VW bus is a sports car - Safe compared to
most cars built in the 1960's? yes relatively so.

There are lots of good books available and the internet is full of VW
fanatics - who have nothing better to do than give out free advice -
like with me you get what you pay for.

All this said I bought my first bus a 1966 in 1981 - still have it -
love it and plan on putting at least another 100,000 miles on it.
:-) I'm almost to 300,000 now. Makes a great car for long trips -
as long as you don't mind never getting to pass any one, and
shifting down on the hills. But it will carry a ton (literally)
just that then the brakes aren't vey effective. If PROPERLY cared
for it will give good reliable service - learn to do your own work
on it and enjoy doing the work MORE than you enjoy just driving it,
BECAUSE IT is your old VW bus and you have bonded. I think that is
what Fahrfergnugen (sp?) actually means. Read the idiots guide
first then you'll understand.

ON ONE LAST PRACTICLE NOTE - the VW repair guide for the complete
idiot (I got the title messed up) has the best section on how to
buy / pick out a used VW or car that I've ever seen anywhere.

Just my 2 cents - Jon G

MINNIE ROSE wrote:
>
> cassie wrote:
>>
>> I am a boomer who has always loved the old VW buses. Now my 16 yr
>> old
>> daughter is dying to have one and is saving up. My question: is this
>>
>> insane or not? She is not all that mechanical but says she is
>> willing
>> to learn. I am a pretty handy single mom but have not really worked
>> on
>> cars. Is it possible to consider a 70's vintage bus basic
>> transportation
>> rather than a project? Are they safe to drive? How hard is it to
> find
>> mechanics to work on them (we live in central NJ)? Any advice on
>> years, models to look for or avoid? Any kind of advice would be
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Cassie in NJ
>>
> Dear Cassie;
> good luck finding one...it took us 6 months to find one in decent
> repairable shape in virginia...my daughter is 15 and she bought it
> for $500.00 (what a steal). Her father is a good mechanic, but we
> bought a book and it is idiot proof...it will be good to bond with
> your child. After all, soon they will not want us around...They are
> safe and very affordable to keep running...built like tanks you know
> and made to last...I'm very confident about hers...1973
> bus..."totally hippie" without the flowers...my daughter will be
> going to college in fla and she wants it to go away to school
> with...best wishes in your venture...junks yards were beginning to
> become quite a familar place for us...the net is a big help to...VW
> people are good people and they will help you and share what they
> know...lots of love...Minnie
>
>Minnie,

I have a 73 Bus also. I'd be interested to learn the name of the
book that is idiot proof. My bus was owned previously by someone
who did a lot of the work himself and needs some attention because
he did not keep the original parts and often made do with whatever
he had. Even though it has been at times a headache and a constant
source of amusement to my friends. I really do love my bus and look
forward to the day it is completely restored and turning heads on
the California freeways.

Any advice you can pass along would be much appreciated.

Best,

JT