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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Looked at a VW T4 EuroVan today

July 12, 2011 9:36 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

Checked out a '93 EuroVan today. 174k miles, 5-speed manual, typical VW quirks (flaky gauges, one door handle doesn't work) - all for the excellent price of $550. Needless to say, we shook hands and will be meeting again as soon as he gets a replacement title. I've driven quite a few Toyota space shuttles and the EuroVan blew me away. Lots of power (relatively speaking), good ride, and holy crap, TONS of space! I am planning to use it as a camping vehicle/parts hauler/mobile motorcycle garage.

What should I know when getting into one of these? It needs front shocks and brakes, and should be coming due for its 2nd timing belt (if it has one).
July 12, 2011 10:35 p.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

I think that year had a 2.5L inline 5? If that's the case, yes, it does take a timing belt, and it should probably be changed. That's about all I got. I haven't been around too many eurovans
July 12, 2011 11:09 p.m. Vigo Dork

Color me JEALOUS!

After 5 chrysler minivan with 3 different motors and 3 different trannies im looking to branch out into a Previa and a Eurovan. Of the two the Eurovan seems harder to get how i want it, and thats saying something because Previa's arent exactly ubiquitous either..

Once you get it, keep us updated with all the info.
July 12, 2011 11:37 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

wow.. those things were uber expensive when new
July 13, 2011 7:52 a.m. DukeOfUndersteer SuperDork

fuel mileage is gonna suck, power is non existent, they LOVE boost...
July 13, 2011 8:36 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

I looked at a dark green one years ago for work.. it was very nice, but like you said, very slow
July 13, 2011 9:04 a.m. Rusted_Busted_Spit Dork

When we were looking for something to haul around our three kids I looked at a nice silver one but I could not talk my wife into it.
July 13, 2011 1:01 p.m. integraguy SuperDork

According to the reference book I have, these had all of 140 horsepower....sure hope that's a mistake.

For the price, not too bad a buy.
July 13, 2011 1:07 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

how much torque?
July 14, 2011 1:35 a.m. Vigo Dork

According to the reference book I have, these had all of 140 horsepower....sure hope that's a mistake.

Nope, and 140hp is on the high end of the available options.. These were utilitarian cargo vehicles as far as vehicle dynamics go... Although, there are some videos on youtube et al of TDI ones booking around at 100+mph.

how much torque?

Very little. No sense in euphemising around it.. Eurovans start out very slow. Doesnt mean they have to stay that way, but i think the joy in vehicles like this doesn't have to come from the go-pedal.
July 14, 2011 11:36 a.m. failboat Reader

hmm. i thougth these vans were always expensive....maybe thats just the vr6 westies.

Nice find, always wanted a vw van myself at some point

vigo...ever consider a 1st gen MPV? yes im biased.
July 14, 2011 4:09 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

Vigo wrote: i think the joy in vehicles like this doesn't have to come from the go-pedal.

I think I agree with you. Guy I work with has a regular Vanagon.. he loves that thing. His wife just got a Eurovan. She loves it.
July 14, 2011 6:05 p.m. Vigo Dork

vigo...ever consider a 1st gen MPV? yes im biased.

Ive never owned one but ive driven and worked on some.. I think my biggest dislike is that they are sort of plain and a little small for the weight. I do like the fwd MPV's a good bit. They've got less weight and better dynamics to go with their small-ish size, and that seems more 'right' to me.

The previa and eurovan definitely dont win any prizes for vehicle dynamics either but they've got the oddity factor going for them (which i love) and i kind of like the bigger size a bit. My Caravan that im keeping just blows all the other stuff that's around the same size out of the water in my eyes (im biased too).
July 14, 2011 6:11 p.m. Woody SuperDork

I was at a Porsche Club event today and I saw two of them towing 911s on aluminum trailers. I suspect that some kind of swap was involved.
July 14, 2011 6:53 p.m. Billy_Bottle_Caps Reader

Sounds like a smokin' deal to me. I have never seen one of those local, though I have has 2 Previa's.
July 14, 2011 8:13 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

I picked it up. Pictures don't explain how HUGE they are inside. 140HP is more than adequate (especially with the 5-speed), like I said in the first post, if you've ever driven a Toyota space shuttle this thing feels downright FAST.
July 14, 2011 9:47 p.m. Billy_Bottle_Caps Reader

In reply to SlickDizzy:

Get some pics up when you get a minute, you have me intrigued.....
July 16, 2011 12:16 a.m. Vigo Dork

Indeed, PICS!!

Pictures don't explain how HUGE they are inside.

full size van space with minivan mpg.. or better.

I wish i could afford a eurovan camper but i havent seen one for under $10k. :(
July 16, 2011 9:44 a.m. dabird New Reader

You got an amazing deal. I had a 93 5 speed and I loved it. I got about 18mpg in town and around 23 hwy. the big problem with these is rust. i really miss mine. with the seats out i could fit my motorcycle in the back and because the floor is so low it was a breeze to load the bike in.
July 16, 2011 11:10 a.m. Vigo Dork

Hey, dont talk bad about the Astro like that! Take your low load floor somewhere else and tip someone elses sacred cow van!
July 21, 2011 12:09 a.m. chinmann

We sold ours with over 300k on it. We were the second owners. I loved it.
July 21, 2011 7:06 a.m. Teh E36 M3 HalfDork

Vigo wrote:

Indeed, PICS!!

Pictures don't explain how HUGE they are inside.

full size van space with minivan mpg.. or better.

I wish i could afford a eurovan camper but i havent seen one for under $10k. :(

I loved the T5 we rented in Germany. It had the 2.5 diesel though, and got well over 30 mpg's with plenty adequate power and the ability to cruise at 90 on the 'bahn. If only the westy versions were remotely reasonable I'd be all over it. And looking to somehow import that diesel to slot in.
July 21, 2011 7:30 a.m. Teh E36 M3 HalfDork

Sorry to add- how swappable are these engines with others from the VW family?

(now that you have me looking....)
July 21, 2011 11:40 a.m. Vigo Dork

I cant say with certainty but it seems to me like most if not all the VW 4 cylinders used the same bellhousing since at least the late 70s.

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