I found a '73 VW bus for sale. Should I buy it?

[Bouncy Ball]

It is canary yellow, has a big peace sign on the back window, looks to be in great shape. It looks kinda like this, but is yellow and nicer than this one:



Also has no spare tire on front. And one of those taller roofs, like on conversion vans, so that the inside has more head room.

I don't know how many miles it has on it, and I haven't called to find out the price yet, but I am intrigued.

What kind of gas mileage do they get? Crappy?

[Maddy McCall]

1. Depends on how much it is.

Call and find out. If you can pick it up for a couple thousand or less, I'd say go for it.

[madrchsod]

2. if it isn`t to beat-up

and runs good of course the price must be right.gas mileage isn`t that bad and parts are easy to find. go for it! i still see hippies driving these things....

[givemebackmycountry]

3. Great gas mileage

Bouncy it's just like a bug.
It will sip gas at a nice slow rate.

If it is priced reasonably and it's in good shape I'd snag it.
You will have to remember that it is not going to be a beast.
Don't expect 0-60 in ten seconds.
Expect 0-60 in about 90 seconds!

It's funky and it's fun and it's not going to be blowing any of the monster SUV's or mini-vans off the road.

Slap a DU bumpersticker on the back and happy motoring!

[smbolisnch]

4. Oooooo I'm envious!

Let us know what you decide to do, and if you get it you will have to post pics!! :P

[tridim]

5. I've always liked VW busses

My parents had the pop-top camper version.. But I'd never buy one. They're the worst of the worst unless they're completely restored and have a major engine upgrade. I knew a guy once who had a bus with a Porsche 911 engine shoehorned in it, it could almost pop wheelies. Every other aspect of the vehicle sucked though. No heat, rust, trim falling off, holes in the floor, squeaks and rattles from hell, etc.

[Bouncy Ball]

9. It definitely wouldn't be a luxury vehicle

and I do already have a primary one, my minivan which is nice and fairly new.

This would be for puttering around in, short trips, etc.

[tridim]

11. Cool, if it's not a primary driver, I say go for it!

I have a play car too, a 78 Fiat Spider. I drive it about 20 times a year.

[WMliberal]

6. put a tire on the front

or else your legs are the first line of defense in an accident.

[Bouncy Ball]

8. LOL I never thought of that, thanks!

[Bouncy Ball]

7. Ok I called

It's $1500 but he's negotiable on it. I tried to find a blue book value, but they don't even list this year and make.

It's so damn cute, I wish I had taken a picture of it. I was thinking of having it to do some things to it and use it to putter around on short trips and stuff. Drive it around town.

He has put in new seats in the back with nice upolstery (sp?) and he said it runs really well, no problems. I'd have to have it checked out, of course.

I can't believe I'm considering this, but it's so damn cute and my husband's parents had one when he was a kid and they drove all over Europe in it. It was powder blue and he misses it.

[reprehensor]

10. CAUTION!

You will probably be entering the world of endless tune-ups.

A safe bet is that that the emissions are up to standard.

1970's standard that is.

DANGER, bouncy-ball!! DANGER!!

[Bouncy Ball]

15. Elaborate?

What will I have to do? Just constant tune ups? What if I'm not driving it that much? Just puttering around in it?

[htuttle]

12. Wow! No rust!

I'd buy one without rust, cause I don't seem many of those in Wisconsin.

Mileage? Well-tuned, expect something in the 20's. They weren't as frugal as you might think.

It's the body rot that you gotta watch for on those. You can replace almost all of the rest of it but the body pan.

FYI, a friend of mine and I once switched engines on one of those in a driveway with nothing but a few wrenches and a floor jack.

If you can find a copy of 'How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive for the Compleat Idiot' by John Muir, Tosh Gregg, Peter Aschwanden, et al, you're all set! Timeless, golden advice in that book.

[Bouncy Ball]

14. No, no rust.

This is Texas, not really a problem. Thanks for the info!!! :hi:

[flvegan]

13. Hey, Bouncy...pricing here (sort of)

You can search here for listings of other 1973 VW Bus' for sale in your area or nationwide to get an idea on prices:
http://www.collectorcartraderonline.com

[Flaxbee]

16. Buy my sister's instead!

It's a 1970 (or 71 but I'm pretty sure it's 70) and white, with completely rebuilt engine. Don't know the mileage. Doesn't have the higher roof. Only had one owner in its lifetime, my sister's mother- in-law who gave it to them for my niece, who found it too difficult to drive (she's never driven stick before, and VWs can be kind of tricky). Sister had the engine rebuilt (it needed it) and now they want to sell. It's $3000.

I'm mostly kidding, don't want to put you on the spot, but if you know ANYONE else who might be interested, please let me know. Sister lives in Boise & it could be delivered pretty much anywhere west of the Rockies...