Alan Pickersgill writes:

> I'm thinking about buying a 92 Eurovan GLS 180,000 km asking price $4500 Canadian - from used car lot.
> Claim is that it is a one owner car traded to a local Nissan dealer and wholesaled to the used car lot. I may be able to get phone number and contact original owner? If so would like to have some good questions to ask.
> Am looking for tips on where to look for evidence of common Eurovan Trouble - rust and mechanical.

Hi Alan,

I studied the Eurovan (T4 here in the UK) in detail before deciding to opt
for another Vanagon - in my case a 1995 South African Caravelle 2.6i.  The
fact that the standard Eurovan is shorter inside than the Vanagon played a
big part in my decision.  The long wheelbase Eurovan is about the same
interior size as the  Vanagon, but is more difficult to park and it won't
fit in most European garages.

That aside, the early Eurovan is no better made than a late (1990/91)
Vanagon and suffers similar rust problems.  Watch out for the wheel arches
and body seams, which are at least as weak as on the Vanagon.

I also found that almost all early T4s had damaged rear bumpers.  The rear
corner sections are especially vulnerable and may be cracked even if they
look OK from a distance.

Mechanically, they T4s are based on the well-tried Golf/Passat drive trains
but the early auto gearboxes are weak.  The 2.4 Diesel (non-turbo) engine
seems to find that weakness at particularly low mileages (70-80,000 miles or
110-130,000 km) but that engine may not be available in North America.

Apart from those weaknesses and the usual concerns about any 12-year old
vehicle, the Eurovan is a sturdy van with good ride and handling.  However,
I still prefer the Vanagon as my recent buying decision indicates!

I hope this is of some use.

Tony

1995 VW Caravelle 2.6i, 1985 VW Transporter 1.9 camper (both Vanagons)