Another BIG difference (to me) is the clearance.  With my '84, I almost
never jack it up- (except to change a tire of course)--I can work under it with it on the ground---and that's a lot of clearance, and a real convenience, I find.  As I understand it, the clearance went down with the later years...
-wes
'84 vanagon

JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

>In a message dated 1/26/05 12:19:19 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>robw_z@YAHOO.COM writes:
>
>
>
>
>>I apologize for the broad question, but so far I
>>haven't found any comprehensive description of the
>>model year changes on Vanagons; Vanagon.com's site
>>skips from '83 to '88 or so...  I'm mainly wondering
>>what was changed from '84 and up.  As I understand it
>>'86 was a big change year but other than the 2.1 and
>>different headlights I don't know what else....
>>thanks for any info,
>>
>>-Rob
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>in a nutshell:
>
>'83.5-'85   1.9L wbx.
>most '83.5 up GL pass vans had the nicer velour interior w/ capt chairs.
>metallic paint first introduced on '84 GL's
>GL westys got a nicer velour interior w/ capt chairs in '85 up
>sliding door changed in '85.
>GL's got power steering in 85 up.
>GL's got tachometer and weekender interior was an option starting in 85 up.
>
>86 -91
>2.1L wbx introduced in '86.
>square headlights introduced in '86.
>front brakes redesigned in '86
>a/c became factory option in '86 (previouly dealer/POE installed)
>'86 was first yr for power windows, power doorlocks, power mirrors, cruise as
>an option
>'86 first yr for syncro
>'86 was last year for tan velour in westy GLs
>'87 was last year for tan velour in pass vans
>adjustable armrests introduced in '87
>all westy GL's have grey velour '87 up
>'87 was first yr for alloy wheels as an option
>87 was first yr for fiberglass front and rear bumpers (only on wolfsburg pass
>vans)
>'87 last yr for sunroof model
>88 vw emblem in grill got bigger and rear hatch had vw emblem in the middle
>of it
>'88 fiberglass bumpers now standard on all GL's
>'88 no syncros sold in US
>'88 wolfsburg got 'full" bodykit with fiberglass sideskirts as well as
>bumpers
>'88 rear side glass vents standard on all GL's
>'89 "carat" model introduced
>'89 last yr for GL syncro pass van
>'90 GL pass vans all had silver fiberglass bumpers/bodykit
>'90 up had middle and rear shoulderbelts
>'90 "multivan" introduced
>'90 "non-GL" base model pass van introduced
>'90 manual trans redesigned (no more 3/4 slider hub cracking)
>'91  same as '90..
>
>and im sure there are more stuff i missed.. but those are the basics..
>
>chris
>
>
>