I have owned numerous westies and have driven a 67, 73, 74, and 82 the
most.  The 67 westy probably was probably the most fun but in my
opinion the 82 is the most practical and comfortable followed by the
bays.  I spend a lot of time on highways and also on gravel roads
looking for fun and adventure and while the older vans were better
off-road the vanagon does pretty well off-road and really outshines
the others on the long interstate treks.  If you get a westy I think
you will find the layout and size of the vanagon to be a big step up
from what the bays and splitties offered.

Jonathan Poole
'82 westy