Just turned 100K on my 02 Itasca Sunstar with the "big" vr6 and since I'm
like the 3rd owner with no paperwork I can't say she hasn't had tranny work
in the past but the CARFAX shows only routine maintenance.  I have put over
10K miles on her and she runs and shifts fine. Really a neat camper and a
great way to stay in the VW family.
Spencer

On Mon, Aug 5, 2019 at 2:21 PM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:

> We used to sell these a while back for another company.  I had several her
> over the years.  The nice part about them is that they drive like a much
> smaller vehicle and even with the 5-cylinder version, it didn't feel like
> you were driving a large vehicle.  I am thinking that if you could find the
> 5-cylinder Eurovan version (93) that might be the least trouble prone.
> They sold quite a few 95s which are also 5-cylinders but the engine was
> changed and it is hard to get parts for that year because they barely sold
> any in 95 besides Rialtas, apparently.
>
> After 97 they went to the VR6 is when you run into the issues with the
> engine (timing chain, defective timing chain gears (97)) and automatic
> transmissions that randomly blow under 100k miles.  Ironically, if they
> last over 100k miles they usually last another 100k miles.  That is the
> legend.  Maybe it is just the way the person drives.
>
> So if you really need one I would look for a 93.  Or just not care about
> how much it costs to fix it.  The transmission and timing chain job on the
> later models can be around $10k.  So maybe factor that into the final price
> of the vehicle.  Class C motorhomes are super expensive right now.  Can you
> easily spend $125k on a new one.  Maybe a Rialta isn't such a bad deal once
> you compare it to what these things cost new.
>
> Ken
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2019 at 1:31 PM fonman4277 <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Probably had to pay for a transmission replacement or timing chain
> > replacement or both! Not cheap to maintain.  I've been told Winnebago
> > stopped using them because of the transmission failures, and that's on
> all
> > Eurovans.Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> > -------- Original message --------From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM
> >
> > Date: 8/5/19  1:19 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:
> > Re: Moving our aging bodies on from Vanagon (sniff!) Second respo0nse RE:
> > RialtaI just remembered this tidbit. There has been two instances, one
> > couple Iknow are on this list, where they sold their Westfalia and bought
> > aRialta.  And in both cases, within a year, they sold the Rialta and
> > foundanother Westfalia.  Maybe one of them will chime in here with their
> > reasons.
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>