>Anyway, I'm finding myself actually considering selling my (just now
>getting into nice condition) 84 Westy and buying a restored (or
>restorable) 1970s era camper bus...
>
>What do you think?  Would you trade the comfort and relative speediness
>of your Vanagon for the simplicity of a late model bus?  Anyone feel like
>you would NEVER go back after owning a Vanagon?  How about anyone with a
>bus who wouldn't own a Vanagon?
>
Well, if you want the looks of the bus, go for it.  You won't be gaining
anything in simplicity unless you go for an early bus -- the later ones
used almost the same fuel injection system yours has.  A few systems are
somewhat sinpler, but not much.  They handle worse, too.  The late-models
have very similar camper layouts to the Vanagons.

The last-year bus shares the engine from the early Vanagons -- but the
earlier ones tend to be one-or-two year runs for the engines -- they changed
things often.

If you go to a 1971 or earlier, then you get the "typeII" engine rather
than the more expensive-to-fix "typeIV".  The "typeII" engine is the same
as a Beetle engine with rear mounting bolts added.  Prior to 1971 you lose
the disc brakes.

VW made good changes all over the vehicle, except for the smog stuff added
during the '70s, every year of production.  The main drawbacks of the
later ones were simply cosmetic -- the outer shape changed, and some folks
prefer the older lines.  If you want the _shape_ of the bus, get a bus, but
mechanically they are not better than the Vanagons, just different.  If
you want one of those engines, and you like the looks of the Vanagon, get
an aircooled Vanagon -- they have the old engine, and the Vanagon space,
layout and handling.

The buses were a little lighter, possibly.  A 1979 bus will often feel
more powerful than the identically-engined 1980 Vanagon.

Malcolm H.