Is this 1993 VW Eurovan Weekender for $7,500 a deal any day of the week? – Jalopnik

Although the seller of the current Nice Price or No Dice Eurovan Westie Weekender warns that it may require some deferred maintenance in the future, it currently appears solid enough to warrant serious consideration. Let’s see if an aggressive price tips the balance.

Our old friend Merriam-Webster defines Caprice as “a sudden, impulsive, and apparently unmotivated notion or action.” To be fickle is to make decisions on a whim. Such an implication of volatile behavior seems like an odd choice for the name of any consumer product, but apparently not in the eyes of the marketers and brand managers at Chevrolet.

Despite the connotation of the name, there was nothing playful about the 1994 Chevy Caprice Classic Estate we saw coming our way yesterday, except perhaps for the glorious faux woodgrain panels. Likewise, you all felt the $6,500 price tag was more than fair, allowing the counterintuitively named Caprice to sail to a solid 74% ‘Nice Price’ win.

The point is, that California RV starts at a whopping $73,000 and, fully equipped, can go up to over $90,000. Yes, as attractive and versatile as the vehicle may be, the California camper would likely find few buyers in the US, which makes VW’s decision not to certify it for sale here feel disappointingly rational.

Plus, who would want to spend that much money on a new VW weekender when, for a lot less, there is this 1993 Eurovan Westie Weekender for sale with a funky five-cylinder engine and a five-speed gearbox to brag about?

The engine in this Weekender is not the later 20-valve DOHC edition that some claim is derived from Lamborghini’s V10, despite sharing the 2.5 liter engine capacity. Instead, it’s an earlier 10-valve SOHC engine, akin to the smaller four-pot mills. In the Eurovan, that produced a modest 108 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque.

According to the ad, this is backed by a five-speed stick, trading a higher gear than standard for lower engine speeds and better fuel economy on the highway. It also has a new smog-transmitting catalytic converter, as well as a recently replaced headlight. On the honey-do list for the road is a clutch job and some front suspension work. The seller says the van runs and drives very well, and claims these jobs are not immediate needs.

In the versatile cabin, all seats are present and accounted for, and everything looks standard and surprisingly neat for all the years and kilometers this VW has endured. This is a Weekender, so there is no kitchenette to take up space. Instead, there’s a fold-out table and two sets of captain’s chairs under the retractable roof, providing headroom and a place to take a nap later. Full factory curtains provide privacy when you’re sleeping or pretending to be Walter White (hey, you too) and feature straps to prevent them from obstructing the driver’s view while on the road. Everything seems clean enough, although it should be noted that this Eurovan is old enough not to offer airbags, so potential buyers should make sure there are no accidents with it.

What do you think? Is that an accurate statement, based on our view of the Eurovan and how it is presented in its advertisement? Or does the bogeyman of a future clutch service and an ominous thump in the front suspension predict that lower entry costs will be needed to get this VW out the door?

You decide!

Nice prize or no dice:

San Francisco Bay Area, California, Craigslistor go here when the ad disappears.

H/T to Don R. for the connection!

Help me with a nice prize or no dice. Contact me at robemslie@gmail.com and send a fixed price tip. Don’t forget to include your comment handle.