Are you in the market for a pop-top camper for weekend adventures? Then eBay’s selection of Volkswagen Eurovan camper vans should top your list of affordable contenders.
Eurovans are versatile and easy-to-drive campers. They are practical, useful, and spacious. The seating arrangements are flexible. You can sit at a table to eat or play cards—or lie the seats flat for hauling gear.
VW Eurovan camper vans are also easy on the wallet. They vary in price but are typically tens of thousands of dollars less than built-up Sprinter vans. Value-priced Westfalia camper vans open up a world of possibilities.
Eurovan prices can range from under $10,000 for a 1993 Westfalia Weekender MV to around $25,000 for a fully refurbished 1999 Eurovan Weekender pop-top.
Early Model VW Eurovans
The 1993 Volkswagen Eurovan Camper replaced the popular rear-engine, rear-drive Vanagon. The first-generation Eurovan boasted a 109-horsepower, 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine. The engine is located in the front and drives the front wheels. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard, with an optional 4-speed automatic.
1993 VW Eurovan GL
The early VW Eurovans were offered without pop-ups as well. The MV version was popular. This van seated seven and had a pair of rear-facing middle buckets with a swing-up middle table. The rear bench also folded into a bed. Those features are perfect for camping on the go.
Check out this gallery for a 1993 Eurovan MV:
An optional trim level for the MV was the sought-after MV Weekender package, which continued through 2003. The Weekender version included a pop-top roof with an integrated double bed, a refrigerated cooler, and curtained windows with screens.
Starting in 1995, a limited number of Eurovan camper vans were also built and marketed with Winnebago Industries. The wheelbase stretched approximately 15 inches with optional seating arrangements. The pop-top still offered sleeping for two, while a Winnebago-fit built-in kitchen incorporated a gas range, sink, refrigerator, and sink with water tank.
See: “Camper Van Conversion: 6 Must-Have Items.”
Refreshed Volkswagen Eurovan Campers
Volkswagen freshened up the Eurovan in the late 1990s. The German automaker replaced the 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine with a more powerful 140-horsepower, 2.8-liter 6-cylinder powerplant. This yielded a smoother ride and better fuel economy.
Also, the interior was refined. Dual airbags became standard. VW dropped the manual transmission in favor of a 4-speed automatic.
2002 VW Eurovan Weekender
Volkswagen strengthened the body and added niceties, such as daytime running lights. Traction control became standard.
Various trim levels were offered. The MV lacked the pop-top but still seated seven and provided two rear-facing seats and a triple rear bench.
The Eurovan Weekender’s sleeping accommodations.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Eurovan Camper’s optional MV Weekender Package (if you can find one) includes:
- A pop-top roof with sleeping for two
- Full-swiveling captain’s chairs
- Window screens for the two sliding windows
- A fixed rear-facing seat with a refrigerator stowed beneath it
Critically, the Weekender has a second battery. The second battery means you don’t drain the main starting battery while camping.
There were few changes to Eurovans in the early 2000s. However, in 2001, Volkswagen upgraded the engine to offer 60 more horsepower.
This 201-horsepower 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan Camper has rear-facing seats. The owner also added two solar strips on the roof.
Sadly, VW dropped the Eurovan at the end of 2003. Because these vehicles are well-loved, many of them are in great shape when they hit eBay.
Whether you’re in the market for an early 1990s model or the refreshed versions that followed, the Volkswagen Eurovan Camper can serve as an excellent adventure van for family excursions.
