In essence it is air cooled and does well Near the ocean but can go into the desert (inland) but best to drive during the night and early morning. It does go 85mph when you need a little extra push to get past a big rig but cruises comfortably at 65-75 mph.Other things to noteThe biggest thing to remember is that you have to be able to drive a stick shift to rent this van!
In essence it is air cooled and does well Near the ocean but can go into the desert (inland) but best to drive during the night and early morning. It does go 85mph when you need a little extra push to get past a big rig but cruises comfortably at 65-75 mph.Other things to noteThe biggest thing to remember is that you have to be able to drive a stick shift to rent this van!
Quick summary
AI generated
Seeking a unique drive? Master the stick shift in this authentic 1976 VW Westfalia!
Owner guidance ensures you'll master the stick shift for a memorable, classic journey.
Enjoy simple, pet-friendly camping and outdoor cooking in a truly iconic van.
Create unique, budget-friendly memories, parking easily wherever adventure calls.
1976 VWWestphalia Type2
Length
14 ft
14 ft
Transmission
Manual
Manual
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Gasoline
Gross Weight
3,500 lbs
3,500 lbs
Sleeps
4
4
Seatbelts
4
4
Sleeping arrangements
2 beds

Twin beds
2
2
Dates
Guest reviews
Excellent
13 reviews
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1
Communication
4.9
Cleanliness
4.2
Maintenance
4.3
Value
4.6
Listing accuracy
4.5
Review summary

Communicative and accommodating
Trent consistently receives praise for clear communication, accommodating special requests, offering guidance on the van's quirks, and being a patient instructor for the stick shift. He also provided a full refund in a difficult situation.
Manual transmission, prone to stalling
This 40+ year old manual transmission van frequently stalls when stopping and has a notoriously difficult second gear. Guests must calibrate expectations for its age and minimalist amenities, including a non-functional sink.

Ken B.
June 2022
1.0Trent is a nice guy who should NOT be renting out this van and you definitely should not rent it. It's an absolute nightmare. The dude picks us up at the airport and it stalls in 10 feet. He informs us that a small detail he forgot to mention was that it stalls EVERY TIME IT STOPS! Stop sign? Stall. Three-point turn? Stall. Stall. Stall. Bro, I just traveled 3,000 miles with my two daughters to take this for two weeks into the desert, mountain, city, and forest, and this is a detail you don't mention? Unbelievable. He then goes on to explain that it only does this in the hot weather (he called it "gas saver mode") and that he could get it fixed, but starters are so cheap, he just leaves it like this (and rents it out!) and replaces the starter every 3-4 years. Really unbelievable. Then there's second gear -- eventually, I figured it out, but it's really rough to find it, so I often just switched from 1st to 3rd which made a rough ride rougher -- he told me others have done the same. Heaven forbid he would just get that fixed too. But really, the fact that it stalled every time I stopped it just made this an untenable prospect. How do you possibly not mention that? It's also just kinda gross in there -- the upholstery and carpets are heavily stained which just creates a dingy, depressing scene. And I mean, I guess I get stains, but a lot of it could have just been cleaned. Just check out the pictures I attached. The sink kitchen doesn't work -- well, he said not to use it. We went to his apartment and he offered us some bedding but honestly it all looked really grimy and covered in dog hair so we declined. Once I realized the stalling situation I really should have just gotten out of the whole thing. But I continued with the rental just because I didn't think I had any other options -- how could I possibly find a replacement in the middle of June? By the next morning though I realized I had to return it, even if I couldn't find a substitute and might just have to re-envision the entire trip. The best thing I can say is that he was totally gracious when I told him I didn't want to take the van and he gave me all my money back (minus one day). Fortunately I was able to rent an AMAZING van that day (look up westy-a-go-go -- he gave it to me for the same price and EVERYTHING worked, including fridge, stove, USB, solar, it was an '89 with a Subaru engine. It was an absolute DREAM and he'll work with you on the price. -- THAT'S the van you want!). Now Trent (the owner of the van I'm reviewing) DID send a mobile mechanic out to fix the problem of it stalling so often (why didn't he do that before renting it out???) and while it improved the situation greatly, it still stalled 3 times in as many blocks, so I returned it. He also tried to get us a room for a few nights while we sorted this out at a fancy resort through a friend of his, but it didn't work out. Trent, you're a nice guy. I really enjoyed talking with ya. You need to stop renting this van out or do some major work on it immediately. Put in a few thousand bucks. You'll make it back in a few weeks of rentals :) People reading this: I know the color's cute, it really is. But stay far away from this. It's a hot mess.
Trent is a nice guy who should NOT be renting out this van and you definitely should not rent it. It's an absolute nightmare. The dude picks us up at the airport and it stalls in 10 feet. He informs us that a small detail he forgot to mention was that it stalls EVERY TIME IT STOPS! Stop sign? Stall. Three-point turn? Stall. Stall. Stall. Bro, I just traveled 3,000 miles with my two daughters to take this for two weeks into the desert, mountain, city, and forest, and this is a detail you don't mention? Unbelievable. He then goes on to explain that it only does this in the hot weather (he called it "gas saver mode") and that he could get it fixed, but starters are so cheap, he just leaves it like this (and rents it out!) and replaces the starter every 3-4 years. Really unbelievable. Then there's second gear -- eventually, I figured it out, but it's really rough to find it, so I often just switched from 1st to 3rd which made a rough ride rougher -- he told me others have done the same. Heaven forbid he would just get that fixed too. But really, the fact that it stalled every time I stopped it just made this an untenable prospect. How do you possibly not mention that? It's also just kinda gross in there -- the upholstery and carpets are heavily stained which just creates a dingy, depressing scene. And I mean, I guess I get stains, but a lot of it could have just been cleaned. Just check out the pictures I attached. The sink kitchen doesn't work -- well, he said not to use it. We went to his apartment and he offered us some bedding but honestly it all looked really grimy and covered in dog hair so we declined. Once I realized the stalling situation I really should have just gotten out of the whole thing. But I continued with the rental just because I didn't think I had any other options -- how could I possibly find a replacement in the middle of June? By the next morning though I realized I had to return it, even if I couldn't find a substitute and might just have to re-envision the entire trip. The best thing I can say is that he was totally gracious when I told him I didn't want to take the van and he gave me all my money back (minus one day). Fortunately I was able to rent an AMAZING van that day (look up westy-a-go-go -- he gave it to me for the same price and EVERYTHING worked, including fridge, stove, USB, solar, it was an '89 with a Subaru engine. It was an absolute DREAM and he'll work with you on the price. -- THAT'S the van you want!). Now Trent (the owner of the van I'm reviewing) DID send a mobile mechanic out to fix the problem of it stalling so often (why didn't he do that before renting it out???) and while it improved the situation greatly, it still stalled 3 times in as many blocks, so I returned it. He also tried to get us a room for a few nights while we sorted this out at a fancy resort through a friend of his, but it didn't work out. Trent, you're a nice guy. I really enjoyed talking with ya. You need to stop renting this van out or do some major work on it immediately. Put in a few thousand bucks. You'll make it back in a few weeks of rentals :) People reading this: I know the color's cute, it really is. But stay far away from this. It's a hot mess.

Daniel F.
January 2022
5.0Wow! Trent and the Amazing Green Bus were both amazing. This weekends trip rates as one of the best family camp trips we’ve ever taken. The VW drive smoothly and had zero issues. The sleeping was so good and accommodated us perfectly. Truly a killer experience!! This VW is forever a part of our family ❤️💕🏄♂️⛺️
Wow! Trent and the Amazing Green Bus were both amazing. This weekends trip rates as one of the best family camp trips we’ve ever taken. The VW drive smoothly and had zero issues. The sleeping was so good and accommodated us perfectly. Truly a killer experience!! This VW is forever a part of our family ❤️💕🏄♂️⛺️
Hyemin K.
August 2020
5.0He was great at communication and the car was very cute.
He was great at communication and the car was very cute.
Jenn H.
December 2019
5.0Trent was very accommodating and helped us enjoy our time with the rental. It's not an easy vehicle to use and he was great about showing us how to use it and giving us guidance on the area.
Trent was very accommodating and helped us enjoy our time with the rental. It's not an easy vehicle to use and he was great about showing us how to use it and giving us guidance on the area.
Guest Photos
Features
- Sleeps 4
- 4 seatbelts
- Fuel type: Gas
- Manual transmission
- Gross weight: 3,500 lbs
- Sleeps 4
- 4 seatbelts
- Fuel type: Gas
- Manual transmission
- Gross weight: 3,500 lbs
Amenities
- Radio
- CD player
- Stove
- Refrigerator
- Kitchen sink
- Dining table
- Heater
- Leveling jacks
- Radio
- CD player
- Stove
- Refrigerator
- Kitchen sink
- Dining table
- Heater
- Leveling jacks
Nearby places to stay
San Diego, CA • Exact location provided after booking

1. Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay
Chula Vista, CA • 10 miles away

2. Circle RV Resort
El Cajon, CA • 13 miles away

3. Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort
Oceanside, CA • 31 miles away

4. Oak Creek RV Resort
El Cajon, CA • 18 miles away

5. San Diego RV Resort
La Mesa, CA • 5 miles away
Availability and RV fit not guaranteed. Please verify directly with campgrounds before booking.
San Diego, CA • Exact location provided after booking
Rules and policies
- 3 PM start time
11 AM end time - Pet friendly
- No music festivals
- No tailgating
- No smoking
- Mileage: 100 free miles / day
- No generator












