Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 13:20:41 -0800
Reply-To: James Barker <jbarker@PROMS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James Barker <jbarker@PROMS.COM>
Subject: Re: BARCELONA BY BUS
In-Reply-To: <l03130301b62335993af9@[209.102.67.250]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I looked to the list about six months ago because I was going to be
transferred to Germany and was looking to do the same thing you are. Our
goal was to pick up a van and use it for camping. While we did end up
camping every weekend, we didn't use a van. Here were the issues that
prevented it.
1. You can only rent Euro vans called T4 over here.
2. T4's run about $75/day for a California model. The California is like
the Winnie conversion in the U.S.
3. Two of the three rental companies I talked to required the entire rental
in advance (one insisted on cash). Since I was going to be here for three
months, that came to something like $5000.
4. Campanje (sp?) in the Netherlands was very helpful and I would be able
to purchase a van through them, but since I am in southern Germany, driving
8 hours each was to pick up a van didn't seem such a good idea.
5. Since I was going to be in Germany for only three months, I didn't have
an apartment and so purchasing a vehicle without Camanje's help would have
been difficult.
6. Since I was here on business, I didn't want to get locked into some long
term contract. The T4 rental companies wouldn't refund any money if I
returned early.
So I ended up going to Hertz and getting a midsize Renault called Kangoo
which seats five and camped all over Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The
cost of the car was only $25/day. Overall it worked out well. The camping
facilities were usually clean and simple. My wife, who isn't the 'roughing
it' kind of girl, was happy with the accommodations.
BTW: I have an '80 Westy at home.
If you're going to be in Europe for more than three months, purchasing a van
might work in your favor. I'd also check what it would take to register the
van since that varies by country.
If you have any questions, just call.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Clayton Trapp
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 2:20 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: BARCELONA BY BUS
Howdy,
I'm new to this list, don't have much of a frame of reference, don't know
nuthin', etc. The closest I've ever been to owning a Volkswagen bus is a
couple Porsche 914s.
BUT! In May my family (wife, four kids, big ole dog) and I are going to
run all over Europe, starting in Barcelona. Obviously the 914 won't do, so
I'm going to sell it before we go and we're going to buy a VW bus in
Barcelona.
Which is why it would be nice to know more than I do. We're going to live
on the campgrounds of Europe, so we need something camping friendly. My
wife says that if we get something with a pop-top we should be able to all
sleep inside in case of hurricanes.
I kind of lean towards the Vanagon types over the old hippie vans, just
because it seems they've got a little more room. Price is going to be a
big deal, the difference of a couple hundred bucks will swing us.
A lot of the point of a VW van, besides the obvious mystique, is that we
figure everyone everywhere (except us) knows how to work on them.
I appreciate all thoughts, since you are the experts and I want to make
generally good moves.
Groove on!
Clayton
