Date:         Wed, 24 May 2006 00:09:23 +0200
Reply-To:     Robin Oomkes <roomkes@ZONNET.NL>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robin Oomkes <roomkes@ZONNET.NL>
Subject:      hello from brussels
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi all,

back on the list after a year or so (been lurking for a few weeks). Good to see so many of the old guys are still around, and pleased to meet the new ones!

Moved to Brussels, Belgium, from Leiden, Holland, and now running my 4th Westy (a white low-mileage 1988 Joker 1.6 Turbodiesel, I think it would be called a Vanagon GL in the States). 

Went on a one week trip to the Alsace region in northern France with my (low mileage) girlfriend a few weeks ago. Brought the bikes along - she loved it! (although she won't admit it - maintains that proper camping is done in a tent).

When it comes to camping, like Malcolm Stebbins reported in a recent post, there's nothing to beat the Vanagon-based Westies. The newer T4 (Eurovan) and T5 based California models look nice and slick in pictures but are awfully cramped inside - the reason is that the overall length of the vehicle is the same as the T3 but the front seats sit 0.5 m (1.5 ft?) further back due to the engine up front - which leaves less room for living. And do you really want an electro-hydraulically raised pop-top - 10 years from now?

Anyway, that's enough for an introductory rant.

Take care,
Robin