Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:27:59 -0700
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Sportsmobiling in the land of the Westy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1


We just returned from a flying trip to California
where we had the use of the bro-in-law’s ’95 E250 LWB
extended Ford Econoline as our runabout.  It lumbers,
actually, and fill ups alarmingly exceed $75 with ease
but it does accelerate uphill.  We never touched the
camping stuff as the van was loaded with tools and
materials and it was a task to wrestle with the 8750
GVWR on tires that needed balancing.


Even at that, it drives very well for something that
could probably pull two Vanagons behind it.  It’s a
hoss, but I doubt it functionally approaches the
Westy’s capabilities and you sure can’t turn around
within three lanes so don’t try.  Wheel travel and
ground clearance were good, but compromised by the
probably-necessary running boards.


Man, there were lots of VW vans out there!  Among the
notables were a blue Syncro Westy with white top and
maybe a Subaru conversion near Muir Beach (we can all
go fast downhill), and the handpainted Hippy Mama
hardtop in Petaluma. Interesting distribution, if
you’ll permit a subjective survey: East Bay and North
Bay mostly show bay (of course) vans and Vanagons,
with the peninsula down to Monterey having more
Eurovans, and camper versions of the EVs were about
half by Westfalia and half by Winnabago.


There were times when there were three or more VW vans
in sight. Amazing, and very few that I saw were from
out of state. As for microbuses, the few show quality
ones were balanced out by many beaters and with almost
nothing in the middle ground.


Saw a couple more Sportsmobiles, as well; a Chevy AWD
one and a regular length Econoline and both of these
were surfer vans in Pacific Grove. A pleasant trip
overall and we’d like to go back in the Westy for a
longer visit, though perhaps the WBX might need a
boost up some of those hills.


Stephen






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