Date:         Sun, 6 Jul 2008 22:43:25 -0600
Reply-To:     Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Croatia Vanagon/VW trip report
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I spent 14 days driving from Dubrovnik (south end of
Croatia) to Opatija then Zagreb, with extensions to
Montenegro and Slovenia.

These countries are Vanagon heaven.  There are LOTS
of T3s.  Many are panel vans used by businesses, but
there are passenger vans as well.  I saw one syncro--
a gold passenger van in Montenegro.  Also truck versions,
like single-cabs with a wide bed on the back--very
common.

Lots of T4s, too.  Every ambulance in Croatia is a
T4, I think.

The climate is very benign for automobiles.  No rust.
The T3s all look in great shape.  I looked inside and
they seem to have big steering wheels--no power steering,
I guess--and metal dashes like my '81.  Stripped
versions, compared to what they brought to the US.

Quite a few campers--mostly with "D" plates.  Germans,
heading S for vacation.  No pop-top Westies as we know
them--high-tops.  Double plastic windows.  Quite a
few of the passenger vans also had these windows.

Lots of Golfs, Polos, Caddys, Passats, but no Jettas.
Sharons, Touregs, too.  And T5s.  To see what you
can get there, check:
http://www.volkswagen.com.hr/

Also lots of old cars, especially Fiats and Renaults from
the early 60s--little wagons--and old Zastavas (Yugos.)

No photos of VWs, but my pix are at
http://jones.colorado.edu/jones/Croatia08

We were booked for a VW Touran, but couldn't take it
into Montenegro, so got an Opel Astra instead.

Back in the US, I'm grumpy driving--big cars for no
reason and bad drivers.  Outside the US, driving is
a skill.  Here, it is just a "right."  :-(

Richard