Date:         Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:21:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Vanagon vs Element..from digest mode..
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

A few posts in the recent digests--- a few of you discussing how an Element
might be sort of similar to a Vanagon..

 We camped last fall with gal-friend of my SO,  down in Utah.  She is a
former multiple Westie owner, she had a couple the last being a nice bay
window.
  She is a  widely traveled and competent camper, we've done trips with her
for years to various bikes, hikes, mountain climbs, etc.  This time, she
showed up with an Element and while she likes it alright...She was not
impressed with it's room, it's fuel economy, it's "campability" or it's ease
of driving...She did say it works well in Jackson Hole, during the snowy
months and had a better defroster than her Bay Window.

  When we showed up in the brown Vanagon rather than the fancy diesel Ford
with the pop top camper...she was very jealous, you could tell.  Each
morning as she crawled out of her tent, she would envy us as we made
coffee-- still  in our sleeping bag on the bed, etc etc.  'sellers-remorse'
I think it's called, when you regret 'up-grading'.
  But on a whole, the Element is a better vehicle for a 60yr old lady who
knows no wrenching, I guess.  But she was always moving one thing to get to
something else, unpacking one of her bikes to get in , folding, rolling,
packing, stuffing, sorting...on and on...They are quite small, even for one
person, as a car-camping vehicle...

  Don Hanson