Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2020 20:47:12 -0500
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Friday subject - are we on the list just old farts?
In-Reply-To: <595D975D-68B7-4002-8E92-2EDF1D05F419@shaw.ca>
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Hi Alistair,
If looking for the best off road vehicle sure. But, I really think our Westfalias are the most versatile. A off road vehicle, a living space, ability two transport 6, in my case with middle seat. Ability to move large items. And keep these items inside a locked vehicle. And have a great following in both car shows and town parades!
I feel so lucky to be a caretaker of one of these vans!
Eric
> On Feb 15, 2020, at 8:31 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> Eric,
>
> They cost a lot here. The range of vehicles we see are 40-70k. Dropping another 10k on armour and wheels and shocks doesn’t seem to be unusual.
>
> We don’t see any sprinters, there is another company in town that does a lot of sprinter conversions. And now doing 4wd conversions to 2wd sprinters as there is some sort of lack of 4wd sprinter from Mercedes to North America recently. Those rigs easily top 100k converted.
>
> I think even a restored and up engined Syncro is just not going to cut it. Even with more power, the Syncro isn’t as nice a Hwy traveller as a new forerunner. A friend has a 4wd hino with a camper, that thing is tough. And that’s about the same price as a go westy type Syncro. But really oh so much more capable of road.
>
> Hate to think this. I still love the size and capability of my Syncro but realistically, nowadays there are other better options.
>
> Alistair
>
>
>> On Feb 15, 2020, at 5:08 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> I’m not sure how much those Riggs cost, but if you put that into updating a synchro you might have a pretty sweet ride. And, certainly much more interesting.
>>
>> But, if even they can admit the Synchro is cool I can tell you that if you take a Westfalia and take it to a car show and watch, very often people will spend a lot of time around even a well used bus compared to a brand new Porsche. In a general crowd the vW busses of all kinds get the smiles, stories, and attention.
>>
>> I sometimes go to the Hemmings motor News show and even a well used bus gets a significant following.
>>
>> Eric Caron
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Feb 15, 2020, at 6:28 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>
>>> David,
>>>
>>> The taco and forerunner crowd with their roof top tents and maybe off road trailers sometimes slightly , very so slightly, admit a Syncro westy is pretty cool.
>>>
>>> But they are smart, they have more reliable and powerful vehicles. :-)
>>>
>>> Ab
>>>
>>>>> On Feb 15, 2020, at 2:24 PM, "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@verizon.net wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hey! Who are you calling an old fart (I turn 70 this year). These vehicles keep one going. I have been dicking around with the beasts since I was 19. Some years without, but after having kids, nothing else was practice for camping than the Westies. Tent camped for a while, but by the time we set up, the kids were rolling in poison ivy or drowning themselves (active kids) in the local stream. Yes, I use mechanics more than I used to. And yes, I am somewhat stingy with my money.. I have to be. Fixed income. I can't just work some overtime to pay for something.
>>>> Don't get me wrong. There is certainly some truth in what you say. Many folks younger than us have never experienced the wonderfulness of Vanagon/Westy/Syncro travel. The poor son of a guns. They keep trying with jacked up Tacomas. They are doing the best they can with what they have to work with, They are having a lot of fun.
>>>> We have found something special and we are trying to keep them up. I may be old, but I'm trying to not admit it. And I don't fart all that much. :0)))
>>>>
>>>> Dave B.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----
>>
>
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