Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 08:48:21 -0400
Reply-To: Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject: Re: econofalia
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi all,
I must borrow Ken's plaid flameproof pants, but I feel the strange need to
defend the Ford Econofalia as a good idea. I think the use of the name
"Westy" as inexcusable and insulting to all real Westfalias, but the concept
isn't. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I'm sorry, but there
are no more new rear-engined Vanagons available in North America.
Therefore, if you want a new garageable compact camping conversion van that
retains its everyday usefullness, I see your only choices as this "Westy" or
the EV camper. Disclaimer: I have never camped in a real Westy, but I have
lurked enough to understand that the Westfalia's advantage is the
unsurpassed interior design that retains maximum liveability on a small
exterior size. I understand that you lose this with a long-wheelbase EV or
a Ford E150. I also understand that you lose the Fahrvergnügen that we love
so much in our Vanagons. And, it is a conversion not done by the "real"
Westfaliawerks.
However, it appears to be as close as you can get today with a new vehicle,
for about the same price as the VW EVbago. If you don't want to just buy a
traditional van and pull a poptop trailer, then your only choice is a class
A or C motorhome that will sit unused in your backyard 95% of the time, or a
class B van-camper that still is cramped, has no passenger room, no poptop
bed, and still too big for everyday use. If you must have 4wd, your only
mainstream choice appears to be a slideout truck camper in your full size
4wd pickup. Yeehah.
It might not have the soul of a real VW, but it captures some of the unique
versatility of the Westfalia package on a platform that is easier to own.
If you can afford a $38k econofalia, then you can afford to take it to any
Ford dealership for your 30k mile checkups and other maintenance without
ever thinking about it. Reliability, or the perception of it, sells quite
well in North America . . . .
Flame away,
Michael Townsend
'90 Carat
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve@Schwenk-Law.com <Steve@Schwenk-Law.com>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:28 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Check out this Westy
>Obviously, there are not 30 years of engineering tied
>up in that thing like with the real westies...just
>baltant copying of the concept. they got the concept,
>but missed the soul. that van has no soul. mine has
>lots! So does yours, of course.
>
>Scott Davis wrote:
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Subject: Re: Check out this Westy
>> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 23:42:30 EDT
>> From: OuiSki1@aol.com
>> To: wjohnson@TCSN.NET
>>
>> In a message dated 8/16/99 9:19:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>> wjohnson@TCSN.NET writes:
>>
>> << http://www.gtrv.com/ >>
>> I dunno, Wes, maybe it's just me, but somehow drivin around in a
fancied-up
>> Econoline just doesn't seem enough like "fahrfegnugen" to make the
switch!
>>
>> S.Davis
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