TheSamba.com :: View topic - Spending money on upgrades to the Westy vs. Peace Vans Modern

Fri Sep 27, 2019 1:11 pm

As with all things it depends. We have both. The VW Westy has more useable interior space.The MB is safer, having all of the modern safety features. The MB is quieter, faster and easier to drive, especially for the wife. The overall cost is much much higher in several respects.
I nearly always drive the VW Westy it is simply more fun.

Fri Sep 27, 2019 1:48 pm

dgbeatty wrote: I nearly always drive the VW Westy it is simply more fun.

And there you have it in a nutshell, for most of us I'd imagine. I've put >$25K into my Westy in recent years, with a few more $$ to go on upholstery. I could afford a MB, if I wanted one. I don't, I want my Westy in great shape, that's the vehicle I find fun to drive. Sure most people think I'm nuts, but why should I care?

Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:16 am

There was a video by Doug Demuro about what a crappy overpriced van the Metris is....

https://youtu.be/JRhvnlQHKc0

I prefer the Sprinter. Or my Vanagon!

Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:25 am

Royb wrote: There was a video by Doug Demuro about what a crappy overpriced van the Metris is....

https://youtu.be/JRhvnlQHKc0

After the economics lesson, try this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8kHgmZIiQ .

Sat Sep 28, 2019 12:00 pm

I’ve looked at the Metris in person, it is not a minivan, it is a cargo van fitted with passenger seats. That review is a ridiculous comparison, would someone shopping for an Odyssey really cross-shop a Metris?

I was really impressed how truck-like the Metris is and the similarities to the Vanagon. If they offered the Marco Polo in the USA I would buy one with that sweet Westfalia interior.

Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:28 am

This thread and others like it remind me of when I was at this party with my VW friends. Drinking, eating having a good time.... A friend of a friend who wasn't a VW guy starts talking about the Broncos or some sports related subject. Instantly my buddy Wayne opens the VW magazine on the counter, points to a Bus and says 'No, this is what we talk about here'.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/

Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:24 am

Bulli Klinik wrote: This thread and others like it remind me of when I was at this party with my VW friends. Drinking, eating having a good time.... A friend of a friend who wasn't a VW guy starts talking about the Broncos or some sports related subject. Instantly my buddy Wayne opens the VW magazine on the counter, points to a Bus and says 'No, this is what we talk about here'.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/

It’s as bad as EuroBus people posting in the real VW Fora. Kick them out, I say.

Sun Sep 29, 2019 12:07 pm

SyncroChrick wrote: I am not even certain $70 covers it.

The base cargo Metris is about $33k

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehiclede...Type=alpha

The Peace Vans base conversion is $40k

You are at $73k absolute bottom.
Then add a few options (either on the van or the camper conversion) and taxes.

You are closer to $85k-90k

I am getting old perhaps but that sounds totally insane to me.

Whats crazy is that all over the rocky mountains I see so many brand new sprinter camper vans, and they pretty much start at $100k, baffling really.

Sun Sep 29, 2019 12:54 pm

There something like 15,000 RVs sold every year in the 100,000-300,000USD RANGE

Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:23 pm

My Westy if for keeps, If I had the money it will be the recon campers, but the Westy is never going to go away from me or family.

Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Abscate wrote: There something like 15,000 RVs sold every year in the 100,000-300,000USD RANGE

74.1M baby boomers born between 18 years of 1946 - 1964. That's 4.1M people each year. 15K RVs is about a third of 1% just from the boomer population. I'm surprised it's not a lot more.

I'm on a plane right now with a a friend who's picking up a 2020 Winnebago 4WD Revel in Forest City, IA. Pics later this week.

Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:32 pm

I’m surprised it’s not more

401ks are maxed out
Money is cheap
We can consult for 3x what they paid us to pay gas and groceries and tax deduct it to no tax status
SOcial security is locked in , unlike the next ten who are SOL