VW T6.1 California & Mercedes Weekender vs. Vanagon Campers

[Steve M.]

So what is the cost to insure these new rigs compared to ours?
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[jjvincent]

I predicted this about 5 years ago. This thread is why VW will not import a T6.1 to the US. The people are still dreaming of a full Westy for $30K and that's not going to happen. The T3 wasn't a sales hit with VW in it's ladder half of it's life when it was in production. Overpriced and slow. The T4 wasn't much better until VW got the hint but by then it was too late.

I suggest everyone go price your dream T6.1 and when you see that you'll be spending a minimum of $70K, you'll walk away. On the other hand, go to Europe this summer and rent a T6 or T6.1. Go camping. Drive it around. You'll see. They are really nice and drive great. My T4 drives like a junker.

Instead, everyone should be, Hooray!" There's a Weekender and we are really interested. With what I read here, if I worked for VWoA, you just sealed the deal to never bring it to the US. People like the theory of bringing it to the US but they want to pay the year 1985 dollars or pay the year 2000 dollars (when it's 15 years old and needs a motor, trans and a whole bunch of other work) for it. It's not going to happen.

Hopefully VW realizes that you are not the customer they want, but younger people that have the money to buy one. Just like back in 1985 when a 1970 T2 owner laughed at those stupid youngsters buying new T3's for exorbitant prices. Some things never change.

I'm waiting for the EV bus and will buy it. So that's even more sacrilegious than a VW owner buying a MB.

[elizer]

Built one out on the UK website.
4motion tdi and every option available.
70,066 british pounds or $90516.51usd.
I am in for $75k , but for $90k I am moving up to the revel and sacrificing the footprint. Plus if it qualifies for RV financing even easier to justify.

[jimf909]

[Merian]

VW is working hard at electrifying their fleet - supposed to include a new Bus.

IF an EV Bus had a range extender option (like BMW) and they fit a camper top on it...

VW would have to price it at or lower than the Metris

but it could happen in a few years.

OTOH, I leased two Honda Pilots and some other stuff while waiting for VW to intro a new camper - gave up after ~10 years and got the Vanagon, tho the Bay Window was still better at some things.
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[newt3]

"IF an EV Bus had a range extender option (like BMW) and they fit a camper top on it... "

in Europe Ford / Dethleffs still has it:
A plug in hybrid camper. (eletric driven with range extender. so no direkt drive of the combustion engine. a bit comparable to bmw i3)
https://www.dethleffs.de/globevan/
https://www.promobil.de/neuheiten/dethleffs-globevan-ehybrid-2020/

Westfalia builts the Ford Nugget but at the moment not avaiable with plug in, but maybe the build it upon your demand (the torneo custom base modell is avaiable with plug in).

[Abscate]

[Zeitgeist 13]

My EV is a Magavan...er, I mean...Megavan

This weekend we'll be heading up to Salt Creek Rec Area along with a bunch of Microvans from the Oly Bullis...Bullivans?
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[vanagonjr]

[DCinDC]

While I loved my 03 Weekender, I too coveted the T5 and T6 conversions available in Europe and regretted that we could not not get those vans here. I would happily have paid whatever VW wanted to charge to get a new version of the Weekender with modern features and none of the long term reliability concerns that my T4 had. In a moment of good luck and great timing, I recently had the opportunity to buy a new 2020 Mercedes Metris Getaway van. It is everything that I loved about my Weekender, but with the latest safety systems and an extended warranty that covers everything until 2027 or 140,000 miles. Yes, it does not have the cachet of the classic VW, and it cost damn near $70K, but I can hop in it tomorrow and drive to the west coast and back and not worry that I am driving an 18 year old vehicle. The Getaway is functionally equivalent (campingwise) to the Weekender but it also tows 5,000lbs and the upper bed is really comfortable. I’ll miss following all the great technical discussions in this forum about electrical and mechanical system issues, but will instead be planning my next road trips.

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Former Owner of 2003 Weekender

[erste]

[joetiger]

Man. That's really nice.

Meanwhile my wife trashes her Golf R every weekend driving to the mountains to snowboard because she doesn't trust my Syncro. Hell, I don't trust my Syncro.
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[djkeev]

Beautiful unit!
Is that an example of what Peace Vans is doing now?

But $70,000 ? The house I'm sitting in cost less than that just five years ago!

Wave and honk (nicely) as you blow by me in my old 1990 tintop!
If I'm parked on the shoulder with the engine lid off..... stop will ya?

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[SCM]

I just discovered that you can get camper conversion stuff and a 3 1/2” lift on an AWD Toyota Sienna. If you just want to camp and haul toys in a reliable vehicle, and aren’t hung up on a particular brand, I think that’s about the perfect way to do it.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[JudoJeff]

I recently purchased a GTRV Westfalia camper on a Ford F-150. Going to sell my 86 Westfalia.

I would buy a California camper if VW had the sense to offer it. A good idea at Volkswagon would die of loneliness.

This was a very interesting discussion, I’ve spent years looking at what is available.

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1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
1987 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig & Rebuilt, sold
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout)

[tristessa]

[4Gears4Tires]

A friend of mine, who is 6'1', just bought a transit high roof awd model. He chose the transit over the sprinter or promaster because he said he can't stand up right in the other models. His bed is going to be 75" long, transverse in the van, pretty tight if you're 6'1" but doable. There are side flares you can add to increase that to 80".

https://www.campervan-hq.com/products/ford-transit-148wb-campervan-body-flares
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition