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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: Why no Westys on the Tour De France coverage?? |
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So, I've been watching the Tour De France coverage on Versus, admittedly not everyday, but I've still seen quite a bit of it.
If you've ever watched the coverage of this event, you'll know that you see hundreds of cars/vans/campers lining the shoulders of the road as the cyclists wiz by.
So why have I not seen a single Vanagon or EV Westy?? I mean this seems like a perfect place to see Westys all over the place, but not a one have I seen. Lot's of Rialto-style campers, but it seems a Westy (vanagon or EV) would be perfect. Smaller, easier to fit into tight spots. Seems like a perfect TDF chase vehicle.
Is it European pollution controls? Have they legislated/regulated all of the older vehicles off the road over there?? _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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ChesterKV Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2005 Posts: 1725 Location: El Cerrito, CA
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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Dude,
I think the Vanagon Westfalia is simply too old and the same can now be said for a lot of the Eurovan campers. The Euros are also big into caravans (trailers) that they like to tow with their 1.2 liter n/a diesels..... and still get 29 mpg.
But... since I just made all of that up in my head......... I could be wrong.
- Chester _________________ 1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way. |
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Perales Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 2046 Location: Nova Scotia
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Why no Westys on the Tour De France coverage?? |
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hiram6 wrote: |
Seems like a perfect TDF chase vehicle.
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Just what are you implying here? That a Westy can't keep up with a bicycle?
OK, well maybe not going up hill, but... _________________ -- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino) |
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vw_nick Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2005 Posts: 391 Location: Nashville, TN
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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I think I've seen a few T5s though... _________________ Nick |
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whip618 Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 761 Location: Albuquerque
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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I saw a Bay Adventurewagon in todays coverage on the second climb and a vanagon parked in a farmers yard.
Phil _________________ Life is simple....either you're qualified or you're not.
USSVI.......Pride Runs Deep
USSVI Life member and Holland Club member
Samba Member No. 3307 |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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whip618 wrote: |
I saw a Bay Adventurewagon in todays coverage on the second climb and a vanagon parked in a farmers yard.
Phil |
Was it up on blocks and full of chickens? |
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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We used to watch Lance's TDF rides during spin class. With each passing year, fewer and fewer Westys are out there. |
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izzydog Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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I saw a blue, early 80s passenger van in today's stage - stage 9. Maybe more in the Alps? |
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floggingmolly Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2007 Posts: 1106 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Road Trip! _________________ '85 Wolfsburg Weekender |
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jackbombay Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007 Posts: 2723 Location: Eastern Idaho
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Heh, heh. I saw the same one sitting in the farmer's field, and had a similar thought. "Bet that one doesn't run"
Izzydog, I missed the one in yesterday's stage, but still not a single Westy!!!!!!! _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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izzydog Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:33 am Post subject: |
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hiram6,
It was on the screen for about a nanosecond. Thanks to my trusty Tivo, I went back and ran it in super slo-mo to make a positive ID. It was on the first Cat 1 climb - the one before d' Aspin.
Jeff |
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oorwullie Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2003 Posts: 2365 Location: fribourg,switzerland
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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there's plenty vanagons, bays,splits and other ol' vw's in europe. not everyone who drves one is fanatical about 21st century bicycle technology tho. |
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jackbombay Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007 Posts: 2723 Location: Eastern Idaho
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Zanza Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 63 Location: Switzerland - Europa
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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That's right, some people in Europa own trailers (Netherland guys love trailers for example...as we say in Europa: if you see a car with netherland license plates, but without a hitch, he's probably not a genuine netherland guy ) but the vast majority use to own campers like these
More space, more convenient, with hot shower and the home confort in it.... and always parked on parking lots near the large road, but never on some rocky paths and in the wildlife nature.
But there are a lot of small Vanagon and EV likes on road too, probably not interested by the TDF... like me by the way _________________ '92 Westfalia California full camper - 2.5l gasoline - 5 speed - 223'600 km
Moderator on Buspirit, the french speaking Eurovan forum
Visit my website, dedicated to the Westfalia California |
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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I think I watch as much for the views of the French countryside as the bike racing.
So, todays count was two, count'em two, Eurovan poptops. Couldn't tell for sure, but they looked more like weekenders than full campers. _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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Zanza Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 63 Location: Switzerland - Europa
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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.... but were probably full campers
There are not a lot of Multivan with Westfalia poptop (Weekender) in Europa: the vast majority are the Westfalia California (full campers poptop) _________________ '92 Westfalia California full camper - 2.5l gasoline - 5 speed - 223'600 km
Moderator on Buspirit, the french speaking Eurovan forum
Visit my website, dedicated to the Westfalia California |
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70coupyel Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2006 Posts: 1657 Location: So.Cal
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Dudes I just saw a round headlight Westie.Frickin cool
My g/f really laughs at me jumping up and down in front of the TV and then RUN to the PC. _________________
TheAndante wrote: |
Saying that specs are different than dimensions doesn't make sense. Porsche specs/VW specs/engineering specs are nothing but a series of dimensions,sizes,percentages,measurements, etc. |
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338946&highlight=
70 KG Coup
83 Westy Waterboxer |
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K58 Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006 Posts: 1173 Location: Santa Barbara
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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no Westy's?
why are there no Women in the TDF? |
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MrPolak Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2004 Posts: 1337 Location: AG ,atnaltA
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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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While I didn't see any Vanagons, I have seen a handful of Eurovan Westfalia campers, both Weekender pop-top and full-campers. |
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