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climberjohn
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 1840
Location: Portland Orygun
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 Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:24 am Post subject: The van is shorter than it looks |
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For about the first year after I got the van, I thought it was longer than anything I'd driven before, and thus was extra careful when parking, backing up, etc.
But the tape measure proves that the van merely creates an illusion of length. It's an even 15 feet long.
It's the same length as my wife's 2004 Honda CR-V, and just 4 inches longer than my petite Mazda 3, which I can parallel park most anywhere.
(Even knowing this, I'm still extra careful with when parking, as most all my van driving is on the open road.)
So, measure it and compare to other cars, you might be surprised.
length specs here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2_%28T3%29
Cheers,
CJ
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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1621
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Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:35 am Post subject: |
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I was a bit surprised too - I guess I had never really gave it much thought before.
The woman at DMV said a similar thing when she came out to measure the van for motorhome registration plates (fees assessed by the foot). Deceptively small I recall her saying. It's registered as a 14' motorhome - exactly the same registration fee as a standard vehicle.
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'85 Westy |
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kevtherev
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2007
Posts: 897
Location: the 51st state
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:50 am Post subject: |
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it's similar to a tardis.. Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space
looks bigger inside than it is.
Your Vanagon is a modern day chameleon!
folks who look inside are amazed at it's space |
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jacob.
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Joined: August 10, 2009
Posts: 802
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:57 am Post subject: |
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I had it next to my moms mercury grand marquis, and if you've ever driven one, they're a boat, and that was longer then the van. I can parallel park that, I can maneuver easy in that, its what I learned to drive in. I realized its because theres no hood and theres no trunk, all of that space is cabin space (correct term?), the space where people sit. They're really skinny too.
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| RCB wrote: |
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240Gordy
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Joined: May 15, 2008
Posts: 2354
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| jacob. wrote: |
| I had it next to my moms mercury grand marquis, and if you've ever driven one, they're a boat, and that was longer then the van. I can parallel park that, I can maneuver easy in that, its what I learned to drive in. I realized its because theres no hood and theres no trunk, all of that space is cabin space (correct term?), the space where people sit. They're really skinny too. |
you are correct, it is cabin space, grasshopper.
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guggenheim
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2007
Posts: 252
Location: Portland
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| 1621 wrote: |
I was a bit surprised too - I guess I had never really gave it much thought before.
The woman at DMV said a similar thing when she came out to measure the van for motorhome registration plates (fees assessed by the foot). Deceptively small I recall her saying. It's registered as a 14' motorhome - exactly the same registration fee as a standard vehicle. |
Does registering your van as a motorhome lower your insurance? Which insurance company are you with? |
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noganav
Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006
Posts: 1236
Location: San Diego CA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I find Vanagons really easy to parallel park because of how close you are to the front bumper. The larger power mirrors also make a world of difference.
I was so proud of this one I had to take a picture. It was tight, but i wedged it in there!
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Capt Curl
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Joined: September 23, 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Nanaimo B.C. Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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its the same size as a mk1 rabbit I am told....
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carterzest
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Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| guggenheim wrote: |
| 1621 wrote: |
I was a bit surprised too - I guess I had never really gave it much thought before.
The woman at DMV said a similar thing when she came out to measure the van for motorhome registration plates (fees assessed by the foot). Deceptively small I recall her saying. It's registered as a 14' motorhome - exactly the same registration fee as a standard vehicle. |
Does registering your van as a motorhome lower your insurance? Which insurance company are you with? |
I go to a different DMV when they want to do that. I had MH plates on one and insurance was more if I recall correctly. Just went to a different DMV where they were clueless as to it being a motor home and got regular plates.
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1621
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Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| guggenheim wrote: |
| 1621 wrote: |
I was a bit surprised too - I guess I had never really gave it much thought before.
The woman at DMV said a similar thing when she came out to measure the van for motorhome registration plates (fees assessed by the foot). Deceptively small I recall her saying. It's registered as a 14' motorhome - exactly the same registration fee as a standard vehicle. |
Does registering your van as a motorhome lower your insurance? Which insurance company are you with? |
With USAA. Insurance the same.
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'85 Westy |
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DAIZEE
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Joined: January 26, 2010
Posts: 7552
Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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WOW that surprises me and yet makes me feel better. I laugh at my parking of my Westy, guess I can't get used to sitting over the wheel and I never pull it in even when I drive it straight in!!!! It's my derriere that hangs out and I don't always get it straight when I'm turning into a spot. Will definitely have to practise parallel 
I have a Toyota Tercel I am selling and when I got into it after my 4000 mile trip I found it so small. Well it is. I can't reach across the Westy and open the passenger door. Most likely it is the boxiness I have to get used to as you say no hood and no trunk. I have a 4 gear manual and I find it easy to manuever.
What is gex motor? I'm thinking it has something to do with gas & ?exhaust? I'm learning lots of new words and things!
I had (still having) problems with my insurance company as they didn't know what it was. Rare up here. I had to take out an RV CAA + membership when I added my matching motorcycle trailer. THAT bugged me as same price as full size RV.
Reading all your conversationsd really helps me. Thanks
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)
Last edited by DAIZEE on Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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?Waldo?
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Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Capt Curl wrote: |
| its the same size as a mk1 rabbit I am told.... |
It's longer than a rabbit or golf, but pretty much the same footprint as a jetta. |
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DAIZEE
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010
Posts: 7552
Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Yes my 89 Jetta was a big little car and I seem attracted to boxy lines. Man I got a lot in that Jetta!
When you all are comparing size are you comparing finished vehicle or the wheel base?
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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?Waldo?
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Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I was talking footprint, meaning the amount of total area of the body if you were looking straight down from above. Width side to side X length bumper to bumper. |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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I have a early vanagon model promo book and it lists the vanagon as 18in longer then a Golf.
Dan in NY
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?Waldo?
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Joined: February 22, 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Yup, those 18 inches are the trunk of the jetta. |
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DAIZEE
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010
Posts: 7552
Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
I have a early vanagon model promo book and it lists the vanagon as 18in longer then a Golf.
Dan in NY |
hmmm I'm looking to get down south for some serious warmth and that planned cruise sounds enticing. Will think about it as it is a wee bit too late but who knows with the weather these days. I want to do Newfoundland in July & August or is that August and September.
It would be great for me to meet some other people with way more experience than me.
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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ThorAlex
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2006
Posts: 620
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Simba'sWestyWings wrote: |
(...)
What is gex motor? I'm thinking it has something to do with gas & ?exhaust? I'm learning lots of new words and things!
(...) |
GEX is a company that do engine rebuilds. Do a serch for them, the have a bad reputation but sometimes they accidantaly make a good engine.
| noganav wrote: |
(...)
I was so proud of this one I had to take a picture. It was tight, but i wedged it in there!
[img][/img] |
Damn, that is tight! I cant seem lo learn were the rear bumper is, either i nudge the car behind me or I struggle to park just to find I had another meter or two of maneuvering space 
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mikey9
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Joined: January 05, 2009
Posts: 126
Location: Inverness, Scotland
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:52 am Post subject: |
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Big advantage in Scotland (and elsewhere?) is that they charge by length on the ferries.
We always get the lowest fare (under 4.5 m I think) although it pushes this by a couple of centimetres with loaded bike rack - but no-one ever has a tape measure......
Not so good if the charge by height though (Very Hi - Hi top  ) |
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psych-illogical
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Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:56 am Post subject: |
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I think the illusion of length comes from where you sit in the vehicle. It seems like there's an awful lot of car behind you. I'm always looking at cars that I park next to when I'm out and about and am constantly amazed at the number of small cars I park next to with a longer wheelbase than my van. Once I got used to mine I found parallel parking a breeze.
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