On Tue, 3 Sep 2002, Andrew Fox wrote:

> The result would hopefully be a hybrid that has shares the
> excellent layout of the Westfalia with the durability, and practicality of
> a late model american van.

You might want to test drive a few American vans, before you make a final
decision on this idea.  They are durable, for the most part (though there
are things that will get you -- every V-8 Ford we've had has needed a new
transmission at some point, for example) but you may be disappointed in
the handling.  My '82 Westy handles better than the '90 Ford Club Wagon I
used to drive.  The Club Wagon was also starting to have cooling system
problems of its own, but those might be attributable to neglect.  Real
bastard of a vehicle to work on -- it always seemed like the part
you needed to reach was in that inaccessable space halfway between the
hood and the inside engine cowling.

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "The VW camper is a brilliant invention -- it's like a
 |___/             Swiss army knife for the road... It's the stealth RV."
                                                        -- Wayne Curtis