Just got back from a two week road/camping trip with wife and two kids in an
85 weekender.

It was perfect for us.  I'm not one to cook inside a confined, poorly
ventilated space that I would also sleep and sit in for hours at a time.  I
guess it would be nice to heat water, but that's about the extent of
"cooking" I would do inside a vanagon.  On the other hand, the additional
space and lightness of the weekender was always in use.  Do wish VW had
engineered a step up to the pop-top into the interior design of the
weekender - I cringed every time my girls climbed up the rear facing jump
seat

Juan

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Reynolds" <kayakjr@JUNO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 10:01 AM
Subject: Full Westy vs "Weekender" Pop-Top Westy

> Hi,
> After driving my friend's 86 pop-top westy in Yellowstone my wife and I
are interested in getting rid of our 81 air cooled westy and getting a clean
late model westy.
>
> His van has just the rear facing jumpseat and table (elec fridge) and rear
cabinet style of interior. My wife likes the 7 passenger interior without
the stove/sink, etc.  I'm on the fence, since having the stove and sink
inside the van for rainy or windy nights would be nice.  In nice weather, I
agree that I would rather cook outside the van.  Also the flip-out table
doesn't seem like it can take the abuse of kids leaning heavily on it.  Note
this is a 3rd vechicle for us - so it basically a camper/beach/bike/ice
cream run vechicle
>
> So should we aim for the "full Westy" or the more basic model without the
stove/sink/propane fridge???
>
> Anyway - just curious in opinions (please let's not get into another
discussion on the the terms "Weekender" "Basic Westy", "Multivan, etc - the
list has been through that.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
>
>
> John Reynolds