Well, I LIVE in my Westy, but I really don't fully utilize it.  I run the fridge on battery all the time, so it only cools when I'm driving.  I keep some colas in an icechest.  I did use the stove to make coffee water in the mornings, but my fill valve developed a leak, so now I do without.  I do use the sink all the time, to brush my teeth, shave, and wash my hands and face (especially when it's been to many days between showers).  I almost bought a Eurovan MV Weekender instead of the Vanagon Westy I got, but I haven't been sorry.  It depends on how you're going to use it.

 --- On Thu 08/28, Martinez < mart1nez@PACBELL.NET > wrote:
From: Martinez [mailto: mart1nez@PACBELL.NET]
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 11:28:38 -0700
Subject: Re: Full Westy vs "Weekender" Pop-Top Westy

Just got back from a two week road/camping trip with wife and two kids in an<br>85 weekender.<br><br>It was perfect for us.  I'm not one to cook inside a confined, poorly<br>ventilated space that I would also sleep and sit in for hours at a time.  I<br>guess it would be nice to heat water, but that's about the extent of<br>"cooking" I would do inside a vanagon.  On the other hand, the additional<br>space and lightness of the weekender was always in use.  Do wish VW had<br>engineered a step up to the pop-top into the interior design of the<br>weekender - I cringed every time my girls climbed up the rear facing jump<br>seat<br><br>Juan<br><br><br>----- Original Message -----<br>From: "John Reynolds" <kayakjr@JUNO.COM><br>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM><br>Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 10:01 AM<br>Subject: Full Westy vs "Weekender" Pop-Top Westy<br><br><br>> Hi,<br>> After driving my friend's 86 pop-top westy in Yellowstone my wife and I<br>are interested in getting rid of our 81 air cooled westy and getting a clean<br>late model westy.<br>><br>> His van has just the rear facing jumpseat and table (elec fridge) and rear<br>cabinet style of interior. My wife likes the 7 passenger interior without<br>the stove/sink, etc.  I'm on the fence, since having the stove and sink<br>inside the van for rainy or windy nights would be nice.  In nice weather, I<br>agree that I would rather cook outside the van.  Also the flip-out table<br>doesn't seem like it can take the abuse of kids leaning heavily on it.  Note<br>this is a 3rd vechicle for us - so it basically a camper/beach/bike/ice<br>cream run vechicle<br>><br>> So should we aim for the "full Westy" or the more basic model without the<br>stove/sink/propane fridge???<br>><br>> Anyway - just curious in opinions (please let's not get into another<br>discussion on the the terms "Weekender" "Basic Westy", "Multivan, etc - the<br>list has been through that.<br>><br>> Thanks,<br>><br>> John<br>><br>><br>><br>> John Reynolds<br>

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