I actually enjoy commuting in my vanagons, and it's 60 miles each way.  Maybe it's a California thing, but I usually can't go over 50-60mph because it's so crowded, and there's so many SUVs in the commute that being in a higher vehicle like the Vanagon makes visibility easier.  I also have the electric mirrors on both my vans so visibility is really good.  (I turn and look anyway; there's a lot of motorcycles in my commute too and they're hard to see.)  I don't normally drive a Westfalia but on occasion have driven my parents' 74 Westfalia to work and didn't recall any worse visibility issues.  Normally I drive my little Beetle and I get tired of not being able to see where I'm going; if my commute weren't so long I'd sell it and drive the vans all the time.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Conrad Klahn
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 3:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Campers not a good daily driver

Hi,

My commute is 35 miles each way.

I don't usually drive the Weekender. Mornings are OK. BUT, the drivers
on the way home are a pain in the butt. They want to scoot around me
all the time, and it makes it hard for me to make lane changes. They
don't think I am driving fast enough (at 65 mph). They don't pay
attention to my signaling and seem to zone out when I hit the brakes.
City streets are very easy. Entering and exiting highways are
difficult, sometimes impossible.

I found out that the guy in my town who drives the GL Syncro, drives
daily, very fast. He doesn't seem to mind (apparently). However, his
commute is much more rural than mine. Whereas I have to drive into
heavy traffic, he stays out on the outskirts.

If I had a better view out the back window, and no curtains or closet -
it would still be a rough commute home. So, I'm more inclined to
believe that it isn't a camper thing, but a Vanagon thing.

Conrad

http://vanagon.dualport.com