Tell me that it's only $9,995 and I'll think about it.

Right now I'm just drooling.

Thanks,

Mike

On 12/1/03 7:44 PM, "Mike Pedersen" <mikeped@SHAW.CA> wrote:

> Check this one out...
>
> http://www.colonialairstream.com/2003models/b_van/interior.html
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ty Graham" <tyg@OZ.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 11:42 AM
> Subject: Drove a Sprinter and liked it ...
>
>
>> Am I going to hell?  I feel so dirty.
>>
>> I went down to Freightliner in Portland a couple of weeks ago and looked
>> at Sprinters.  They had more than 20 on the lot including a camper
>> conversion.  I spent 3 hours over two days asking questions and crawling
>> around.  I test drove the camper conversion for ~5 miles.
>>
>> Overall, I am very impressed.  It is a very nice modern van, though has
>> much more in common with a bread truck than with our Vanagons.
>>
>> 140" wheelbase plus a hiroof feels super spacious for three.  It would
>> be wild to do some sort of conversion on a ten(!) passenger rig that
>> allowed for future birthday parties or soccer team hauling.  I'm 6'3"
>> and could around walk easily.  It felt like only a slightly lower
>> ceiling than the AWs I've been in.
>>
>> Ergonomics seemed pretty good with a four way adjustable seat and
>> adequate legroom.  All the modern conveniences were there, though not as
>> nicely implemented as in my MINI or Volvo.  Typical of any new car pitch
>> I've had, the presence of cupholders was prominently featured.
>>
>> For such a long, spacious rig, it drove great.  I made a bunch of
>> parking passes and donuts and was blown away with the turning radius.
>> My wife kept saying I was making tighter turns than her new MINI - not
>> true, but it felt like it.
>>
>> Power felt good, but not great.  It certainly pulled as well if not
>> better than our 2.1l Vanagons.  I didn't measure fuel economy, but folks
>> swear that they get 22mpg all the time and can get 27mpg or more on the
>> highway.  500 miles between fill ups would be sweet.  Diesel clatter was
>> there, but well damped.  The noise seemed lower than in the Ford Transit
>> I drove in France this year.  It was a chilly day so I didn't try the
>> Windows down test.
>>
>> The camper conversion I drove was too much of that tacky sort of
>> American overstuffed, Sportsmobileish interior.  Nothing seemed very
>> engineered and was just not my style.  The rear bed sure was huge,
>> though.   The salesguy thought one his customers had put a Westfalia
>> poptop from Europe on one, though I have yet to find a picture or any
>> info on the web.  I haven't asked Steve Lashley yet.
>>
>> Net net:  I am very tempted to get a 140" hi roof and build my own
>> camper conversion.  I will probably rent a Sprinter camper in Europe
>> first to get some real test time.
>>
>> For folks that are interested.
>> Here's some info and pics of the camper I test drove.  ($55k, I think)
>> http://www.sprinterus.com/
>>
>> The Sprintervan group on Yahoo is pretty active, though not up to
>> Vanagon snuff.
>>
>> These are the folks we rented an RV from in the Netherlands.
>> http://www.arrantea.com/
>>
>> TyG
>
>