> The other day I went to check out a '93 Westy.
> I was surprised how small the space is inside.  Cramped.
> This was not a long model that would have had an extra length
> of foot and a half in the "lounge" area, so the door where we
> have the fridge, could not open.  I was surprised that the
> height was about four inches less.  The lifter of the top was
> in the front and not very practical there.  It also felt like
> it is also narrower than the Vanagon inside.  The engine was
> 2.5 five cylinder but did not pull better than our 2.1L.  All
> that plastic in front was putting me off.  Too syntetic all over.
> I was surprised how much lesser the interior space was.
> Otherwise it had the same cabinets and things we do.  There
> was not one feature that would stick out as a positive, a
> good reason to get it for.  Maybe the five cylinder engine
> only and the front wheel drive factor and the ABS brakes.
> The rest would rather make me not to buy it.  Plus, the
> sliding door does not open from the inside.  Maybe that was
> possible on the later years.
> So, all in all, it was a great disappointment.
> Just in case one would like to gravitate towards one.

I checked out a Canadian '93 Westy whose owner stopped by the shop for parts
some time ago, and had the same overall reaction. Compared to a Vanagon
Westy, the short-wheelbase EV Westy just seemed cramped. (The EV Winnebago,
incidentally, is based on a longer wheelbase.)  Someone once claimed that
the actually interior volume is not significantly lower, but empirically it
definitely felt that way!  Another drawback is that as a rule, Eurovan parts
are considerably more expensive than similar Vanagon parts, due to the much
lower U.S. sales volume (hence less economy of scale).  My reaction was that
if I were to buy a Eurovan camper at any time down the road, it would have
to be a Winnebago version, just because of the longer wheelbase.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT