Can I get a Hallelujah from the chorus.  You've pegged me brother Loren.  Those campers are nice, but the price tag is awfully high.  And that's just the capital investment.  They tend to cost way more to maintain and their operating expense is extreme.  Another thing to consider, how many of you would start hacking on something you paid that much money for to make it more your own?  Not I, no way.  Sticking with utility and function over flash any day.  

MT

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Loren Busch
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 11:40 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Reality Check on New & Better VW Campers

 We can all drool and dream about a 'New VW Camper' but let me pose this question.  How many on this list have a pocketbook that would allow us to run out and buy one if they showed up at the VW (or RV) dealer tomorrow?
I'm willing to bet, based on other Class B campers on the market in the US and Canada, that the minimum you would see on the window sticker is around
$65 k and more likely around $85k.  Look at what the Class Bs on a Sprinter chassis marketed by Airstream a few years ago were going for: $95k!!.
Many, if not most of us, are driving Vanagons not only for their utility but because of their cost.  Even with what we have to spend (time and money) on keeping them running they are in an affordable range for a much greater part of the population than buying a new Class B.  A good example is a close friend of mine.  A couple of years ago she wanted a travel and camp vehicle.  She was really interested in a Class B but was well aware of the trials and tribulations of a Westy so went looking for a new rig.  And found that she could buy a 23 foot Class C for about $20k less than a good Class B!!  And so she now drives a 23 foot Itasca.  BTW, she also regularly attends WetWesties events as an SOB (Some Other Brand) but puts a home made VW logo on the grill!