Incidentally, to underscore the apparent popularity of camping in
     Canada, on a trip to Montreal and Quebec in 1994 we happened to visit
     as many VW dealers as we could fit into our touring schedule.  I was
     looking for a oil filler cap for my 1980 Vanagon which I had left on
     my workbench at home after adding oil in the wee small hours before
     our trip started.  Although none of the Canadian dealers we visited
     had the cap in stock, surprisingly all of them had the new Winnebago
     EV Camper.  They only had the gasoline version, however.  This EV is
     stretched by Winnebago (about 1.5 feet) and converted to become a
     modern upgrade to the Westfalia.  It seemed like a great camper,
     although expensive.

     I've looked through some Canadian papers back in the USA since then,
     but have never seen one of these campers in the classified as a used
     vehicle.  I guess this means they are still too new to appear on the
     used market, or maybe I'm not looking in the right places.  Or maybe
     it means those few Canadians who bought these campers are holding on
     tight.  Oh ..Canada! .

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: EuroVan syncro TDI / sharan url
Author:  pick@ISTAR.CA at EXTERNAL
Date:    3/12/98 11:17 PM

>     I would love to have a diesel EV Camper.  What I would really, really
>     love is the long wheelbase Winnebago EV Camper with a TDI.  Being a
>     4X4 would be an extra added feature.  Unfortunately I don't think
>     diesel EVs will ever be sold in the USA.  But, I wonder...
>
>     Diesels are real popular in Canada.  I wonder if any EV diesel campers
>     are available in Canada.  Since Canadian vehicle requirements are very
>     similar to those in the USA, having a vehicle available in Canada
>     would mean that VW had satisfied the vehicle requirements for North
>     America.  It should be possible to import such a Canadian vehicle into
>     the USA.
>
>     Considering the German EV TDI, I wonder if air conditioning is an
>     option?  Hopefully, the TDI would have enough power for air
>     conditioning.

I exchanged e-mails with a large VW dealer and EV Winnebago dealer in
Whitby Ontario (near Toronto)  who has converted a long wheelbase diesel to
a camper. But has no  pop top. Price was $29,000 Canadian. Company  is
called Owasco,  http://www.owasco-canada.com/index.html

Also there is a company in Vancouver called GTRV that does pop top
conversions and interiors. I think he said the cost was for a new
Transporter ~ $22,000 +  $15,000 for pop top, windows and interior. It
looks good in the brochure but they have no web site. At $37,000 Canadian
it compares favourably with the Winnebago @ $50,000 + but I don't know how
it compares for features and quality.

Alan Pickersgill
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
'85 Transporter (modified as camper) 183,000km