Well brothers from another mother, a friend sent me this thread and I had to chime in as I've had this conversation (in my head at least) about a thousand times.
I own a '69 VW Westy, based in Atlanta, and travel all over the Southeast. I mention that because weather and traffic matters. I love this platform for adventure but there's no denying its dated.
A couple of things mentioned by others:
1. The "park and cook" enabled by the pass through is huge. In the South the weather changes can be quick and dramatic. But often after a storm a great, sunny, high pressure system moves in to create a glorious day. This happened last Friday night, it stormed but if you're in your Westy, no sweat. The next morning was amazing. I had some friends who wanted to go rock climbing, they didn't due to having to set up a tent in a pouring down rain. In a Westy they could have pulled up, cooked if they wanted then slept.
2. Herbie is right, the support of the community around you is amazing and seemingly everywhere. Internet search Aircooled Rescue when you have time; basically an informal network of people who will help nationwide.
3. Jay, I've seen that Defender Dormobile too and could daydream for hours about that, then I remember it's a Land Rover. But man, what a platform for exploring! (So long as it's running)
Now a couple of observations based on 5 years with my '69 Westy with a Type 1 engine:
1. Small "footprints" are not only good for trails but also urban parking.
2. The space utilization in these small rigs is nothing short of amazing. I've cooked inside. There's a camp toilet. I have a 12v refrigerator. All the spares and tools I need. I keep all the clothes and food I need to leave at a moments notice. All tucked away neatly in various cabinets, but no clutter.
3. No air conditioning which is a huge limiting factor. Summers in Atlanta? Please.
4. No speed. Exiting and entering the vortex of city traffic is the pits.
5. Many trips I'm all about the slow cruise, the Blue Ridge Parkway for example. But sometimes, I'm just going rock climbing or hiking for the day and I need to get back quickly. Nothing happens quickly in my Westy.
Don't get me wrong, I love the thing. But man do I wish someone would make its modern equivalent. I'd just own both.
I would love to see someone that has owned a Westy in the past compare it to the Jeep Unlimited with Ursa Minor pop top. Not exactly pass through but could be done in a storm. It would not have a stove but my '69 doesn't either, I just place my one burner butane stove on the sink cabinet.
I drove that van for my entire senior year of high school and a little while when in the suck. I had some great trips up and down the east coast in that thing. It was slow, unreliable, uncomfortable and frankly dangerous as hell. BUT I loved it for few years. Then I sold it for, well, NOTHING and have regretted it ever since. Back before the internet they were just crappy minivans.
