Responses for owning a 4x4 van??? - Page 3

Tapatio · 09-06-2011, 02:06 PM

PatO · 09-07-2011, 08:12 PM

My most common comment is "That would be perfect for Baja" but I live in San Diego so a lot of people have that in their experience here. I never go across the border so they are always disappointed.

I get all positive reactions except when I'm slow to merge on the freeway because of the lack of oomph.

Some of my favorites:

Pulling into an University of California Santa Cruz student parking lot: "That is one BIG ass van"

On a Grand Canyon trip in some little N.M. town. My 83 year older Mother is standing by the side door waiting for the rest of us to get out of a restaurant. Someone asks her: "Is this your van?" People just want to talk about it.

There was a female Anza Borrego DSP ranger (Ranger Nancy, now retired I think) who generally toured Coyote Canyon a few years back. I'd visit there several times a year and was bumping into her about 3 years running. We would chat each time. About the 3rd time I shouted "Hi Nancy, do you remember me?" She replied "No but I remember your van, look at that clearance!". I miss her!

Last month, with my Hobie Adventure kayak on the roof and waiting at a 2 lane ramp light to make a turn I notice a Volvo stop about 1.5 car lengths short of the car ahead it so its front bumper is right at my door. After about 15 seconds I look down and back and this beautiful young lady is just bouncing and giving me double thumbs up and waving. Wow, That made my day and all the work polishing my rims and lug nuts the weekend before suddenly seemed worthwhile!

Many parking lot, rest stop and campground conversations. This is one of the best parts of owning a Sportsmobile.

Skywagon · 09-07-2011, 08:35 PM

"Wow, That made my day and all the work polishing my rims and lug nuts the weekend before suddenly seemed worthwhile!"

When it comes to impressing the ladies, your lug nuts just can't be too shiny....!

Bill

PatO · 09-07-2011, 09:14 PM

I'm getting some really good mileage out of those shiny lug nuts. I know it was either that or the kayak!

**daveb** · 09-07-2011, 09:48 PM

Probably one of the worst times was when a guy and his wife walked up to
me at a campground and asked "you really like that thing? I heard they're pieces of junk".

I couldn't believe it

. His wife just smirked. Then he laughed and said he had one too.
He was one of the members from the Sportsmobile owners group who lived in Modesto
about 10 mile from my home. Yeah he got me

Zeta · 09-07-2011, 10:18 PM

My very conservative, Mormon accountant rolled his eyes and muttered "jeez" under his breath when I told him.

Z

Aldercrest · 09-07-2011, 11:28 PM

People stare. People ask if they can take a picture. People just take a picture without asking. Last week after mountain biking, a guy pulls up while leaving the lot in his fuel efficient Honda and says with a classic Austrian Ahnold Schwarzenegger accent, "Vaht kind ov expeditions do yoo take in zat thing?"

It is always a conversation piece, but occasionally in eco-friendly Portland I get a sour vibe. Still, the 15mpg mileage seems to mellow most people out.

Like was mentioned above, I love it, and it's something that enables family adventures and memories. The conversation piece is bonus.

yvrr · 09-08-2011, 08:58 AM

10 years ago when we bought our SMB, it would get a lot of attention. Now, not so much (I've complained to Alan Feld that he is selling too many of them)!

But one of the more interesting approvals of our van didn't even involve a conversation. This happened in the late spring of 2010. Donner Summit received a late snowfall which closed I-80 for a day or so and then opened with chain control just when I needed to get to Reno for a convention.

Now, recognize that a majority of Californians don't know how to drive in snow, even if they have 4WD. So, Caltrans and the highway patrol get serious about chain control on I-80 over the Sierras. When chain control is in effect, they neck the interstate down to two lanes and station a Caltrans pickup on the skip stripe between those two lanes with Caltrans employees visually checking every vehicle as it passes. They check that, if you have 4WD, you have proper tires or that if you have front wheel drive, the chains are on the front and not the rear (it happens all of the time).

So, when I reached the chain control signs, I pulled over and locked the hubs and shifted into 4WD. Now, our SMB is a 2001 and is equipped with the large Reunel front bumper and a winch along with a pair of large Hella off-road lights mounted on the bumper bar. As I approached the Caltrans checkpoint, the worker got a slight smile on his face, rolled his eyes ever so slightly and waved me through. I think he approved....

sdwindansea · 09-08-2011, 09:33 AM

I do not mind the attention since I was one of those people that bugged SMB owners before I had one. The only comment that makes me feel awkward (and I get it quite often) is "how much does that thing cost!?!?". I usually respond that there is large price range since it is a completely custom vehicle and try to downplay how much we put into it. The only time this does not bother me is when it is a genuine inquiry later in conversation from a prospective owner who has asked many intelligent questions beforehand.

**daveb** · 09-08-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

I do not mind the attention since I was one of those people that bugged SMB owners before I had one. The only comment that makes me feel awkward (and I get it quite often) is "how much does that thing cost!?!?". I usually respond that there is large price range since it is a completely custom vehicle and try to downplay how much we put into it. The only time this does not bother me is when it is a genuine inquiry later in conversation from a prospective owner who has asked many intelligent questions beforehand.

Same here. I worry when somebody (in my home town for the most part) asks if they can look inside. I get a lot of toothless people asking that.
I need to move