On the sportsmobile, yeah I hear that. I initially was going to
convert an e-250 I bought to a 4x4 van. I gave up on it quickly
because it had too many downsides vs the syncro westy vein.  The
quigleys, centurians, and other amercian fullsize, full frame 4x4
conversions like the sportsmobile have been exciting, but I think it
boils down to one factor alone for me. The tipping point for it is to
ask the question "If I can only have a single vehicle and no more,
what vehicle is it".  For me it's either a vanagon, or a syncro
vanagon. I loved the fact that the sportmobile is cavernous inside,
could be had with the monster 4.9 inline 6 gasser torque monster(holy
smokes I can't imagine that thing with head work or a turbo... 300K
mile motor with diesel power characteristics that also sips gas, too
bad it weighs 600 lbs ha).  The list of why I loved them goes on...
loved that it was a true 4x4, dana 60s if you want,  whatever transfer
case you want since it's divorced, beefy whatever tranny you want,
parts plentiful and cheap, on long haul driving the miles are way
easier(depending on tires), towing capability... But, shite turning
radius, loads of chassis flex, way too heavy even unladen than needed
for it's own purpose, and other purely profit related pork that lend
it to being a bit of a wastrel.

Jim Akiba

On 3/2/08, Clint Kolda <clint_kolda@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I don't know about the Sprinter, but on the way home from pulling out my Vanagon transmision today, I saw a 2006 Ford E350 Diesel Sportsmobile hightop for sale.  That's a pretty cool rig.  I'm guessing it's far more than the $15000 Tiico engine and trans for a Vanagon though.
>
>
>   Clint
>