| Author | Message | ||
| David Kurtz
Rating: N/A |
Just wondering if any of you have any acquaintance with VIXEN BMW/Turbodiesel MotorHomes. I know there are a couple of websites, but ownership seems to be a membership requirement. Interested to hear of any opinions, good or bad. | ||
| t gojenola
Rating: N/A |
Lots of information available here: http://vixenrv.org/ tg | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
Only about 1/2 a bus in length and 1/4 in weight... it's more like a Class B RV. Probably a safer rig than a Sticks 'n Staples Class A. 30mpg would be nice, for sure, but it'd be pretty cramped for more than a couple of small people. Parts might be hard to come by, since they only made 'em for a few years. Otherwise, interesting rig. BB | ||
| Doug Wotring
Rating: N/A |
Should read no where near a bus. they are quite small | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
if that's what turns you on ...get it....although....it's so strange & all the forien parts...we won't be able to help much....everybody wants to be 'different'....but....you CAN be so different that nobody can help you and nobody wants to work on it... | ||
| CoryDaneRTS Rating: N/A |
2 dawgs, what you say is true. But remember buses arent for everyone, neither is all the effort and expense of repairing, building, converting one. Other side of the coin, after its all converted, it has to be driven. The sheer size can intimidate the boldest converter. This could be someones easy way out, and its not exactly stick and staples either. I think that is the turbo diesel that was in the Lincoln Continental built in 1984 and 1985. Size wise, its all in what is needed to enjoy travel. Like you all like to say, DO IT YOUR WAY! cd | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
I was just thinking....back to the BMW dealership....& your little hole back there would be raw for a long time..  | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A |
When I looked at these quite some time back, I got the idea that most people had to accept the performance of an old Microbus. If you're patient enough, they might be alright. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher | ||
| David Kurtz Rating: N/A |
"performance of an old microbus"... I just had to respond to this one. I can't imagine that you took one for a test drive. These are a BMW "turbo" diesel and have amazing acceleration for +6000 lbs. Vixens also top out at 100 mph and have sportscar-like handling. Hard to believe for such a package, I guess, but we are presently driving a '62-4106, converted professionally in Indiana in '87. It's averaging about 6 mpg right now (Cdn$ 3.20/gal.), and I am finding that replacement parts are not very available and the few that are, are not cheap. So I don't see much more of a disadvantage, if there even is one. We travel almost full-time in prison ministry in western Canada, and 30 mpg looks pretty inviting for charitable organization expenses. The first time I saw one was here in Saskatoon, and I could not keep up with him in city traffic. | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
David is that your Tan/ Brown 4106 running around town the odd time, usually see it heading west on circle? | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
David: I sure hope that's not Imprerial gallons... curious why you get such bad mpg in an '06. Should be more like 8 - 10 mpg. Do you have an Allison auto tranny perchance? Anyways, if you can afford to lose the 14' of length, and can deal with hunting down parts, it might be a good vehicle for you. You might also check into some other Class B's, before you jump ship. I believe that the Rialtas use a VW engine and chassis and should get decent milage for an RV. With the current fuel prices, other busnuts might be scaling down, also. Let us know what you wind up doing... and what you're gonna do with your '06. Sounds like a nice bus. BB | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A |
David, you will notice that I said that "I got the idea that most people had to accept the performance of an old microbus". I did not test drive one. But I was curious. I imagine most of the remarks that I saw were made by people trying to compare their performance to 3,000 lb. cars. Many people, when they first get into the converted bus game, seem to want to compare driving them to driving a car. That sometimes leads to a lot of disappointment. I take it that you took one for a test drive and liked it. Yours is the most enthusiastic comment I've seen about them. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher | ||
| David Kurtz Rating: N/A |
Paul Collyer You may not have noticed, but I posted this branch. Send me an email (Click on my name at the top) David Kurtz | ||
| David Kurtz Rating: N/A |
To everyone else: OK, I guess I overdid the "almost a Bus?", though I did have a question mark included. I did not mention that our 6 mpg was in mountainous BC and not the Prairie flats. I average around 10 here, which is just an extension northward of Montana and the Dakotas. I can get 12-14 (yes, I said 12-14) with a good tailwind and we do have some dandies. Still doesn't come close to 35 and that is what the Vixen owner I saw here last year was getting. Our gallon is imperial but our fuel is sold in metric liters (right now 91 cents per). | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A |
Well I had to ask my self "what else exists outside of the bus world that's even close?" About the only thing I've found slightly interesting, if "smaller but still nice" was the goal, is the Safari Trek series in diesel. They *look* like a stick'n'staple but they're an aluminum tube frame, no wood involved. The engine is the kicker: 4cyl Isuzu turbodiesel of about 190hp. Length in the 24ft - 28ft range, milage almost always about 12mg and 15 is doable. They almost all came standard with decent modified sine inverters because they have an interesting front queen-size bed that sucks up into the forward ceiling via an electric (110v) jack. Many used the Heart Freedom 2000w. I doubt they're as *stable* as a bus just due to weight difference alone, and the suspension quality can't be in the same ballpark. But mechanically they're a kin to the smaller-size commercial cargo box trucks powered by cabover Isuzu drivetrains which isn't a bad place to start if you're going to go "sub-bus" in size. Used in good shape as low as $20,000 and yes, that's in diesel vs. a 454 or whatever gasser. Don't think it's for me but...hey, they're not a crazy choice, you know? ------------ Rexhall was also doing tube-frame no-wood Class A RVs back in the early '90s but most were gassers. ------------ Then there's the three critters that REALLY straddle the borders between "bus" and "RV": the Wanderlodges, most Newells and some Barths... |