Van Fantasy - Subaru Van

[Schwoebs]

I have been trying to decide which cargo van to convert into a camper van and my conclusion - there is no ideal van.  In thinking and dreaming about vans, it has occurred to me the logical successor to the VW Vanagon of old would be a Subaru van.  They have the same customer base - outdoor friendly, adventurous.  Subarus are reliable and safe with AWD and good ground clearance (a friend didn't believe an Outback had more ground clearance than her base GMC pickup truck, it did).

What should this hypothetical Subaru van be like in case Subaru monitors forums?  Keep the AWD and 8.7 inch ground clearance of many models.  Have one wheelbase with low top and high top options.  The cargo area should be at least 11 feet long and preferably 12 feet.  For room to insulate, the interior width should be 6'7" with interior height 6'7" on high top, 5'0" on low top.  The boxier the shape for the cargo area, the better.  Use clam shell style side doors like a E-Series or Chevy instead of sliding doors like most vans.  Sliding doors take up more space and limit rear wheel size & awning-style window placement.  It would not be a towing beast, but otherwise could be the ideal conversion van.

Note: My further into the stratosphere idea would be Tesla and Subaru joint van project.

Anyone else want a Subaru van?

Best Regards,

Schwoebs

 

[Putts]

What should this hypothetical Subaru van be like in case Subaru monitors forums? 

Google says......Subaro Sambar KEI camper.

Or not...Subaru Libaro?

The Sambar has some truck bodies.

Bonus: Stumbled across this li'l Mitsubishi.

 

[steamjam1]

Why not a subaru engine into a VW van? Its the in-thing to do for VW's.

 

[Putts]

Funny you should mention that...I stumbled across a company that Paints those Sambars up like this:

 

[highdesertranger]

personally I am not a big fan of Subaru's. most of the people that own one don't keep them more than about 7 years. I am also not a fan of independent front wheel drive axles. way to many moving parts that wear out. I am also not a fan of all wheel drive, I like real transfer cases that can be put in 2wd. remember the Subaru Brats(little pickups with the seats in the bed) they sold tens of thousands of them back in the day they were everywhere. when was the last time you seen one running? IMO Subaru's are disposable cars. let the hate mail begin. highdesertranger

 

[BigT]

I didn't know Subaru made vans. My cousin had a Baja, the next generation of the BRAT, but it was a PITA to maintain. Always in the shop.
I've never been a huge fan of that engine technology either. Bad design.

If you're dead set on a small van with AWD, maybe look at the Chevy Astro. If 4 wheel drive isn't a must, the list of available vehicles goes up considerably.

 

[bullfrog]

If my memory serves me right you had to unbolt engine mounts to get to the front driver's side spark plug or do some modifying with a hole saw on some early models.

 

[steamjam1]

Gotta hand it to Subaru. They took an engine configuration long abandoned by just about everyone else and developed it into the EJ series, which started to beat Europe's best on World Rally circuit in the 1990's. And they are reliable. Millions of Imprezas Foresters, and Legacys are still happily motoring away.

And yes.. They are a pain in the *ss to work on. Especially the twin cam turbo ones.

The closest thing to those Subaru vans you can get here (State side atleast) is the Daihatsu HiJet.
[img=337x224]http://car--reviews.com/images/daihatsu-hijet-van/daihatsu-hijet-van-39.jpg[/img]

 

[sometimesido]

Toyota Sienna also comes in AWD. I'd pick that any day over Subaru vans, for reliability reasons. I was really into VW's once. both aircooled and watercooled. Love them for what they are, but would not choose one to live out of.