Summer of '79: Volkswagen Vanagon v. Mercedes-Benz S-Class - New York Daily News
Summer is basically here, and—as we’ve said, time and time again—it’s the prime season for a road trip. Recently, I planned to spend a couple of days in Los Angeles with my friend and colleague, Kevin , much of it behind the wheel of two rental cars from Relay Rides. Much like Airbnb, Relay Rides is a peer-to-peer rental service that allows individuals to share their cars with one another. (Also like Airbnb, Relay Rides is deemed illegal in New York state, deemed a similar threat to the rental car industry as Airbnb is to the hotel industry. Unlike Hertz or Avis, there are no vehicle categories at set prices, and the rental fleet is as varied as its members allow it to be. You name it, and for a set daily rate, you can generally find it—even from defunct brands like Oldsmobile and... With a daily budget of $100 each—roughly what you might pay for a Ford Mustang V-6 convertible in peak summer season—we plumbed the depths of Relay Rides’ vast assortment of vehicles available in Los Angeles. After spending several days trying out Mercedes-Benz’s newest van, the Metris, I wanted a classic van experience, so I went for a 1979 Volkswagen Vanagon Type 2. I’ve spent time with plenty of up-to-date, modern vans, but never with the iconic “VW... ”From my laptop screen, it looked like a steal: cheeky looks, room for seven, and a classic air-cooled engine with an automatic transmission, with none of the actual hassle of owning one. Source: www.nydailynews.com
