Winni Rialta

Last year was the final year that VW has made parts for the van chassis. This makes repairs extremely difficult barring custom blueprints and a machine shop.

Want a Rialta? Buy a Winnebago Trend instead. Same Euro-style, but on a supported chassis with easy parts availability.

I seriously considered a Rialta in 2006/early 2007. The only ones I figured were any good were the last 3 years 2003-2005 because the VW engine power was increased again. The earliest models were severely under-powered, mid-years also questionable, the last 3 years were still low but acceptable for me.

I personally liked the 22FD Standard floor plan here.


I am so glad we decided to drop the "Rialta" idea and special order a true motor home with real usable practical features, Our PC2350. It's 2.5 feet longer yet still fit in our garage, a critical requirement. Back then in spring 2007, ordering our new PC was only $12,000 more than buying a used 2005 Rialta. Used 2003-2005 Rialtas were so expensive in 2006/2007. I think because Winnebago stopped production after 2005, people felt they were worth more than they paid for them.

Poetry on wheels for $55,000 new in 2004. a classy C.

qtla9111 wrote:
We rented one in 2000 on a California vacation. Fell in love with it. Now that they are no longer made, owners think they are worth a fortune. Not. It is a depreciated motorhome by any standard.

Sounds a lot like the Westfalia camper vans. By ordinary standards they are small, cramped, horribly underpowered and unreliable, yet they have a cult following that keeps their value very high.

We rented one in 2000 on a California vacation. Fell in love with it. Now that they are no longer made, owners think they are worth a fortune. Not. It is a depreciated motorhome by any standard.

I still want one but don't plan on paying 40K for a 10 year old model. A 2005 model new was MSRPed at 62K and the NADA today is 19K.

gerrym51 wrote:

stan909 wrote:
I don't think any Rialta's had diesel engines.

it appears i was incorrect. I was sure i looked at one years ago and it was a diesel but i guess i was wrong. sorry

You may have looked at a LeSharo with looks similar and they had a Renault diesel.:)

The Rialta's predecessor, the LeSharo and one other, had the diesel. They were built on a Puegot (French) frame. They were notorious for drivetrain problems, not to mention extremely under powered.

LaSharos are the ones that had retrofits (if you're lucky), usually to a Chrysler minivan drivetrain. This supposedly greatly improved reliability, maintainability, and performance, and probably mpg. But these conversions were very pricy, around $20K if I remember right.

I can only recite what I've heard about Rialtas. Wonderful little C till something goes wrong. Then repairs can be nasty. A well-cared for one could still be a good unit. Professional mechanical inspection of a used one is mandatory. I've heard of the powertrain being replaced with a FWD GM assembly. I forget whether it was based on a Buick or a Chevy V6. The form factors of those two engines is different. Buick V6 is a 90-degree block based on the V8. So, actually is the Chevy 4.3 V6, but the Chevy V6 I'm thinking of (3.3L?) is meant to be a V6 and is a 60-degree block.
Remember what I said at first. This only based on what I have seen and read. I have not owned, driven, or worked on a Rialta.

stan909 wrote:
I don't think any Rialta's had diesel engines.

it appears i was incorrect. I was sure i looked at one years ago and it was a diesel but i guess i was wrong. sorry