ryegatevt wrote:
If you find a suitable 210 in your search, don't rule it out! Our 210 has been on the road since 2005, and not once have we said we wish it were smaller! Once in a while you might have to compromise on a small parking space, but parking a bit further away or even paying for two has always worked for us, and the extra space inside has always been great!
I'd love the extra interior space of a 210. I wasn't sure if the extra length (which makes it resemble the body proportions and shape of the older Dodge extended van/Roadtrek 190) would affect its road handling in cross winds or when a large semi truck passes. And, this may seem silly, but I don't like the way the wide body looks with the extra overhang at the back and how the rear wheels look inset a bit more due to the slightly wider body. And a 210 looks a bit more like a motorhome, whereas a 170 or 190 look a bit more discrete - almost like a wheelchair accessible van with a raised roof. Even better if I take off the "Roadtrek" decals. That would work well when you're trying to discretely park somewhere for the night while passing through a city and don't want to draw attention to yourself that you're camping.
Plus, I might sell my minivan and just keep the Roadtrek as my one and only vehicle since I work from home and do not need a commuter car. The smaller, the better in this case, especially if I end up with an outdoor parking spot at condo or townhouse complex when I buy my new place where a 210 may not fit. Right now I have a house with a long driveway, but I want to get a condo so I don't have exterior maintenance anymore, and it will be easier to get away for a few months - just lock the door on the condo and go! But the drawback is I will no longer have a driveway - just a parking spot.
But, I'll see. If I come across a really nice 210 at a great price, I'll certainly take a closer look at it. As you hinted towards, occasionally parking could be an issue as it won't fit into some smaller parking spaces where a 170 or 190 would fit. Part of the reason I'm getting a Class B is that I'm not sure where I want to live next. Once I sell my house I want to drive out west with my motorhome and spend a few months checking out a bunch of cities on my short list, and may need to discretely camp out in built up areas. A van based Class B should good for that as it is small and can fit into a lot of parking spaces in a parking lot or on a street for times when I won't be near a campground.
And like I mentioned, when I buy my new place, it will be a condo, or maybe a townhouse where I will have an outdoor parking space. A 210 may not fit there. I'd have to put it in a storage facility and keep my minivan to park at home so I have a vehicle to use. I work from home, so I don't need to go out every day, but I need something. If I end up getting a condo in a more urban area, it will likely have an underground parking garage and due to the height of the raised roof on most Class B motorhomes, I don't think any of them would fit. Maybe a Sportsmobile with a pop top, but I would much prefer a permanent raised roof. Otherwise I'd have to keep my minivan so I could park it at home, and then park my motorhome at a storage facility.
