Ok.  So we've got a cost analysis of the various vehicles.  What does that tell us?  What should we choose as our dream roadtripping vehicle?

Unfortunately, money IS an object.  I am not willing nor able to blow a bunch of money on a vehicle, especially if we want this roadtrip to last for any length of time.  Ahhh, but there it is; if we want to spend an extended length of time on the road, the vehicle needs to be in fairly good shape.  A junker will not do the trick.

If we use the initial cost analysis with varied vehicle pricing, the conversion van is the best deal and the Eurovan comes in second to last.  When vehicle cost is held constant, the two vehicle types switch rankings. 

Which goes to prove that numbers and constants are nice in the lab, but only tell part of the story in the real world.  (ooh, hit me where it hurts, you scientists)

Let's talk about some of the other factors in this scenario.

1) Driveability, maneuverability and park-ablility.  For me, this pretty much rules out the Class As and the car + trailer scenarios.  Even some of the larger Class Cs are eliminated. 
2) Low-keyness.  I think this is essential south of the border.  We are not interested in sticking out any more than we already will.  This kind of rules out the pop-top Eurovans which more or less scream, "I'm sleeping in here!"  Cop and thief magnets.  No thank you.
3) The car is a loser in both analyses, so it's out.  (Except for a short term journey, or if you owned an appropriate vehicle already, for those of you doing your own analysis.)

Which leaves us with a Class B, small Class C or Conversion Van.

Luckily, there are many of those in our price range, including some oddities, like this 1998 El Dorado EMC Starfire - an unusual Class B, with a stripper pole??  And I thought granite countertops were over the top!

          

For those of you wanting to purchase this little gem (if we don't beat you to it!), click here to view the listing on rvtraderonline.

Seriously though, our best option looks like some sort of Conversion Van/Class B type of vehicle.  The distinction between these vehicles is very blurred - to clarify things for my cost analysis I was considering the conversion van to be a pretty basic conversion - just a bed, perhaps a refrigerator.  I was figuring the Class B to be fully self-contained, perhaps only missing the shower.  If we can find something in this range of possibilities, with decent gas mileage, we should be able to hit the sweet spot of both my cost analysis and our preferences/needs.

As I have found from craigslist and other sites, there are many, many different options out there.  Ford, GMC, Chevy, Dodge chassis - Roadtrek, Okanagan etc conversion jobs.  I have heard the Dodge vans drive more like SUVs and the others handle more like trucks, but I have no evidence either way.   Not sure about the reliability or longevity ratings between them either.  I find myself somewhat partial to the bed over cab type conversions, just seems like it would be easier to keep things neat, plus added storage space.  But perhaps it would be cause a lot of wind drag and decrease the mpg significantly?

There are also a few other minor options - the mini-motorhomes (Class Cs) made by Toyota in the 70s and 80s - Dolphin, Chinook to name a couple.  Mixed reviews, but some people love them dearly and the gas mileage is great for a Class C.

Any expertise or experience out there?  Or just plain ol' opinions? 

I plan on starting an actual touch and feel and drive search next week when my dad returns.  He is one of the definitive used-car buying experts out there - it will be a fun and interesting project.  

Of course if anyone just wants to donate a vehicle to Jess and me for this little adventure, just let us know!