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Interested in buying a Rialta? Or just want to check and see if your opinion
of the Rialta fits in with mine? Whatever the case, I've tried to establish some
of the more relevant issues involved with choosing a Rialta for your motor home
needs. Click on any item for more info.
Pros:
Fuel Mileage is great at around 15-18 mpg
Your average mileage should hover around the 15-18 mpg range. Interstate highways
through mountainous areas seem to not overly impact your mileage especially if
you get a "running start" at the up-hill grades. Stop and go traffic will give
you the worst mileage as you have to get approximately 4 tons up to speed with
only 2,800 cc's of engine.
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Easy to maneuver around in city traffic or congested areas.
Most large Class A motor homes would never venture into a downtown area and
even look only for a "pull-thru" campsite. Not so with the Rialta. It can go practically
wherever a car can go. Just remember that you are 7'4" wide and 8'6" tall.
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Can be parked in a normal street parking space (well, almost normal)
Looking for a place to park in a congested, downtown area can be a nightmare
for large motor homes but sometimes you'll find a parking spot that is adjacent
to a wide driveway or other area where your 21'6" length can squeeze in. Even
a regular spot in a large parking lot won't stop you provided you don't hang into
the driving lane. In most cases, you'll be able to park closer to your destination
than other RVs of a larger size.
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Mechanically worry-free with the great German engineering
Precision engineering has always been the hallmark of German automobiles. The
front cab, engine, and drive train of the Rialta are designed and built in Germany.
The actual final assembly point may be in either Canada or Germany.
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Great warranty coverage by both Volkswagen and Winnebago
Compare the warranty on other new RVs. VW covers the power train for 5 years
/ 50,000 miles and the chassis/cab for 2 years / 24,000 miles. Winnebago covers
the coach body for 2 years/24,000 miles. All other models made by Winnebago have
only a basic 1 year warranty.
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Frequently used as a 3rd car (especially the QD model)
Large families usually end up driving one of the various "mini-vans" but lately
many are finding the Model QD Rialta with its seating capacity for 8 people to
be a great alternative. Other models are great for all-around use and many wives
think nothing of going to the supermarket and parking anywhere in the parking
lot with their Rialta.
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Limited size is all you need for your travel requirements.
With large Class-A RVs you end up paying for transporting all that empty air
space inside the vehicle. Why have a sleeping capacity for six when there are
only two of you that use the RV? Why not only pay for all that you really need?
Even with the largest of RVs, there still are only two seats up front --- just
the same as the Rialta.
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Cons:
Limited payload carrying capacity
The Rialta typically has less than 1,000 pounds of Net Carry Capacity. This
maximum weight must include all factory installed options, all persons inside
the vehicle, all their belongings, all food and other related items, LP gas, fresh
water, any water in either holding tanks, and the tongue weight of any towed vehicle.
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Are you more than 5'10" tall ?
The interior ceiling height is only 5'10"!!! If you're taller than that,
then there are only two places in the inside where you can stand with your head
not being bent down: one is right inside of the side door entrance, and the other
is directly underneath the skylight. Anywhere else and you will be banging your
head especially on the roof air conditioner controls. What the heck was Winnebago
thinking?
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Are you ready to give up some privacy?
Privacy? In a Rialta? While enthusiasts call it intimacy others call it lack
of personal privacy. The bathroom is barely big enough to stand up and remove
any garments of clothing at the same time. And then there's the fact that the
bathroom is not really made as a separate room. The expanding, sliding walls do
not go all the way to the ceiling so therefore any "sounds" generated in the bathroom
are...well, shall we say shared with everyone else inside the vehicle.
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Limited interior space means no friends over to visit
Limited size means limited seating. Its very unlikely that you'd ever invite
guests over to play cards or watch TV in your Rialta (and that's a bad thing?).
In fact, two people can't pass by each other without one temporarily moving aside
and leaning on some fixture to allow the other to pass.
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Will your VW dealer work on a Rialta?
This is sort of a touchy issue and has certain legal ramifications. If you
read your warranty statement from Volkswagen, they state that your warranty will
be honored at any Volkswagen dealership. However, the majority of VW dealers
refuse to have anything to do with the Rialta even though anything referred to
them would be only for defects having to do with the EuroVan portion of the vehicle.
Most simply claim that they don't have lifts capable of the increased weight or
that their low ceiling heights prohibit them from putting the vehicle on a lift.
Volkswagen of America seems to be working on this problem and is attempting to
retrofit added heavy-duty lifts at various dealerships. In the meanwhile, you
might be faced with a long drive to a "participating" dealer. You may request
a copy of such a list of VW dealers that service Rialtas by requesting a copy
to be mailed or faxed to you. Contact Volkswagen of America at 1-800-DRIVEVW.
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Limited holding tank capacity
The capacity of the "black water" (sewer) holding tank is only 13 gallons.
And unlike other RVs, the shower water empties into the black water tank instead
of the gray water tank. If you plan on using the built-in shower, then the tank
would need to be emptied almost daily. The only water that goes into the gray
water tank is from the galley sink. It really doesn't matter because the gray
water tank can hold only 6, 7, or 9 gallons depending upon which model you have,
which is very miniscule by RV standards. Now someone do the math on this: the
fresh water tank holds 20 gallons; the black water tank holds only 13 gallons;
the shower empties into the black water tank; you take a 20 gallon shower and
guess what??????
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Some VW parts are very expensive
I can scare you with some sample prices but suffice it to say
that certain VW parts come very expensive, especially electrical items. Of course,
almost all makes of automobiles have high prices when it comes to OEM replacements
and VW is no exception. Some items are competitively prices but if you ever have
to pay for a complete new transmission, for example, be prepared to take out a
second mortgage.
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