I own both a syncro and a SMB, Maybe this is just a case "wandering eyes" but after seeing the 4x4 sprinter at the EXPO I wish I could start over again. That sprinter was really sweet IMHO. European body quality, very comfortable to drive and nice ride. Pretty good fuel economy as well. Kind of a "modern" syncro.
Heres my take
Sportsmobile Pros
Tows anything
Excellent 4x4 components on SMB 4x4
Very capable off road for 10k lb truck
Penthouse top is very spacious vs. westy
Modern vehicle (airbags, warranty etc)
very good resale for about 10 yrs.
initial quality good compared to american rv standards
Sportsmobile Cons
poor ride quality
parts and service almost non existant outside USA
Questionable drivetrain reliability
Diesel engine is vey loud compared to Chevy, Sprinter etc.
Overall weight
Cab comfort and floor height (entry/exit)
interior floor to cieling height could be better
VW Pros
Handleing and ride quality
driver comfort
body quality and interior quality
Worldwide parts and service
interior space vs vehicle size
weight
collectable status, prices are stable with some appreciation
VW Cons
Age requires constant repair, no exceptions
lack of modern safety systems
A/C system (camper)
underpowered
I would not reccomend a syncro to someone who does not want to be very hands on as a vehicle to travel long distances with. My VW is in very nice condition yet problems can pop up at anytime. You need to be able to fix things to live with a vw and be happy with it. THat being said my syncro is part of my "permanate" fleet. I have no plans to ever sell it. It's got soul and I enjoy driving it far more than driving my sportsmobile.
The sportsmobile is bigger (EB), carries more, has nice AC system, better range etc. It's my current family camper. With 2 kids and 2 german shepards the VW is just a little to small for us and all our stuff. For shorter trips by myself or just me and my wife we perfer the syncro. It's quiet, more manuverable and more comfortable. It's also less pretentious.
I must also add here that I'vew been suprised by how less than reliable my SMB has turned out to be. It's been to the dealer 4 times for major repair as well as two failures on "the trail" due to the SMB 4x4 system. All this in under 20k miles since new.
My SMB is pad off and my plan is to keep it for a few more years. I've got 2 daughters (10 and 12 yrs) who will only want to camp with us for a couple more years. After that the SMB is gone.
I'm allready thining about the next camper. Sprinter, Fuso or ? One things for sure it will be built for more "global" travel and less "wild west off-road" like the SMB.