Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 09:43:06 -0700
Reply-To: "M.R. Nimmo" <mrnimmo@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "M.R. Nimmo" <mrnimmo@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: 84 Pretend Vanagon (Toyota)- don't knock 'em!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Agree. Not a Corolla chassis. In fact, it's a very
beefy looking frame. Not FWD either, as some suppose.
>>Good wee vans, but too small for my taste. Do not
confuse with the Vanagon-sized-and-larger Toyota
Hiace,
Unfortunately, Hiace isn't available here.
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/Hiace/index.html
Diesel, rear facing middle captains and rear sofa/bed
available, lotsa sunroofs available. Mmmmmmmm....
>>Sparkplug access? Slide on down under!...Engine
access IS a bit constricted in Japanese vans (having
to flip-up the hatch-mounted passenger seat to gain
entry)
Engine access is GREAT! And much better than that
small hatch on the vanagon. On the Toyota, the
driver's seat flips back to expose the engine... but
most don't know there is second engine hatch UNDER the
passenger seat. Tuneup items are here. Remove the
passenger seat--4 bolts-- pull back the carpet, and
the 10 bolts or so on that panel under the passenger
seat. A few screws hold the console. I have it all
off in 5 minutes or so. There are also two small
hatches BEHIND the driver's seat that gives you access
to oil filters, power steering fluid, and other items.
Yes the Toyota is smaller, but no smaller than current
minivans. (I had it beside an Astro yesterday. The
passenger/cargo compartment is the same length and
height, and a few inches narrower.)
Eurovan is larger than the usual minimomivan and very
nice, but so expensive. I've found that autos are
poor investments and a terrible place to put $30,000+.
Furthermore, EV's get no better mileage than a
fullsize Ford and require super unleaded. Bottomline:
I'm not interested unless they offer a TDI and
manual, preferably LWB and weekender--the EV is no
more attractive to me than a V6 Econoline, Astro, or
Ram Wagon.
I tried to use my 84 vanagon as a daily driver. The
maintenance was killing me. I just couldn't keep up.
And I still had real trouble on the horizon (tranny,
head gaskets, that oil light flicker thing once the
engine warmed up).
The Toyotas don't have a bit of charm, and the ride is
boring. But you do get that bus-like cabover driving
experience, 22-26 mpg (American), dual AC (that
works), and superb reliability. Tune up and
maintenance parts are available cheap at every FLAPS.
And any mechanic can work on it--once you open the TWO
hatches so they can see this thing is just like every
other toyota on the road.
It doesn't have the vanagon's character, but then,
it's not a vanagon's deficiencies. It works for me,
as a daily driver, but will never replace my vanagons
and busses.
Das Kapitan
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