Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2001 13:03:42 -0700
Reply-To: Donna Stewart <DStewart@CHRM.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Donna Stewart <DStewart@CHRM.COM>
Subject: Re: Trip report from France/Switzerland
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
TDIs are fantastic. I do 52mpg consistently. I don't understand why Americans don't clamor for these vehicles - probably ignorance, as most everyone I talk to about my Beetle has no idea that the engine is diesel. My son was reading somewhere that VW is working on a V10 TDI - perfect for vans, SUVs.
>>> Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM> 07/18/01 11:15AM >>>
For anyone interested,
I just came back from a 3 week vacation in France and Switzerland.
I'm sorry to say that it was not in a Vanagon or a Eurovan but I did
see lots there. Our first taxi in Paris was a Sahran which looked
and felt like an oversized Passat Wagon. It was nice, roomy and
would be a nice addition to VWoA's line up if they ever thought of
selling it here. Oh yeah! it was a TDI and clipped at 140kph in no
time at all on the Boulevard Peripherique. Nice, cool and quiet.
I did spot a few Vanagons "Transporter" and "Caravelle" as they are
called over there. Most were utility vehicle but I did spot a couple
Westfalia campers, actually parked on the city streets of Paris.
Space is usually a high premium and with only enough room for a Golf
or Polo.
I saw only a handfull of Syncro Vanagons, one beaten up utility
pickup and the others were kombis. I did not see any Eurovan
Syncros.
There were also lots of LT models, Mercedes vans as well as Fiat, Peu
go, et al.
We rented a Citroën Xania 2.0l Diesel (did not have a choice) which
was brand new, top of the line for the French with A/C! At 140Kph I
still had 5th gear to use. This car was great and easily purred at
160 = 100mph. While on the A7 ExpensiveWay heading for Marseille and
clipping along at 150/160 I was passed by a Eurovan "Transporter" TDI
who kept on going.
There were many many many of our Eurovan models in all sorts of
configuration. Most were "multivans" and most pulling a full size
camping trailer and passing all the slow pokes 2CVs and truckers.
All were TDI models, as most of the other vehicles in Europe. Even
the Nissan, Toyota and other jap cars in Switzerland were also
Diesel. Diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline at the pumps but the
mileage was incredible. I went from northern France, through the
Alps to Southern France with about 3/4 of a tank. (about Boston to
Cleaveland)
I am now convinced that we in the US are prudish and stupid about the
use Diesel. They have done great improvements with the engines and
I'm a convert. I will be going to look for a TDI Passat for the
wifey real soon.... cause she doesn't want a Eurovan.
Cheers,
Joel
89 Syncro Westy Multivan
Rochester, NY.
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