Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 13:28:53 +0100
Reply-To: Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: The new "microbus" sucks ... a misunderstanding
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Guys,
There seems to be a grave misunderstanding on the list about the market
sector the new Microbus will be aimed at. I hope I can clear that up with a
perspective from the European side of the pond.
The new Microbus will replace the current VW Sharan/SEAT Alhambra/Ford
Galaxy seven-seater "people carriers" that are built in VAG's factory in
Portugal. As far as I know, they have never been sold in the USA. The new
Microbus will NOT replace the Eurovan, known here as the T4.
The Eurovan/T4 will also be replaced, by a revised design to be referred to
as the T5. It will be a front wheel drive van with a similar layout and
powertrain to the Eurovan/T4. Like the T4, the T5 will be offered as a
cargo van, a van with windows, a base for a camper, a chassis cab etc...
The Microbus and the T5 may share some components but they will be
essentially separate designs.
The Microbus will be purely a "people carrier" - basically a car for up to
seven passengers with the luxury that European buyers expect in this class
of car. The US-made Chrysler Voyager sells strongly in this same market;
Sharan/Alhambra/Galaxy are a little smaller than the Voyager.
Like the current Sharan/Alhambra/Galaxy, the Microbus will not be offered
officially by VW as a base for a camper conversion because it will be too
small. You will probably be able to buy a camper-converted Microbus from a
specialist conversion firm (just as you can buy a camper-converted
Sharan/Alhambra/Galaxy) but these will be very expensive, very rare and
inherently compromised as a camper. Size matters! Please note, I have
never actually seen a camper-converted Sharan/Alhambra/Galaxy but I have
seen adverts for them.
So don't worry. The VW Transporter line is safe. The latest in the
succession T2 Split, T2 Bay, T25 Vanagon, T4 Eurovan will be the T5, and it
will be a revised T4.
In Europe, the new Microbus will replace the European VW Sharan/SEAT
Alhambra/Ford Galaxy models that are made in Portugal, but will be made in
Hannover, Germany. In North America, the Microbus will be an additional
model in the VW range, because you've never seen the Sharan/Alhambra/Galaxy.
You didn't miss much!
So the Microbus is emphatically *NOT* a replacement for the Eurovan/T4.
I do hope that this posting clears things up.
Best regards,
Tony
=========================
Original message:
>Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 15:46:41 EDT
>From: JordanVw@AOL.COM
>Subject: the new "microbus" sucks.. Re: Uh oh, new Bus a go!
>
>i think that thing looks horrible.. sorry ass attempt at retro
>styling.. and its even smaller than the current eurovan.. i certainly hope
>they are not going to replace the current EV with the new "microbus" it
>looks no bigger than a honda passport..
>and whats up with DVD screens in the back of the seats..who needs that BS?
>theres not even a weekender option either, aparently..
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