Date:         Sat, 3 Aug 2002 20:33:08 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Ford Excursion(longish reply) 4WD Japanese vans
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.LNX.4.33.0208021307240.6377-100000@bluemoon.hplx.net>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>VW's design evolution more or less has kept pace with American machines.
>Look at a 1995 Chevy Van -- I bet you couldn't tell it apart from a 1975
>Vandura if the two were in the same condition.  Utility vehicles don't get
>the same evolutionary treatment, and that holds doubly true for a
>conservative company like VW.

Japanese cars have a 4-year model cycle, though the "all-new" model
often uses the previous floorpan, engine and more. Their vans
generally have a 13-or-14-year cycle. But the 1989 Hiace or Delica
still look completely modern. Can't say the same for the Isuzu or
Mazda, which are the very same models made back in the early 80s
(though the Izuzu was way ahead of its time in styling).

>That said, again, the bus isn't solid or modern?  I leaned against mine for
>the first time, and was shocked to see the metalwork hold me instead of
>flexing inward like on an Econoline..

Oh, it's solid all right. The accident reports and Volvo test head-on
prove that beyond all reasonable doubt.

>And modern ... well, you show me
>another full-sized van (or minivan, for that matter) from 1986 with
>all-wheel drive. :)

4WD vans, all in manufacture from the early mid80s onward (* denotes
"mini"van):
Toyota Liteace/Townace/Masterace*
Toyota Hiace
Toyota Estima (exported as Previa)*
Mazda Bongo (and its Ford Econovan-badged version)
Mitsubishi Delica (L300 Express)
Nissan Caravan/Urvan/Homy
Nissan Vanette*
Isuzu Fargo

Mitsubishi's van, released in 1980, was first to go 4WD, but I don't
know whether it beat the VW into production. I suspect it may have.
To my knowledge only Toyota (of the Japanese) makes full-time 4WD
vans (Estimas and some of the Hiaces). Only the Mitsubishi is
offroad-oriented, and is quite capable. The others all have stock 2WD
groundclearance except that some of the Hiaces have bigger wheels.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
Looking at adding a 4WD Toyota Corona to the stable of diesels