Date:         Fri, 6 Sep 2002 23:06:01 +0100
Reply-To:     Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Eurovans future
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Hi Bob,

Perhaps a European perspective might add some breadth to the discussion.

The Eurovan was a sales flop from the moment it replaced the
T3/T25/Vanagon in 1991.  In Germany, the biggest market in the world
for the T3/T25/Vanagon, sales of comparable models fell by over 70%
when the T4/Eurovan was introduced.

The main reason for the T4/Eurovan was to compete with the runaway success
of the Ford Transit, a Ford of Europe commercial van that swept the van
market in Europe from the late 1960s and achieved dominance in the 1980s.
The T4/Eurovan was the nearest thing to a direct copy of the Transit; the
two were so similar that it was easy to mistake one for the other.

A secondary reason was to eliminate a whole powertrain from VW production in
Europe by abandoning the WBX and rear-wheel-drive.  The T4 uses a
near-standard front-wheel-drive powertrain as used in the Golf/Passat.  By
1980, the WBX and its gearbox were a one-off.

Of course the attempt to compete with Ford has failed.  German customers
(private AND corporate) changed in droves from VW to other brands (including
Ford) when T3/T25/Vanagon production ended.  VW lost key customers such as
the German Post Office and German Telecom who both previously purchased tens
of thousands of T3s but no longer bought VWs (none at all) in this size
bracket.  The T4/Eurovan is therefore a very slow seller by comparison with
the T3/T25/Vanagon.

No doubt, in the USA, the economic downturn after 9/11/2001 played a big
part in the slow sales of 2001 Eurovans, and that's probably why your dealer
still has 2001 models available.

Compared to the Vanagon, the Eurovan has less room inside, a harder ride and
a noisy powertrain.  On the plus side, it has a more modern engine with
lower fuel consumption, slightly better handling and spare parts that are
common with many contemporary VW cars.  To add a personal comment, it is in
my opinion one of the most dull and boring vehicles that VW has ever
produced.

In the UK, used T4s (Eurovans) of 1991-3 vintage now sell for less than used
T25s (Vanagons) with comparable milage and in similar condition.  If that
doesn't say something, I don't know what does!

As to reliability, I would expect that a new Eurovan would be a lot better
than a (minimum) ten-year-old Vanagon, but like-for-like comparisons cannot
be made.

I make no apologies for presenting a personal view.  As you will have
realised by now, I'm no fan of the Eurovan!

Best regards,

Tony

1984 Vanagon Reimo

--------------- Original Message ---------------

>Date:    Fri, 6 Sep 2002 08:25:51 -0700
>From:    bob mendonca <bobnshar@SURFBEST.NET>
>Subject: Eurovans future

>Does anyone know if they're going to continue making the Eurovans?  When we
>were in San Jose this week, the local dealer is still trying
>to get rid of "new" 2001 models, which leads me to believe there is a glut
>of 2001 and 2002 models for them to sell.  Anyone know
>anything about their reliability?


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