Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 08:28:11 -0500
Reply-To: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Grey Market, was: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
In-Reply-To: <007201c28568$a407e8f0$1865b783@barrys48a3s4et>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Admittedly, I know nothing about grey-market vehicles and little about
importing, so Barry's note intrigues me.
I was under the impression that the old, fairly simple (pre 1980's??)
method of bringing "other country" cars into the USA was gone, and that
now it was practically impossible, requiring such things as crash
testing, even if other variants of the same vehicle (ala VW Eurovan v.
MB Vito) were sold here.
Am I wrong? Is it still a matter of showing the speedometer has MPH on
it, and that the turn signals are the right color?? Has anyone on list
brought a vehicle into the US in recent years? I'm not in a position to
buy a Vito today, but if I KNEW I could get one here, some priorities
might change (I might sell that kidney after all).
Bringing ideas to life,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
www.bulley-hewlett.com
AIM = IExplain4u
+1.919.658.1278
"Fax mentis incendium gloria culpum"
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Barry E. Muller
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 2:46 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
I saw several Vitos last I was in Germany about 18 mos ago. CDI.
Practicality. Great looks. An MB - what more could one ask for. Sure
the
engine is up front but it is a modern diesel. I'd be very happy with
the
Vito F - MB's version of Multivan. Marco Polo would obviously be a
bonus.
I bet we'll never see that. I'm guessing the base would start about
$35-40
and the clean design would turn-off most large van buyers over here (you
know the type - want shag carpeting - f*gly oak "appointments",
overstuffed
"captain chairs", cave-like interior - i.e. gloomy). But I've been
wrong
before and really hope I'm wrong this time!
Maybe an enterprising individual will start importing them as a group
for us
a la the group orders of bits from SA! I can see it now: "Putting
together
a bulk order of MB Vitos from the fatherland. Minimum 10 vehicles Vito
F
$40k, if I get 10-20 orders the price drops to $35k ..." and so forth.
Of
course as they'd be grey market you won't have a warranty - but neither
does
your vanagon - and at the rate I'm replacing parts on my '91 Carat I
might
hit $30,000 over the next 3 years! (just kidding - but does seem that
way
some days).
bem
----- Original Message -----
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
> If you ask me, the Vito Marco Polo is a far more interesting vehicle;
> the culmination of Westfalia and VW (Eurovan) engineering.
>
> The sprinter wouldn't fit in my garage, and is (although larger) a
more
> cumbersome daily driver. The Marco Polo is more in line with our
typical
> Westfalia Vanagons (IMHO).
>
> http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/rv/marcopolo/default.htm
>
> Pax--
>
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Mount Olive, NC
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
Behalf
> Of Reid Anderson
> Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 8:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
>
> Some additional research found MB stating the following in regard to
the
> James Cook Sprinter:
> "Incorporating numerous clever details from Westfalia, the camper van
> specialists..." <snip>
>
> Ahhh... Music to my ears. So the conversion will be done by our pals,
> Westy
> co.
>
> The short blirp (publishing term) can be seen here:
> http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/rv/jamescook/
> with links to the PDF brochure (thirty-plus pages) and other
> information.....
>
> This looks like a cool van....
> Reid
