Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 20:19:20 +0000
Reply-To: Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Anthony Polson <acpolson@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Grey Market, was: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi Matthew,
If I were you I would not lose any sleep over the M-B Vito van. I see
several of them almost every day - they are all over the UK like a rash.
The Vito looks good. It is a Mercedes product, so it should be good.
However, it probably isn't quite as good as it seems.
First, it isn't made in Germany. I believe it is made in South America
(Argentina?) and the build quality is well below M-B's European standards.
The Vito is less reliable than other M-B vehicles.
The Vito is also small, much smaller than a Vanagon, and it is difficult to
move around inside. An elevating roof is a must. In Europe, M-B also sell
a V-Series minivan that is based closely on the Vito; its customer
satisfaction rating (as expressed in published surveys such as J D Power)
also seems disappointing for an M-B product.
Vito camper conversions are relatively rare, I think because of the
relatively small size of the bodyshell. The most popular conversions are on
the VW T4 (Eurovan in USA) and the Ford Transit, which are of similar size,
both being significantly bigger than the Vito.
In the Vito's favour, it drives well and is popular with self-employed
tradesmen. But it isn't a van that I would consider at this time, nor would
I recommend it.
I hope these comments are useful in some way.
Best regards,
Tony
'84 Vanagon Reimo
---------------- Original Message ----------------
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 08:28:11 -0500
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject: Grey Market, was: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
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"
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