Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2002 23:53:12 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: A different camper van... MB Marco Polo
In-Reply-To: <QNSYT98LKTOJI21RM1XMLTS5353JG5Z.3dc9dcac@lionia>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The import tariffs on importing commercial trucks came in 1971. I
actually had a commercial 72 which was rare. Only the front cab area was
finished although it did have all the windows and AC. I converted it
into a non pop top camper and it was our honeymoon vehicle. It was the
first "FUN BUS". I think the main reason that we do not see the European
campers here is that no one will by them new. Sure we like them when/if
we can get them as a bargain but the mass market is not going to by an
RV that is very limited in use. Very few of us regularly buy new
vehicles. Lets face it, look at all the modifications list members want
to do with 15 to 20 year old vehicles. We want more power, heat and AC
when parked, electricity, and when we travel, we just want it to work
and know we can get parts if we need them. Even the Rialta and the Vista
are limited in their payload and water carrying abilities. (The vista
holds 19 gallons including the 4 in the water heater). Good for one
shower and a few dishes. My RV holds 75 and 90 is now becoming normal.
When I bought my Syncro camper (2/88) it was sitting on the dealers lot
From September. The sticker on it was $26,800. Normal interest rates
back then were 14-15% for a new car. The dealer was so happy to get some
action they gave it to me $19,900 and convinced the bank to finance it
at 10.5%. I still have it with 192K on the clock (original heads and
gaskets, engine never opened). As a family, we love our Westy, but for
the difference in price for a limited use euro-camper and 33-1/2 foot
rv, I like being spoiled. For being super spoiled, I do on occasion
bring both.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Leon Korkin
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: A different camper van... MB Marco Polo
How about all other great camping vans in same category as Marco Polo
from Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Opel etc etc etc. All with great TDI
engines available. And big Mercedes Truck-based campers that will go
anywhere.... But why diesel fuel is so expensive here? As high as
Premium unleaded! We can dream... Leon 85 Subwagen
11/6/02 3:01:22 PM, "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM> wrote:
>What a steal. $54k. The Westfalia Vanagon was about $21k (US) more than
>a decade ago, and (no offense, I love my Westy) it was nowhere near as
>nice as the Vito Marco Polo.
>
>Can anyone verify the foggy recollection I have: -- the reason we don't
>see these nicer European RV's here is that Win-a-bag-o'poo, and the
>other US RV manufacturers lobbied congress in 1990 and got stiff (>25%)
>tariffs against imported complete RV's? Again to my understanding, VW
>couldn't sell against the tariff, and consequently we lost the Vanagon
>Westfalia, got the (crappy, IMHO) USA-built 'Rialta', and the
>watered-down Westfalia "weekender" Eurovan. Can anyone shore this
>recollection up with facts?
>
>What I am getting at: if all of the above is true, then there *could*
>be a way to get the Marco Polo here. Follow me.
>
>1. Daimler/Chrysler now use the same toothbrush.
>2. Westfaliawerke was a subsidiary of Daimler-Benz, assumedly a
>subsidiary of D/C now.
>3. D/C opens a very small (30-50-person) Westfaliawerke Fabrik
here
>in the USA, near a port of entry.
>4. D/C import the RV components for the Vito converted EuroVans,
>and supply ther dealer network with spares
>5. D/C imports partial EuroVans (which they are already buying
from
>VW)
>6. D/C's Westfaliawerke Fabrik ASSEMBLES same here in USA
>
>Bringing ideas to life,
>G. Matthew Bulley
>Bulley-Hewlett
>Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com <http://bulley-hewlett.com/> AIM =
>IExplain4u
>Phone: +1.919.658.1278
>"Fax mentis incendium gloria culpum"
>
>
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