Date:         Wed, 18 Dec 2002 22:35:47 +1300
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: Mercedes 5cyl 300TD in vanagon?
In-Reply-To:  <JBEOJOBKGBDBEAIBOCBEKEOMCAAA.thewestyman@mindspring.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>Well, jeez, why are YOU here, if the bloody Toyota is such a FINE machine?

Because I choose an SVX engine. Also the big diesels will be too
heavy and produce really BAD understeer. And they cost more than
twice what an SVX engine does... and there's no adaptor kit for them.

>Those famous words, 'It'll blow any *** away'. Get a clue, VW has  wee 1.9
>pumpduse that will do 300 lbs/ft AND 30 mpg in the van.

A 1.9 VW diesel will outdo a 3.0 Toyota diesel? Come on.

>Will the Toyoda fit?


It probably would... but I'm not going to bother to check.

>I doubt, much less, it isn't available in the USA.

Your loss, thanks to US Toyota marketers.

>Not likely ever, unless
>US oil gluttons change their evil ways.
>
>Furthermore, why would anyone in the in their right mind WANT a Toyoda
>engine in a VW? They certainly don't have the reliability thing sewed up, as
>many might think. Talk to any Toyota technician (one of my best friends is
>one). My opinion.

Toyota has a remarkable name for reliability, and having had several
diesel Toyota sedans as taxis, I can attest to this. One taxi
operator here ditched his late-model (90s) Mercedes for a Camry, as
the Merc just wasn't reliable.

European cars just don't cut it.