Date:         Wed, 2 Apr 2003 10:20:40 -0600
Reply-To:     mike boland <westy@MVBOLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mike boland <westy@MVBOLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: VW gutless & unreliable? Another perspective...
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
In-Reply-To:  <f05100300bab0711625af@[203.167.181.16]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Andrew
Japanese car's still suck..

Mike
At 10:59 PM 4/2/2003 +1200, Andrew Grebneff wrote:
>>   I've driven Japanese vans before and many VW vans too and they are simply
>>   chalk and cheese.
>
>Yep... the VW is chalk. Objectively speaking.
>
>>   VWs feel safe and are fun,the Jap equivalent just a bouncy delivery van
>>with
>>   questionable handling & braking characteristics (esp in the wet) unless
>>carrying
>>   a goodly load in the  back.Even then they are still barely acceptable.
>
>I beg to differ. I have driven extensively in old & current model
>Toyota Hiaces, and these can be pushed hard in corners. The upmarket
>torsionbar-rear models more so. They are not at all bouncy. They are
>also extremely strong in collisions, as my university found out the
>hard way... In fact I'm looking at a 1998 super-long-wheelbase
>high-roof 2.8D one right now... shame it's automatic...
>
>2WD Mitsubishi Delicas (L300 or Express) aren't too bad either,
>though the 4WDs ARE extremely prone to pitching doe to the very stiff
>springs and very short wheelbase.
>--
>Andrew Grebneff
>165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
><andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
>Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut