On Thu, 4 Sep 2003, Andrew Grebneff wrote: > These vans still have the in-vogue fatal flaw... gross > space-inefficiency. A front-engined van cannot come close to that of > a rear-engined (VW T1-T3) or underfloor-engined van (mainstream > Japanese). And for that reason alone I wouldn't touch one. I'd speculate there are three reasons we don't see vans like this sold in the U.S. anymore. - Federal crash standards. Mid- or rear-engine vans end up with very little crumple room in front, making these standards more difficult to meet. - A perception by the public that front-engine vans are safer. - Cost and complexity. A front-engine, front wheel drive van is extremely cheap and simple to build, because all the drivetrain components go in as a unit.
David Brodbeck, N8SRE '82 Diesel Westfalia '94 Honda Civic Si |
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