Date:         Thu, 4 Sep 2003 11:03:00 +1200
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: T5 vans
In-Reply-To:  <005e01c372b9$8558a040$207c3d18@ne1.client2.attbi.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

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. Buy a
front-engined van (either RWD or FWD) of similar external length to
the Toyotas etc or old VWs, and you have a meter less cargo-bay
length. Buy an LWB one with similar interior space to the Toyota or
older VW... and the vehicle is a meter longer... great for parking
and maneuvering!

Proof that VW doesn't know what it's doing. It has really lost the
plot. Rubbish vans which (with all of the other Eurotrash vans eg
Fiat, Renbault,the  Ford Tran*hit/Mercedes Sprinter twin and the
Astro-style Mercedes "van") cannot compete in a market where the
Japanese vans are available. Mutant spece-free adynamic  Golfs (New
Beetle) which sold great guns initially, but which now VW can't
shovel off the showroom floors (except perhaps in the US).

C'mon, VW... Porsche can still do it, why can't you?
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut