Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2005 14:14:10 -0800
Reply-To: kayakjr@JUNO.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Reynolds <kayakjr@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Just Curious
Content-Type: text/plain
The Honda van is built in Ohio and Canada. And yes the strong Euro is
making European cars much more expensive in the US. However, the cheap
dollar is starting to have a positive effect on American exports. I had
one of the first US transplant cars - an 84 GTI made in Pennsylvania!
John
On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 09:36:04 -0700 jimt <camper@tactical-bus.info>
writes:
> Not sure on this, but isnt the honda van one of its mexican produced
> vehicles? Loosing track of what vehicles are being built or
> partially built
> or finished in what is becoming one of the biggest producers of
> export
> vehicles in the world.
>
> Even VW has shifted more production there and may be shifting more
> to get
> around the bad dollar situation.
> jimt
>
>
> On 2/20/05 12:10 PM, "John Reynolds" <kayakjr@JUNO.COM> wrote:
>
> > ":It drives better than any other I have owned or driven (Dodge,
> > Plymouth, Ford, Chevy, Honda, Nissan, Mazda)"
> >
> > I'll take issue here, owning a Honda van. I test drove a Eurovan
> and
> > with the heavy discount, I could have had an MV (no pop-top - been
> on the
> > lot for almost a year) for the same price as the Honda, but it
> simply did
> > not handle anywhere near as good as the Honda - which is always
> listed as
> > the best handling mini van in all the comparison tests. Of course
> the
> > Eurovan is an older design, so that stands to reason. Look at the
> road
> > tests - no need for subjective opinion here.
> >
> > The main reason for passing on the MV was it's fuel mileage (and
> VW
> > reliability). 5mpg less than the Honda, especially around town.
> V6
> > Passats and other VW's are poor sellers in Europe due to the fuel
> economy
> > - in the van it is even worse. We felt bad about getting out of
> car
> > that gets 30+ mpg to a van, so this was an important aspect. I
> liked the
> > uniqueness of the Eurovan, but ignoring the mileage for the sake
> of image
> > and style would put me in the same class as the moms I meet who
> choose a
> > SUV over a mini-van for the sake of style.
> >
> > The other reason I passed is I tried the bed and did not find it
> > comfortable and without the pop-top, we still could not sleep our
> family
> > of 4 in there - hence we kept the Vanagon and got the Odyssey van.
> >
> > Removing the rear seat / bed assembly in the Eurovan would be a
> pain - in
> > the Honda, remove the rear head rests and flip the seat into the
> floor.
> > We do this all the time - it is absolutely great. If you have a
> van
> > with this feature, you will never get one without it. Add the VW
> price
> > problem, even after the 5K drop in price and it is no wonder
> Eurovans
> > have been slow sellers. Also the Eurovan also has only one sliding
> door.
> >
> > I still like the Eurovan, because it is different. I like the
> rear
> > facing jump seats - I like the interior. While I did not care for
> the
> > bed, or the way it folded, I think for a couple travling, the MV
> would be
> > great.
> > John
> >
> >
>
> ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
> jimt
> Planned insanity is best.
> Remember that sanity is optional.
> http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
> http://www.westydriver.com
>
>
>
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