Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:32:28 -0800
Reply-To: Kim Springer <kimspringer@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Springer <kimspringer@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
In-Reply-To: <48AB56DFCF234CE78286A45BED72C027@Mikelaptop1>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
...and VW probably couldn't do what Jeff mentioned with their truck because the truck and bed are all one piece?
I remember seeing train flat cars loaded with small Toyota trucks stacked on them, heading to get beds installed.
Kim
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 2:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
So that's why those beds rotted out so badly, well before the cabs!
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Schwaia
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 2:00 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
Not really... there are relatively simple ways for manufacturers to get
around the "chicken tax". The most common is to ship incomplete vehicles
and finish the assembly in the USA. This is not as big of a deal as it
sounds. Look at the Sprinter. Do you think Dodge (now Mercedes) is paying
25% import duty on those vans? Nope. They send them as incomplete vehicles
and then add the final bits (usually made in the USA) before sending them on
to their dealers.
If Toyota, or any other mfg, believed it was financially viable, they would
do the same. As a matter of fact, Toyota was one of the first mfg's to
utilize the incomplete vehicle loophole with their small trucks. They would
ship them to California without the pickup beds. The beds were made in the
USA and attached at a processing plant in California. Viola! A Japanese
made truck without chicken tax...
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
HotelWestfalia
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 10:33 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
Almost anything that was or is not threatening the US vehicle sales was
allowed in with severe restrictions that did not apply to the locals. We
did not get Vanagons with diesel turbo, or with carburetors either.
The huge success of the HiAce was a serious threat to the local van
manufacturing. The unions ruled them out. The local manufacturers treated
the local market exactly as the drug dealers their own turf.
Z
----- Original Message -----
From: "J Stewart" <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 7:06 AM
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
> Still do, if you can call it that, the Sienna. More car like than van,
> though. Toyota's first mini van sold in the US (1983?) was cool looking,
> it too was Vanagon like only smaller, and even came as a 4X4. Mitsubishi
> had a nice looking small van back in the 80's as well.
>
>
>
> Jeff Stewart
>
> Sorry, left off the link originally. Here it is:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hiace. According to this, the Toyota
> Hiace came in a camper version. Of course, Toyota sold vans in this
> country from long ago. Must be something other than emissions control that
> kept these from being marketed here.
>
>
>
> mcneely
>