Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:09:34 -0500
Reply-To: James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Asking VW about plans for a new microbus
In-Reply-To: <01ba01d02d0f$d9e8dae0$8dba90a0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
I was looking at the prices of the California Comfortline camper - yes, the diesel edition, no options - on the VW de France website, as UK prices are notorious in Europe for being far higher than on the Continent (20% or more) - manufacturers blame it on having to convert to left hand drive, but basically it's a rip off of the UK driving public. The options list for the UK SE looks suspiciously like the Comfortline in France, but not exactly the same. A good friend who lives near Berlin confirms that German market prices are similar to France's - but I speak French and not German, so I used the volkswagen.fr website. Prices shown there include 20% French VAT, so I deducted that (since in the EU prices are required to be shown with the sales taxes included, unlike North America where sales taxes are an extra).
Crash testing would be an expense, but crashing three vans (front, side, rollover), then distributing the cost of those over sales of 2000+ vans over five years would really be quite minimal - crash standards are now close enough that a van that passes in Germany will pass in America. Pollution requirements are now very similar too, so dramatic changes shouldn't be necessary (and minor changes are a matter of software in the engine computer these days anyway).
And, while the base diesel maybe 'only' 140 hp, did you check out the torque? Just as a 90 hp TDI Jetta was competitive with the 140 hp Cavalier and Corolla thanks to 150+ ft lbs of torque, so will this van's 140 hp be with more 'hp' but lower torque vans here. Most North Americans don't drive in a way that demands much horsepower, but they'll love the 240+ ft- lbs of torque....
Not to mention the 36 mpg on the highway.
James
Ottawa, ON
> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 11:58:47 -0800
> From: stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Asking VW about plans for a new microbus
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> I’m not sure what you are looking at, but I’m looking at the British price
> list for the California SE camper and the Beach (Weekender) version, not
> minivans:
> https://www.volkswagenvans.co.uk/media/1308863/1411_california_price_list.pd
> f
>
>
>
> There are several versions of the California SE (full camper) from MSRP of
> £38,250 ($57,375) to £43,975 ($65,962) for the 4Motion turbo diesel (price
> before the British 20% VAT) that everyone here would want. Add tariffs,
> shipping, and dealer markup. I also have to pay 10% sales tax in Seattle.
> It would likely be well over $80k here.
>
>
>
> I know there are plenty of diesel fans on this list, but the base diesel is
> only 140hp, and the turbo diesel is 180hp. The early VR-6 EV was 160hp, and
> the late model was 201hp. I can tell you personally that 160hp was not
> really enough for the Eurovan camper, but it was adequate, especially after
> driving a Vanagon. I don’t think the 140hp version would be acceptable to
> American drivers though.
>
>
>
> Bigger problem is to qualify it for the US Market. Some factory production
> changes would be needed, but the expensive part is crash testing hundreds of
> thousands of dollars’ worth of vehicles to prove they are safe. Not gonna
> happen!
>
>
>
> After exploring all the modern options, I’m back to Vanagons forever!
>
>
>
> Stuart
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> James
> Sent: Friday, January 09, 2015 7:23 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Asking VW about plans for a new microbus
>
>
>
> > >
>
> > > When the Euro hits parity with the dollar (and it may soon, or even
>
> > > go below, given the dire straits of the EU economy), VW could look
>
> > > at exporting the California camper van, but it would likely still be
>
> > > too expensive, and Americans want BIG, just look at the conversions
>
> > > Road Trek and Sportsmobile do today. How many would buy a
>
> > > California for $70k+ when you can get a used RV for less, or a new Class
> B conversion for $100k?
>
> > >
>
> > > Stuart
>
> > >
>
> I'm not sure how a California Trendline that costs EUR 38 700 in France
> before taxes becomes a $70 000 vehicle in the USA? The exchange rate on the
> Euro is about 20% at the moment - that makes a California about $45 000, or
> the price of a nicely loaded Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna. Yes, you can a
> lot of options, but the pricing's not as far 'out there' as you'd think.
>
>
>
> Of course, you could option it up - Comfortline, 4motion - but that's true
> of other vehicles too.
>
>
>
> James
>
> Ottawa, ON
>
> =
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