Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 20:26:54 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Harrnacker <harrnack@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Michael Harrnacker <harrnack@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: New Vanagon?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I think it would be a great idea, the only problem would be getting
the Vanagon to pass federal head on collision standards. The feet
first design could be prohibitively expensive to update. You'll
recall that the Vanagon left the market before trucks and vans had to
meet current crash standards.
I've actually wondered how much effort it would take to import and
federalize the SA Vanagons as a private citizen (looking to resell).
CarlMarin@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> I had a thought today as I drove by some poor slob's new EuroVan
that it would
> be a masterstroke of genius for VW to bring back the Vanagon
slightly restyled
> perhaps and with the 2.0L inline four engine for the US market.
Sell the
> thing for about 20% less than the EuroVan and I think there would be
huge
> demand. The EuroVan was the VW attempt to snag a share of that
Chrysler
> minivan market. Well, Duh! People that want Chrysler minivans buy
Chrysler
> minivans! What some strategic planning weanie is missing about
lackluster
> Vanagon sales in the '80's is that all VW products were selling
badly back
> then. Cost to bring the Vanagon back? Next to nil I would think,
just import
> them from South Africa if nothing else. The design of the EV was also
> supposed to be easier for mom and the kids to get into and out of,
just like a
> Chrysler minivan. Well, look at what people are buying now, the
mom's most of
> all. Huge sport utility vehicles like the Expedition and that
hideous Mercury
> Navigator that actually have running boards and steps to get up into
them.
> Mom wants an urban Armored Personnel Carrier today. The Vanagon had
always
> given its owners that head and shoulders above the traffic feel.
>
> The article about the Eurospec inline 4 engine conversion made me
see that
> that might well be the "perfect" Vanagon in the end. If you took
away all the
> problems the Vanagon has had associated with the Wasserboxer what
else would
> there be of any consequence? Would it be the perfect van?
Certainly for that
> segment of the population that wouldn't be caught dead or naked in a
Chrysler
> minivan it would be. That picture of the blue Eurospec Vanagon with
the Euro
> grill and SA alloys in European Car magazine could be the next US
market VW
> Van! Show of hands. If given a choice between a 1999 brand new
Vanagon and
> a shiney new Eurovan at 20% higher cost which would you plunk down
money for?
>
> With the excitement generated by the new Beetle what VW needs is an
affordable
> and unique van, just as they have always had in the past. The
Vanagon could
> still be it, even share the same inline 8V 2.0L engine. Think of
it! Common
> engine between the Beetle and the Bus, its 1959 all over again!
Sorry,
> Eurovanners but I think the EV was the answer to a question no one
was asking.
> I guess they could always sell both so the Eurovan executives don't
loose
> face.
>
> Recall that it was consumer outrage and activism that got the present
> generation Mustang built. Ford was going to drop the V8 rear wheel
drive
> Mustang and rebadge the Probe as a Mustang until the enthusiast mail
started
> rolling in. I think Ford is glad they listened to their customers
for once.
> You think VW will ever be caught actually listening to its
customers? The new
> Beetle makes me think there is hope for VW afterall.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Carl Turner
> 84 and 85 Westies
>
==
Mike Harrnacker
89 Weekender "Nameles"
91 Golf
http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/vwbus
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