From:    David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: 84 Pretend Vanagon (Toyota) western WV

At 10:18 AM 6/11/2001, Donald Baxter wrote:
>>I dunno.  I liked the description of these, when they first came out, as
>>cocktail napkin after a saki jag.  I know Vanagons, Vanagons are friends
>>of mine, and this is NO Vanagon :-)

 Right on Donald!

>They're built on a Corolla chassis, I believe, with the Corolla 96"
>wheelbase which gives them long overhangs and a tendency to bob  and dip a
>lot.  Supposed to be quite reliable, but a hideous pain to do anything at
>all on the engine (beyond checking the oil).  A lot smaller than a Vanagon.

 Yea,try & change the spark plugs!

>Anybody know anything about the Mitsubishi van that looks much more like a
>V'gon (still somewhat smaller)?  I sometimes mistake them for Vanagons in
>the distance from behind.

David,
...I think you're thinking of the L300 Mitsubushi POS van - at least that's
what they were badged here as in Oz (later model may have been called a
L400 - can't remember for sure)
When they first appeared here back in the early '80s,just for a fleeting
moment I thought they looked OK...but I got over that almost immediately...
They do have the familiar boxiness of the T3 but that's where any similarity
ends.
Like the rest of the plethora of Jap commercials of the time,they are of
light construction,tinny, with poor handling,not to say completely lacking
any character whatsoever.Braking without a good load to hold down the rear
wheels is just plain scary especially on a wet road.
Those L300s still on Oz roads these days usually look pretty shabby and are
generally belching out smoke.
The VW may not always be perfect but it wins hands down for safe braking,
(loaded or empty) handling,passenger safety and ride comfort over it's
contemporaries...and that's a big plus in my book.

Just my NSHO ;)
Steve O
Blue Mountains,NSW,Australia
'92 Transporter WBX 2.1 Kombi
'76 Transporter Double Cab 2.0
'68 Beetle 1.5
'00 Transporter 5Cyl Double Cab 2.5 (work truck)
'48 Fairmont M19 Speeder
'60 Telodine TIC Speeder
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