I saw several Vitos last I was in Germany about 18 mos ago.  CDI.
Practicality.  Great looks. An MB - what more could one ask for.  Sure the
engine is up front but it is a modern diesel.  I'd be very happy with the
Vito F - MB's version of Multivan.  Marco Polo would obviously be a bonus.

I bet we'll never see that.  I'm guessing the base would start about $35-40
and the clean design would turn-off most large van buyers over here (you
know the type - want shag carpeting - f*gly oak "appointments", overstuffed
"captain chairs", cave-like interior - i.e. gloomy).  But I've been wrong
before and really hope I'm wrong this time!

Maybe an enterprising individual will start importing them as a group for us
a la the group orders of bits from SA!  I can see it now:  "Putting together
a bulk order of MB Vitos from the fatherland.  Minimum 10 vehicles Vito F
$40k, if I get 10-20 orders the price drops to $35k ..." and so forth.  Of
course as they'd be grey market you won't have a warranty - but neither does
your vanagon - and at the rate I'm replacing parts on my '91 Carat I might
hit $30,000 over the next 3 years! (just kidding - but does seem that way
some days).

bem
----- Original Message -----
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)

> If you ask me, the Vito Marco Polo is a far more interesting vehicle;
> the culmination of Westfalia and VW (Eurovan) engineering.
>
> The sprinter wouldn't fit in my garage, and is (although larger) a more
> cumbersome daily driver. The Marco Polo is more in line with our typical
> Westfalia Vanagons (IMHO).
>
> http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/rv/marcopolo/default.htm
>
> Pax--
>
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Mount Olive, NC
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
> Of Reid Anderson
> Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 8:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: A different camper van (somewhat O/T)
>
> Some additional research found MB stating the following in regard to the
> James Cook Sprinter:
> "Incorporating numerous clever details from Westfalia, the camper van
> specialists..." <snip>
>
> Ahhh... Music to my ears.  So the conversion will be done by our pals,
> Westy
> co.
>
> The short blirp (publishing term) can be seen here:
> http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/rv/jamescook/
> with links to the PDF brochure (thirty-plus pages) and other
> information.....
>
> This looks like a cool van....
> Reid