>On Fri, 27 Jun 2003, Andrew Grebneff wrote:
>
>>  >I know Daimler owns Chrysler now, but it just seems wrong to put a Dodge
>>  >emblem on a Mercedes...
>>
>>  Or a Mercedes symbol on a Frod?
>
>I used to think putting a Ford symbol on a Mazda was pretty weird, too,
>but I've gotten used to it.

Badge-engineering. It sucks. Means most people have no idea what the
vehicle really is, where it's made or what the original name is. How
many Americans (or for that matter people in most countries,
including of course NZ) know what a Lexus really is?

It means that a manufacturer can come up with an entirely "new" model
for zero development cost. ford wants a new small car? Buy a Mazda
Familia cheap, slap Ford Laser or Mercury whatever badges on it and
resell it. One manufacturer can make one model and sell it with
several different names; Toyota does this with the Camry, Nissan with
the Sunny... and they learned the trick from GM and Chrysler.

>I tend to think IRS is overrated for vans.  For sports cars, sure it's
>great, but for something that's basically a heavy cargo vehicle it's hard
>to beat the durability and strength of a solid rear axle.

VW rear-ends don't give trouble usually. CVs are pretty darn reliable
when they don't have steering thrown into the equation. And they do
give better handling... after all, what vans are raced? Only VWs.
Though early-model Estimas (=Previa) have IRS too.

>I never really
>had any complaints about the suspension performance on my Ford (twin
>I-beam independent front suspension with coil springs, live rear axle with
>leaf springs) except that it chewed up front tires.  Wheel hop was a bit
>of a problem in reverse on loose gravel, but a set of traction bars might
>have helped.

Try hooning on a twisty road with it! Suspension performance means
far more than going in a straight line.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut