Honestly, considering the Vanagons started around the time Star Wars first came about, I'm surprised they didn't keep the Transporter name.  Sounds all futuristicy.  
 
"Does everything sold in the US have to be renamed because
arrogant/obnoxious US ad agencies always think they can do better?"
 
Yup.

________________________________

From: Vanagon Mailing List on behalf of jbange
Sent: Fri 10/8/2004 10:42 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Its NOT a mini-van!

>but these are full-size vans, as are Toyota
>Hiaces and Kia Pregios. A small van would be say a Toyota Liteace,
>which was so9ld inthe US in the 80s. A minivan would be a Subaru
>Domingo, Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hijet or Mitubishi L100.

Why is it that automobile manufacturers feel they need to come up with
entirely new names for vehicles for multiple english-speaking countries?
None of those models are even remotely familiar to me here in the US! On
that note, why "Vanagon"? Was "Transporter" not cutesy enough for VW of
America? Does everything sold in the US have to be renamed because
arrogant/obnoxious US ad agencies always think they can do better?

John Bange
'90 Vanagon "Geldsauger"