>Maybe they should do a marketing survey and see if there is a market
>here. Bet there is.
>
>Right now I find there is not another van of any brand that I would
>replace my Vanagon with ... at least available in the USA. It's
>discouraging. I love my vanagon, but the fact is that it is a 17 year
>old vehicle and not getting younger. The support for it is slowly drying
>up. Worries me. I find that there is no other comparable vehicle out
>there that fills the need in the same  way. The configuration is the
>main thing. I find it extremely utilitarian and convenient. The only
>thing that might improve on it (besides a later engine) is a sliding
>door on the drivers side. But even that is not such a big deal. Aside
>from the configuration - doors, rear hatch, etc, the size and dimesnions
>are just right. I can carry a 1500 lb load of bricks on the floor
>inside, or a 12 foot step ladder --- inside, or 12 foot 2X6
>lumber....... or 4X8 sheets of plywood ... all inside out of the weather
>
>Regards,
>
>John Rodgers
>88 GL Driver
>
>John Bange wrote:
>
>>Probably it's considered a commercial vehicle and subject to some
>>ridiculous import tariff or something, like the Dokas and single cabs
>>were. Toyota would have to build 'em here to make it worthwhile.
>>
>>
>>>What is the deal that the HiAce or seome version of it is not to be
>>>sold in the USA.
>>>
>>>Looks like a good replacement for the V-gons as they wear out and
>>>disappear.

>Probably it's considered a commercial vehicle and subject to some
>ridiculous import tariff or something, like the Dokas and single cabs
>were. Toyota would have to build 'em here to make it worthwhile.

There are minibus models, from ultrabasic to ultraluxury; would these
not be classed as cars (eg MPVs)? Commercial and basic passenger
variants have semielliptic rear springs and 1.0-1.5-tonne tare; the
upmarket  ones have torsionbar rear and 750kg tare (that's for the
3rd & 4th generations... dunno about the new one, couldn't find a
website with all variants listed).

I'm sure they would sell like hotcakes in the US. They have all the
good points of the little Liteace which was sold there in the mid80s,
with the added benefits of large size. Here they outnumber all other
vans put together and have a real following. Used ones, even like my
old ultrabasic 1.5-tonne 83, still bring in good prices too.

I am most disappointed to see that the new Hiace retains drum rear
brakes... the only point on which these machines are outgunned by the
Europeans with their 4-wheel discs. Conversion kits, anyone...?
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

DEMOCRACY: RULE BY THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR