>I don't think ANYONE on this list will be happy with anything that
>isn't the Vanagon....
>   About a month ago I read the posts that dismissed the South
>African Van that VW was introducing--I don't understand why; it is a
>decent size, It is available as a camper, 4-wheel drive, and turbo
>diesel!!  What more would you want?  Sure, it's not available in the
>US market, but since when has that stopped anyone from posting it's
>praises to this list?
>   Yea, it costs more than the Vanagon but  $20,000 in 1990 would be
>about $40,000 in today's dollar, correct me if I'm wrong.

The "new" South African van is the old T4. It has all of the faults
of the German T4, including the short cargo-bay floor due to the
longer cab. You just can't beat a forward-control van like the T3 for
cargo-bay volume. The T4 peoplemover versions will have no luggage
space behind the back seats.

On another note, I saw that the latest issue of "VolksWorld Camper &
Bus" has a note on a T3 which was shunted by one truck into another.
It was a writeoff; shame, because it was a really nice one
(repairable, but not economic). Nobody in it was injured and both
ends, though extensively damaged, showed just how strong these
vehicles are. Must've been big cabover trucks, as the damage went
from bumper to roofline.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
� Opinions stated are mine, not those of Otago University
"There is water at the bottom of the ocean"  - Talking Heads