re...
Toyota's first mini van sold in the US (1983?) was cool looking,
> it too was Vanagon like only smaller, and even came as a 4X4. Mitsubishi
> had a nice looking small van back in the 80's as well.

I've worked on both of those.
the original Toyota van we got here .....yes, about 83 ..
that look like a little loaf of bread ..
drives like a car, for a van.
and ..one of the worst cars to work on there is !
To replace say the distributor cap ....you tilt back the driver's seat with
part of the floor, then undo 19 or so screws to remove the passenger's front
seat and a huge piece of floor...and that part still has shifter cables
attached to it ........like what should be a 10 minute job is an hour
struggle.
  The 2WD ones are known for extremely poor traction in slippery conditions.
the 4WD ones are real mechanical nightmares I hear.
And the 2WD ones 'just won't die.'   Run forever .  Just horrible to work
on.

the Mistsubishi van ..
relaible ....though very firm truck like  ride.
Not bad overall.........smallish ..
vanagon is a way more sophisticated platform.

----- Original Message -----
From: "HotelWestfalia" <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..

> Almost anything that was or is not threatening the US vehicle sales was
> allowed in with severe restrictions that did not apply to the locals.  We
> did not get Vanagons with diesel turbo, or with carburetors either.
> The huge success of the HiAce was a serious threat to the local van
> manufacturing.  The unions ruled them out.  The local manufacturers
> treated
> the local market exactly as the drug dealers their own turf.
> Z
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "J Stewart" <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 7:06 AM
> Subject: Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
>
>
>> Still do, if you can call it that, the Sienna. More car like than van,
>> though. Toyota's first mini van sold in the US (1983?) was cool looking,
>> it too was Vanagon like only smaller, and even came as a 4X4. Mitsubishi
>> had a nice looking small van back in the 80's as well.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeff Stewart
>>
>> Sorry, left off the link originally. Here it is:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hiace. According to this, the Toyota
>> Hiace came in a camper version. Of course, Toyota sold vans in this
>> country from long ago. Must be something other than emissions control
>> that
>> kept these from being marketed here.
>>
>>
>>
>> mcneely
>>