---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> I think VW knows that until they have products that truly compete with the
> Ford or Mercedes van or trucks there is little sense going for the American
> market. As for campers most folks want fully featured units including
> toilets and showers and enough room to be comfortable. As you start heading
> North of $40K there are a lot of choices beyond a van with a pop up tent.

But what some of us want is a van with a pop up tent, maybe just a scooch more room, but that's not essential.  Showers and toilets?  Nope, not me, not needed.  But I would like modern reliability.

mcneely

>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Stuart MacMillan
> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 12:38 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: (Friday NVC) When Euro hits parity
>
> VW has a limited product line in the US, and their biggest problem here will
> be meeting the ever increasing CAFE fuel economy standards, hence the
> introduction of the very expensive e-Golf  Who's going to buy this for
> $34,000? And, the subsidized $299/mo lease is only available in 10 states
> and DE.
>
> CAFE means selling more fuel efficient cars to bring up the fleet average,
> and bringing in vans without a subsidized electric or hybrid high mileage
> car to offset them won't help.  I think that's the main reason we won't see
> a van any time soon. Or maybe we'll see only TDI vans!
>
> Compared to #1 Toyota with the Prius, a bunch of gas sippers (including the
> tiny 37 mpg Scion iQ), two pickup trucks (at least one is essential in the
> US), their bread and butter Camry, and a Van, distant #2 VW has a long way
> to go. But I would like to see them try harder.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jon VO
> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 8:38 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: (Friday NVC) When Euro hits parity
>
> Except the Eos, the Golf R, and the CC are mainly optioned versions of
> existing NA models, the California is not imported in any form.
>
>
> On 3/18/2015 8:39 PM, James wrote:
> > Volvo has been way behind Toyota in reliability for the last five
> > years or
> so.
> >
> > Thing is, reliability or the lack thereof isn't the buying factor it
> > used
> to be, as overall automotive reliability is now so high - the 'average' in
> Consumer Reports now was the five star reliability rating of 15 years ago.
> >
> > And as to the idea that 'special low volume models aren't part of that
> business model" - VW sells the EOS, the CC, the Golf R - all low volume, all
> to showcase the brand.  Yet most of the public could hardly place a CC or an
> EOS if they were challenged, when everybody knows the VW bus.  Importing the
> California camper, with special trim lines to celebrate the camper, seems a
> natural.
> >
> > As the EOS and R have shown, a 'US federalised' model need not be a
> stopper.  The handful of years they've sold the R on this side of the
> Atlantic, they've brought in as few as 400 per year, IIRC.
> >
> > James
> > Ottawa, ON
> >

--
David McNeely