Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 18:11:44 +1200
Reply-To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Subject: Re: is your Vanagon your main/only vehicle?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>The Caravelle *is* a Vanagon/Transporter. Generation 3.
Hmmm... perhaps better to say the *Vanagon* is a Caravelle by a different
name, as Caravelle was the home-market (original) name, and also used in
most of the world.
>We also have the RL and TL models here under the Acura name; I tried
>one of the larger 4.2 (I think that's the number) sedans at an auto
>show once, and if it's ever sold as a wagon and I have the money, I
>would consider it (but probably get a German car first.) Do those
>exist over there?
Not as far as I'm aware, even under a totally different name. i think the
Legend and NSX are the biggest Hondas sold here. The Honda-badged diesel
Isuzu Frontera SUV doesn't count!
>I think the Quantum also later became the Passat.
I believe the Santana/Quantum was basically an Audi 90, which was the
5-cylinder version of the Audi 80. The early Passat was in fact just a
VW-badged Audi 80/Fox, though the fastback/liftbacks were only sold with VW
badges and the notchbach as an Audi; wagons wore both badges. Way to
distinguish an older VW-badged Audi: if engine is transverse it's a true
VW. If it's IRS it's VW. If engine is inline it's an Audi; if rear beam
axle, again, Audi. In the most recent models the distinction may have begun
to blur...
>The Chevy Nova wasn't a direct lookalike to the Corolla, though it
>closely resembled the Corolla hatchback model that it was based on.
>The bodywork was a little bit different, and I do think the interior
>was slightly different as well. I know that the steering wheel looked
>a bit different to me when I looked into the window of a Nova once. A
>variant of the current Corolla is now sold as the Chevy storm, though
>it's a sedan now instead of a hatchback, since the Corolla wagon is
>no longer sold (nor is the Camry wagon).
I drove a 1986 liftback "Nova" for 4 months in Newfoundland. My wife now
has a diesel CE80 sedan of same age. There were 2 different instrument
cowls available for the AE/CE80 Corollas (1984-1988), but the crashpad and
instruments themselves were identical. There were a number of different
steeringwheels available. Looking at a photo of the Nova now, I can see
that it was the Corolla sold in the Japanese market as Sprinter, which had
the side creases in different places, and different grill. However it was
otherwise identical to the normal Corolla-badged cars. Even doors should be
interchangable, though the creases won't match up. The 89-92 AE/CE90
Sprinter sedan was sold in USA as Geo Storm; these had different front
lights and fenders and different (sort-of spoilered) trunklid/fenders to
the normal Corolla, otherwise identical. The 90-series Corolla Liftback
(sold in Japan as Ceilo) had the Sprinter front end; the 90-series 4WD
Sprinter Carib wagon I think was sold as Corolla over there; the older
80-series angular Carib was sold for some reason as a Tercel (which it most
certainly was not; the Corolla II/Corsa/Tercel was a considerably smaller
car than the Corolla, and the 4WD "Tercel" was actually a
Corolla/Sprinter).
>>very few Vanagon badges did sneak onto vehicles in other markets eg
>>Australia.
>
>Maybe, maybe not. I sent a note to a friend of mine in Australia and
>got a text-based blank stare in reply. Either he does not know the
>older VW model lineup or he just doesn't know the US name. I recall
>mentioning the Transporter to him once in the past and he did know of
>it at that time. Hopefully another Australian can clear this up...
One Aussie listee some time ago was definite that a few were sold there as
Vanagons, and his was a factory Vanagon. I'd said on the list what you're
saying now, and his response was quite emphatic.
>I thank you for agreeing with me that the Eurovan could use some
>restyling work rather badly. :)
It's not fit to be called a Transporter! No room for a start, which problem
it shares with all front-engined SWB/MWB vans: put 2 rows of seats in the
back and there's NO room for luggage or groceries behind them. Gimme a nice
forward-control/cabover T1-T3 or KZH100 Hiace anyday!! Or maybe an Estima
(=Previa) egg.
Regards
Andrew
