On Mon, 14 Feb 2000, Nakamura, Roy M wrote:
As far as the
Online Test Drive write-up is concerned... IT'S TRUE!! IT'S ALL TRUE!
No its not.
First... we need to get past the anger and denial mode and realize that if
we were going to recommend a "great people carrying, reliable, comfortable
and economical to operate" minivan to our own Mom... it would NOT be the EV.
Absolutely. But I wouldn't wish a minivan on anyone. I hate minivans.
THey are just tall station wagons.
The EV is not a mini-van (nor were any earlier VW buses) as Chrysler
defined it. A taller box on a car platform. Now as far as a van smaller
than a full sized van - yeah VW was there first. Well they were basically
'first' with a van that isn't what amounts to what is now called an SUV
that was meant for cargo instead of people.
My choice... the Honda Odyssey. My ex-wife drives a 2000 Odyssey... and
that thing puts the EV to shame. After I remove my middle seats out of my
EVC... my next task is to take 1200MG of Motrin and stay off my feet. The
extra seat in the Honda "effortlessly" disappears under the floor.
The EVC is not as versatile for cargo as the othe EVs. Ist a trade off
camping versus ease for cargo. All vehicle designs make certain choices
as to what is the primary and waht are useful secondary roles. The EVC
makes less sense as a cargo hauler than the EV MV or EV CL/GL/GLS. No
motrin needed from seat manipulation in the EV MV. Though the rear seats
are harder than just folding them down and removing a large potential
amount of cargo space. - Another compromise there. The Honda is a joke
as a cargo hauler compared to the EV with seat removed. THose seasta aer
still there and taking up space in the Honda. And there is less space to
start with so its even more painful.
I don't want to belabor the point... but I shuttle my kids and their soccer
friends all over town.. and most of their mom's have Mopar and Honda Vans...
but whenever new kids try to open the door.... I ALWAYS have to show them
where the latch is. They think that big black bumper thing is the handle...
terrible design... terrible.
I dosagree. The EV Latch is not traditional but better than many
others.
For haouling around a number of kids sure the tall station wagons are
okay. Just don't want to be in an accident in a Mopar box (and I'm a
mopar fan) as they seem to tend to just blow apart. Almost disintegrate.
I lost my MV to an accident that would have been fatal in any "minivan".
My wife and I just walked out of the van. The cops coming to investigate
were sure it was a fatal accident but there we were with no serious
injuries at all.
I'm short... 5';6"... and yes the front wheel well gets in the way too.
I'm 5'6.75" and have not found a more comfortable car to drive than an EV
except a fairly high doloar sports luxury car. PLain old stock '93 EV MV.
Just the way I'm built I guess.
Price... $32,000. ... well, if the EV had all the features that are
available on a $28,000 Honda... the EV would cost over $38,000!.
If the Honda had all the features of the EV it would cost far far more
than it does.
When my co-worker find out how much the EVC cost... they look shocked...
almost dumb founded (some even break a smile and start to snicker). I
remember crossing the border to Mexico in my EVC.. and the Insurance Agent
asked me what the replacement cost of the EVC was. I told him $35,000...
and then he looked at me like I didn't understand the question... now here's
a guy who appraises vehicles for a living! He didn't believe me... so he
referred to the Kelly's Blue Book... then shook his head in disbelief.
So am I surprised that some folks are ignorant? Nope. Even pros.
If Honda made an Odyssey Camper... I might "consider" it.
Until you tried one. Too damned small. It would make a horrendous
camper. As do ALL minivan sized rigs. The old air cooled Westys are
rommier than any "minivan" camper could be.
For the time
being... VW is the only game in town for "mini-van Campers".
Uh. I disagree. Never seena Sharan camper. The EV is a "mid-sized" van.
The LT is the "full sized" by American standards that is.
As a loyal VW
owner... I find myself also questioning why anyone would pay so much for an
EV GLS or MV since there are soooooo many alternatives. Oh Well so that's
my .02.
No problem. There is no other van I would consider. None. BNone have
the features *I* want.
I guess how "I" justify paying so much for the EVC is that I remember
selling my 84 Westy after five years of ownership back to the dealer for
close to what I paid for it. I've also looked for used EVC and they seem to
hold their high resale... I also like to "wave" at other EV/EVC drivers as
we pass.... since they usually wave back. I guess we EV/EVC owners are a
unique and quirky breed.
I grew up with a '69 then '72 Westy. Don't happen to want an EVC - much
prefer the MV. Its just got the features I want. Got vehicles ranging
from Things, a Horizon, Jeepsters, pickups, Suburbans, Conquests, a
Lebaron, and a Willys Tow truck. Have had several others. The EV MV is
by far the most verstile of the whole lot. Only the Suburban comes close.
No doubt in my mind. (And yes I am a redneck in the shadow of West
Virginia - but nothing is up on blocks)
--
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
mailto:killian@...
