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Re: Worst Car of the Millenium Contest
Antonio Martinez
At 10:17 PM 2/12/2000 -0500, you wrote:
Funny thing: I've owned almost every car on the "worst" list. From myI must be clueless. I owned a LeCar, and it was fabulous. Extremely economical, fun to drive, virtually unstoppable in the snow, and very reliable. Of ourrse I have also owned Fiats and Peugeots :/ ...not to mention my 93 MV a |
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Re: Fuel Injection/System Cleaning & Spark Plugs/Wires
Michael G. McCarthy
You certainly have to replace wires, even if they do cost a lot (although if
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you are mechanically adept you can roll-your-own and put together any number of configurations of nice high quality hot-rod style wire kits in bright yellow, orange, red, etc). Wires today are not "wire" at all but rather are composed of silicon insulators and carbon conductors and who knows what else. They deliver a lot of energy to the spark plug, minimal RFI to the electronics in proximity, and they break down with time and heat (and certainly that tight space between your engine and your radiator is HOT). Mike ---------- From: "Gregg Burgess" <gbnvic@...> I have not needed to replace my wires yet on my 93MV, at 92000 miles. |
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Re: Renault R5, was Worst Car of the Millenium Contest
Donald Gibbons
the R5, LeCar (LeWreck) gets my vote! I bought one new and after only a
few years I GAVE it away. From the starter motor that took a 36" extension to reach to the three bolt wheel lugs this car was the worst I ever had. It was cuts, had a nice fabric sunroof but not much else anygood! |
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Re: Fuel Injection/System Cleaning & Spark Plugs/Wires
Gregg Burgess
I have not needed to replace my wires yet on my 93MV, at 92000 miles.
However, I just replaced plugs, distributor, and distributor cap. I used Bosch 4 prong platinum plugs. They were pricey, but made a noticeable difference in pickup and power on the vehicle. No change noticed in mileage. I would definitely replace the distributor cap and rotor when you do the other work. Have you tested the impendence on your wires to verify they are really bad? I checked around Northern Virginia, and could only find special order Bosch wires locally, and they weren't cheap (~$100). I would highly recommend getting them from Europarts, who does carry them mail order. 858 451-0020. -Gregg B. "erich fickel" <eficke-@...> wrote: original article: My '93 EV MV now has 75K miles, 25K driven by my family and I.into the gas tank over the last year, but I am wondering what brand ofcleaner, if any, this group swears by. This seems to be one of those itemsthat is hard to verify (did it do anything or not). Also, what kind of jobwould be to just replace the injectors. They can't be expensive, but what kindof labor is required.should I buy and from where? This seems like a rather straight forwardtask--anything that will cause problems? |
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Re: Alaska Air (off topic sort of)
Check out for more on this topic. There is an
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interesting chapter related to a Saturn employee (a mechanic, I believe) getting involved in a group like this. If only VW was participating in this group conversation... George ELODEA@... wrote:
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Re: Eurovan, 1999, Test Drive
A Azwan Mattaridi
Gentlemen,
I cannot stand it anymore, I have to say something here! These negative reviews about the EV is not the first. The problem is, most of the reviews from magazines of this calibre tends to be biased towards the non-imported brands. These writers have believed that Chrysler "invented" the mini-van, hence everything out there is measured up to their definition or understanding of the "minivan", however limited that may be. Everytime I read something like this, I get worked-up and would like to email to the writer of that article and "educate" him about the benefit of NOT being ignorant, but if I were to do that, I would have to quit my day job. So, the point of my ramblings is, there isn't one. Only that, we will see these types of psycho-bablic reviews from time to time. As far as the validity of it, well, thats another story. By the way, I drive the most basic of EV, the CL and like it. I live in Wisconsin where it snows pretty good and have NEVER had any problem getting the EV around. Thank you for listening... sea2rive-@... wrote: original article: This is A test drive report from Fortune City website to which Dirkvan Ulden referred us. The report is quoted below and is also published atEuroVan will make you want a divorce!year, and that?€?s good. Because if they sold any more, it may be considered anact of war.van, in a vehicle that drives like a car. The EuroVan has few amenities. Yousit high, with cupholders on the floor that are almost out of myreach--and I?€?m 6?€?4?€?. The drive is very trucklike. The seats are uncomfortable.inside. And, despite the additional room, the basic EuroVan only seats seven, justlike your average minivan.It sits on the floor, and has no light, so you have to guess which gear youare in at night.well?€?s location, there?€?s really no place to put your left foot. The seatsjust weren?€?t comfortable.It?€?s very boxy, but a little higher and a little skinnier, which makes itfeel unstable in corners. The steering and the brakes were very rough. Theengine was adequate.to get angry e-mails from EuroVan owners saying I don?€?t understand. You?€?reright, I don?€?t understand. I don?€?t understand why people would pay 32,000 dollarsfor a vehicle that rides rough, is a menace in parking lots, and hasuncomfortable cloth seats.Beetle is a runaway hit. The Jetta is cute. The Passat is practical. The EuroVanneeds to be re-done, into a 21st century version of a Microbus. That wouldwork. This vehicle doesn?€?t, with one exception.nice, especially the limited edition camping version. If you camp a lot,you may want to check out the EuroVan. But for all of the other uses thatpeople find for minivans these days, the EuroVan comes up short.reporters who cover the auto industry who hadn?€?t driven a EuroVan. I askedthem to guess the price. They fainted when they saw the sticker. Thirty-twothousand dollars would buy a lot of comfort in a competitors minivan.defroster, etc. The MV gives you some extras like a folding table, florescentlight over the rear seat, and seats that fold down into beds. The camper adds aand a pop up roof with an overhead full-size bed.a 32 thousand dollar sticker price. It was far from adequate, and nowhereclose to the competition.on our 1 to 5 scale. |
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Re: 1999 EV Gas Mileage
1McCulloch
I have also noticed that Hi-test (premium) grades decrease the fuel economy
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by 2-3 miles per gallon. My 99 seems fine with 87, but my old 93 ran poorly unless I gave it 91 or higher. ----- Original Message -----
From: "Art Fink" <artfink@...> To: <ev_update@...> Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2000 9:37 AM Subject: [ev_update] 1999 EV Gas Mileage I now have 20k on my 99 EV-GLS and have figured out 2 things that |
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1999 EV Gas Mileage
Art Fink
I now have 20k on my 99 EV-GLS and have figured out 2 things that
influence gas mileage: 1.) If the dealer puts in too much oil when they change it ( 1/4" on the dipstick)...mileage drops from 20-21 to 18-19. Always ask the dealer to be sure use the right amount of oil and double check it yourself (not easy to do) before driving away. 2.) Using high-test gas decreases mileage about 2 MPG |
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Renault R5, was Worst Car of the Millenium Contest
Moe Walters
Don't know that the R5 made no contributions; the mid-engine turbo version was interesting, & fast...
Moe Walters Funny thing: I've owned almost every car on the "worst" list. From mysnip snip |
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Re: Worst Car of the Millenium Contest
1McCulloch
Funny thing: I've owned almost every car on the "worst" list. From my
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experience the LeCar was really bad, but still kind of fun. It had an endless list of engineering flaws. The Bus certainly had issues, but the innovative design made a substantial and permanent mark on automotive design. The LeCar was bad and made no contribution to design. ----- Original Message -----
From: <RBIEGEL@...> To: <ev_update@...> Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2000 2:51 PM Subject: [ev_update] Re: Worst Car of the Millenium Contest Chuck,Any vehicle as excessive as that deserves the title. Looks like most agreesince it is leading the pack with the Vega 2nd and the Yugo 3rd. Hopefully theVW Bus and Thing will be spared since I think neither deserve this title. |
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questions about 99 EVC
Mary Schilpp
Today I test drove 1999 EVC, and loved it. It drove better than I had
imagined. I have a few questions as I seriously contemplate making the big purchase. (While the salesman was very nice, I think he was interested in moving the one EVC on his lot, and basically didn't have much hope of additional vehicles.) 1) Is the '99 EVC available w/ heated front seats? 2) Is there a factory alarm available? 3) IS the 2000 EVC camper out yet, or is it not coming until April? 4) What type of sound systems are available? This one had a Panasonic tape deck, but it seems pretty lousy- not many features. 5) Any help on price of a 99 EVC w/o middle seat, w/o heated seats would be very appreciated. I'm located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, but am willing to travel for a good deal. Thanks for any help you can offer. - Mary |
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My Counterpoint to 1999 EV Test Drive
I sent this to the person who wrote the test drive report.
Hi there, I just wanted to point out some things. When my wife and I went out to look for a van we settled on the Eurovan after driving many other so called vans. The Eurovan has far more space than any competitor, 7 adults can be seated in comfort, not crammed into child sized seats with headrests that are soft as marshmallows. It also has a low floor and can accommodate large items, such as ping pong tables and 4x8 sheets of plywood. Seat comfort is a personal opinion, I find them to be the most comfortable of all the vans I drove. The gear shift lever is lit on my Eurovan but it doesn't matter because VW was smart enough to put an LED indicator on the instrument cluster. I haven't had a problem opening the sliding door yet, it is the finest sliding door I have experienced. I did have a great deal of trouble with the 2000 Caravan sliding doors however, after two weeks with that thing I can't believe they ever sold one. The Eurovan has a one ton chassis that is much stiffer than any competitors, I think it will outlast many other vans as well. I will admit to some poor workmanship though, probably not near as nicely put together as the Honda, but at least the spot welds on the roof aren't 6" apart. I don't think the Eurovan even slightly resembles the Chrysler in any way, it definitely isn't skinnier on the inside. My Eurovan will out handle any of the other popular vans. I almost killed myself when test driving(at least 500KM each) the Caravan, Astro, and Aerostar. The Eurovan handles the same fully loaded or empty, the same can't be said for the competition. I like the truck-like feel, it feels that way because it is a truck, not a sedan with a high roof. As for parking lots, I find it very easy to park, it has a turning circle that is smaller than some cars, and the visibility is unequaled. I am not sure what you mean by rough steering but it is firm and predictable with just the right amount of feedback. The Eurovan's power is adequate, it will get you there in the same amount of time as any other vehicle if you drive the posted speed limit, why does 0-60 time matter?. As for price, if you would do some research, you would find that the Eurovan is just slightly more than a similarly equipped Grand Caravan which doesn't even have fully independent suspension, and is really just an uncomfortable car. While we are on the Chrysler subject, I would like to point out some other facts unrelated to your test drive report. Contrary to popular belief, VW was the first to offer a minivan, the first to offer dual sliding doors, and the first to offer a four door pickup truck. I realize that test drive reports are just someone's opinion, but I think you should include some facts and be as objective as you can. Don't mistake something different as being something less than; and remember, one half of the world is always laughing at the other half. Dirk. |
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Re: Renault R5, was Worst Car of the Millenium Contest
My only experience in the Renault LeCar was in a torrential rain storm. My
Chevy Impala wouldn't start, (never ran when it rained???), so I got a ride home from a co-worker. We got caught in a flooded street in Golden, Colo., and the car just floated to the next high spot a few blocks down. We just drove on once the wheels hit the ground. |
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Re: Fuel Injection/System Cleaning & Spark Plugs/Wires
In a message dated 2/12/00 3:08:50 PM, efickel@... writes:
<< I am wondering what brand of cleaner, if any, this group swears by>> I use that BKG or whatever stuff that comes in a metal can. I put it in both VWs twice a year. It's pricey ($15 per can), but worth it. |
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Re: Eurovan, 1999, Test Drive
Sorry to thread on, but I spent the entire day defending my EuroVan at the
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fire station today to my fellow firefighters who all drive big American trucks and SUVs, so I was really primed for the "review" of the EV. In a message dated 2/12/00 1:30:32 PM, Sea2river@... writes:
<<The drive is very trucklike. >> It is a truck, dumba**. Nobody ever said it was a "minivan." <<I couldn¡¯t figure out how to open the one sliding door from the inside. >> Duh. My 2-year-old figured it out. <<And, despite the additional room, the basic EuroVan only seats seven, just like your average minivan.>> I was forced to ride in the second row of a new Chrysler minivan today and my VW Golf had more legroom. I'm 6'1" and have plenty of leg room in ANY seat in the EV. PLUS, you can take 7 people WITH luggage in an EV. Not possible in an "average minivan." <<the gear shift lever. It sits on the floor, and has no light, so you have to guess which gear you are in at night.>> If you have to look to see what gear you are in, you shouldn't be driving. <<I never did get comfortable in the EuroVan. Because of the wheel well¡¯s location, there¡¯s really no place to put your left foot.>> Unlike those huge wheel well intrusions in a typical minivan, or the engine box in a full-size American van. <<The EuroVan has a slight resemblance to the early Chrysler minivans. >> AAAAARGGG. Bite your tongue! I can't take it any more. |
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Re: Fortune City Review of the EuroVan
I think the reviewer may have only sat in the EV and played with the
controls, he certainly didn't give it a good going over. He was also totally wrong to compare the EV to a minivan, just park the EV next to one and you can see how different they are. The fact that he wasn't able to quickly determine how to adjust his seat, that the shifter read out is on the dash, and how easy it is to open the sliding door, makes me wonder why he is in the business of reviewing cars. If he made an effort to research the VW T4 (EuroVan) even a little, he would have discovered that it is the top selling van in Europe, far outselling the US, Japanese, and European vans. I also question the 1,400 sales estimates for the US. Seems pretty low to me. I do agree that the EV is overpriced. Steve Lashley '66 Westy '74 Campmobile '93 EV MV <A href="></A> 314-614-0750 Importing German Side Tents, Carver Propane Heaters and other Accessories for Bus, Vanagon and EuroVan <<The 1999 Volkswagen EuroVan Base Price Range: $31,300 - 32,800 * (One Star -- Substandard.) If the new Beetle has made you fall in love with Volkswagen, the EuroVan will make you want a divorce! Volkswagen will only sell 1400 of the EuroVan¡¯s in the U.S. this year, and that¡¯s good. Because if they sold any more, it may be considered an act of war. I thought the whole purpose of a minivan was to have the utility of a van, in a vehicle that drives like a car. The EuroVan has few amenities. You sit high, with cupholders on the floor that are almost out of my reach--and I¡¯m 6¡¯4¡±. The drive is very trucklike. The seats are uncomfortable. I couldn¡¯t figure out how to open the one sliding door from the inside. And, despite the additional room, the basic EuroVan only seats seven, just like your average minivan. Controls are pretty basic, with one exception, the gear shift lever. It sits on the floor, and has no light, so you have to guess which gear you are in at night. I never did get comfortable in the EuroVan. Because of the wheel well¡¯s location, there¡¯s really no place to put your left foot. The seats just weren¡¯t comfortable. The EuroVan has a slight resemblance to the early Chrysler minivans. It¡¯s very boxy, but a little higher and a little skinnier, which makes it feel unstable in corners. The steering and the brakes were very rough. The engine was adequate. I know Volkswagen¡¯s have a nice following, and I know I¡¯m going to get angry e-mails from EuroVan owners saying I don¡¯t understand. You¡¯re right, I don¡¯t understand. I don¡¯t understand why people would pay 32,000 dollars for a vehicle that rides rough, is a menace in parking lots, and has uncomfortable cloth seats. There are a lot of good things happening at Volkswagen. The new Beetle is a runaway hit. The Jetta is cute. The Passat is practical. The EuroVan needs to be re-done, into a 21st century version of a Microbus. That would work. This vehicle doesn¡¯t, with one exception. There are customized versions of the EuroVan that are said to be very nice, especially the limited edition camping version. If you camp a lot, you may want to check out the EuroVan. But for all of the other uses that people find for minivans these days, the EuroVan comes up short. About that price...it¡¯s not a misprint. I did a survey with other reporters who cover the auto industry who hadn¡¯t driven a EuroVan. I asked them to guess the price. They fainted when they saw the sticker. Thirty-two thousand dollars would buy a lot of comfort in a competitors minivan. You can get the EuroVan is three trims, GLS, MV and Camper. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control, rear window defroster, etc. The MV gives you some extras like a folding table, florescent light over the rear seat, and seats that fold down into beds. The camper adds a refrigerator, a gas stove, sink countertop, screened windows, furnace and a pop up roof with an overhead full-size bed. While the camper sounds pretty neat, I drove the basic EuroVan, with a 32 thousand dollar sticker price. It was far from adequate, and nowhere close to the competition. Let¡¯s pray for the return of the Microbus, and give the EuroVan a 1 on our 1 to 5 scale. END QUOTE>> |
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Re: Eurovan, 1999, Test Drive
Donald Newman
From my point of view the VW Eurovan is the only minivan capable of containing
our FOLBOT two person kayak in its' bags as well as two BIKE FRIDAY folding
bicycles in their bags all beneath the bed in which we can sleep knowing
our recreational items are safe from vandalizm or theft while traveling
or staying over in cities being visited.
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I find the seating very comfortable especially with the unique adjustable double arm rests.? With the pop top up there is lots of space to move about while reading and listening to music even while camping in the rain with the table up or stowed.? I'm looking forward to installing a galley cabinet behind the driver seat and swivel platforms beneath the passenger and driver seats.? All of the above are impossible with any minivan created in our country.? I really apprecaiate this vehicle. I'm glad my enjoyment is not hindered by shortsighted and ungenuous attitudes by those earning their living castigating anything in order to fill the pages or airwaves with verbage. Thanks,? Donald G. Newman Sea2river@... wrote: This is A test drive report from Fortune City website to which Dirk van Ulden |
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