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Eurovan, 1999, Test Drive
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This is A test drive report from Fortune City website to which Dirk van Ulden
referred us. The report is quoted below and is also published at QUOTE 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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To Donald Newman,
I concur with your evaluation. Perhaps the originator of the Test Drive article would benefit if you forwarded it to him (less the last paragraph). Bob In a message dated 02/12/2000 5:30:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, donaldnewman@... writes: From my point of view the VW Eurovan is the only minivan capable of |
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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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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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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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Vance, Beaumont W.
<<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 learned how to drive stick when I bought the van 11 months ago. Even I can drive it without an indicator. What kind of incompetent moron need a gear indicator on a manual? You should have to look at the dash to shift. Is this guy insane? |
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Norman Leong
You'd truly be a maroon if you needed gear indicators on a manual, but this "reviewer" was writing about a '99, which, AFAIK, only comes in automatic. The guy must not get out very much because every car/vehicle I've driven w/ an automatic either has the indicator at the shifter, or somewhere in the dash area...and the EV's is a backlit LCD display, too. What a maroon... Norman ______________________________________________________ |
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Nakamura, Roy M
Okay EV/EVC owners... Please don't "Flame Me..."
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Let me open by telling you that I LOVE my 99 EVC. I've owned 68 Bug, 76 & 80 Rabbit, 84 Scirrocco, 84 Westy and a 99 EVC... so I don't intend to bash VWs. The EVC is great for camping and cost only a few bucks more than the GLS. I bought the EVC for it versatility and uniqueness... and NOT because of it's reputation as being "reliable" and the quality "Dealer" support. Heck, my new 99 EVC's has spent more time in the VW Dealer's service bays (getting warranty repairs) than all of my Hondas and Toyotas I've ever owned in the last 25 years combined! Basically... the EVC quality is fair (but for $38,000... who wants "fair") and Winnie's conversion is pretty good. The several VW dealers I spoke with prior to buying my EVC had no clue about EVs... or just told me misinformation... they couldn't even provide me with a Sales Brochure for the EVC (only the MV). When my EVC broke down last July during our vacation in Yosemite National Park, I used the "Trip Interruption Reimbursement Program"... I "STILL" haven't heard anything thing from VWof A. As a group... we all know the VWof A/Dealers really don't give us EV/EVC owners the proper respect... if any. We're a small tight group that has no significant impact to VWofA total sales... and we would by another EV/EVC despite it's quirkiness. As far as the Online Test Drive write-up is concerned... IT'S TRUE!! IT'S ALL TRUE! 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. 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. 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'm short... 5';6"... and yes the front wheel well gets in the way too. The front seats are comfortable now... since I installed sheep skin seat covers... but before that... the EVC fabric was slippery, too firm and had a cheap look and feel. This is also true for the center and rear seat... very uncomfortable (compared to the Honda). 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!. 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. If Honda made an Odyssey Camper... I might "consider" it. For the time being... VW is the only game in town for "mini-van Campers". 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. 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. Roy Nakamura 99 EVC 84 Scirrocco -----Original Message----- |
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William Killian - Zen and the Art of Ferrets
On Mon, 14 Feb 2000, Nakamura, Roy M wrote:
As far as theNo its not. First... we need to get past the anger and denial mode and realize that ifAbsolutely. 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... andThe 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 soccerI 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 areIf 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...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 timeUh. 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 VWNo 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 rememberI 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@... |
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