Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I was looking around for a suitable van like vehicle... but anything that I like is not sold here in the US: Volkswagen T4 or the Caddy. GM stopped the production of minivan size vehicles like the Astro, Ford like the Aerostar, etc. The only van you can get currently here is a full-size V8 engined monster that gets 17 miles to the gallon. And no Diesel engines... I very much liked that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php?action=caddy.main http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...snotruf.Fzg.jpg What I also like is that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...sporter.gallery But look what they are actually going to import next year: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...crafter.gallery Don't get it... Erwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jens Piotrowski SOC Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I was looking around for a suitable van like vehicle... but anything that I like is not sold here in the US: Volkswagen T4 or the Caddy. GM stopped the production of minivan size vehicles like the Astro, Ford like the Aerostar, etc. The only van you can get currently here is a full-size V8 engined monster that gets 17 miles to the gallon. And no Diesel engines... I very much liked that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php?action=caddy.main http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...snotruf.Fzg.jpg What I also like is that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...sporter.gallery But look what they are actually going to import next year: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...crafter.gallery Don't get it... Erwin Hi Erwin, Dodge is selling the MB SPRINTER diesel here in the US. Take a look. Sprinter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jens Piotrowski SOC Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I was looking around for a suitable van like vehicle... but anything that I like is not sold here in the US: Volkswagen T4 or the Caddy. GM stopped the production of minivan size vehicles like the Astro, Ford like the Aerostar, etc. The only van you can get currently here is a full-size V8 engined monster that gets 17 miles to the gallon. And no Diesel engines... I very much liked that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php?action=caddy.main http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...snotruf.Fzg.jpg What I also like is that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...sporter.gallery But look what they are actually going to import next year: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...crafter.gallery Don't get it... Erwin Hi Erwin, Dodge is selling the MB SPRINTER diesel here in the US. Take a look. Sprinter Also: Edmunds Overview on Vans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted June 14, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Yeah but look at the size... And they are all full size vans... which most of them will not fit into a downtown garage. Looking for a mini cargo van... not a 15 person mover. V8 power... you got to be kidding. All the "real" minivans like the odyssey, quest, caravan, sienna, etc. are designed for people and not cargo. They have a high loading lip and a low ceiling... The caddy would have space for my cart and then some and all on a platform not much bigger then a sedan... But thanks, Erwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted June 14, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Something like that: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jamie Hammond Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Hi Erwin, Last year I bit the bullet and moved up to a van. I looked at the VW Caddy and at a Ford Connect. Both are two seaters with enough room to fit pretty much all my kit. I did eventually go for the VW Transporter T5 and I so made the best choice. This van is the dogs bol+*cks. Pretty much the A-Team van, 174 bhp, 2.5 litre turbo diesel.( I get about 450miles out of a tank, and thats with a superchip fitted as well).Two seats in the front, detachable bench seat in the middle and racked out in the back. I do alot of shooting so this van has to fit everything and everyone. I havn't filled it yet. The bench seat is easy to pull out and leave at home, a couple of ramps and the Magliner rolls straight behind the front seats, completly loaded and straps in nicely. A load of camera crews are using these in the UK, well these and the Merc Vitos, buying German is the best move I have made. I know in Europe the T5's sell as the VW Multivan. If you can get an import, this would be your best bet. I just found the caddy's and the connect were a little like a postmans van, not as ballsy and a little harder to work out of. Good luck in finding something, but the VW Transporter is definitly worth the hunt. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted June 14, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Hi Jamie, Was looking for a transporter... they are called Eurovan in the US and were only available in windowed 5 seat set ups... were. They stopped import as they didn't sell very well because they were over priced and under powered. Starting 2008 VW will import the Crafter which is based on the Sprinter... again enormous in size... The US still has not learned a thing about environment... they introduced a fleet of XL and ginormous vehicles... for late 2007 and early 2008... and the Smart... but everybody is afraid they will be squished by monsters like the Lincoln XL or a Hummer... Also if you want to transport equipment and still have full coverage for theft... you have to have a panel van with no windows as well as a separation between the cargo and the passenger compartment... or the insurance might not pay for stolen items. The Quest continuous, Erwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jamie Hammond Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Hi Erwin, The five seater is what I have, with the bulkhead fitted behind the seats, the rear compartment is completly panelled, and probably not that far off caddy size anyway. Your insurance should be OK as I have exactly the same issues. My side windows are limo black and do actually look like panels. The centre seated area is only used if I'm moving location and I want a quick getaway and just too plain lazy to de-rig. Most of the time its like a people carrier with a seperate trunk area. Anyway Im off to plug VW to some more unsuspecting punters, good luck with the quest J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jason Torbitt Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I'll second Jamie's plugs for the VW Transporter - sounds like we're driving the same - 2.5 TDI, 5 seater, racked out rear, blacked out windows, lots of black carpeting, air suspension. I love the fact that you can get plenty of crew in there, stick monitors in the back of it, transport all the kit...and you're right Jamie, the number of times I seatbelt things onto that back seat when I'm doing a quick location change - fantastic! Nice to have that bit of extra temporary space if you are doing one of those nightmare multi-location shoots. The most impressive feature for me, is that it just keeps going and going, the acceleration is fantastic, it takes off quickly even with a full load of kit in the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members jay kilroy Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Gentlemen, Here is the wesbsite you are looking for http://www.thesamba.com/vw/ . they have a great classified section. I have been looking for a Westphalia for a while now. Tons of west coast bus/vans. Have fun. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Martin Stacey Posted June 14, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Funny that you're struggling to get that van in the States as I'm wanting one of these http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_...delName=Element for the same purpose but they are only available in the USA. Maybe we can do a swap. Cheers, Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted June 15, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Yup, the Element is the one I have eyes on for hauling the gear. Especially now that the side panels are painted to match each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Afton Grant Posted June 15, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Yup, the Element is the one I have eyes on for hauling the gear. Especially now that the side panels are painted to match each other. Got one in January. Flat, plastic bed lining, fully removable seats, and suicide front doors make loading/unloading almost a joy. It's also got a number of available utility accessories, IMO the most attractive being the tailgate cabana that could definitely come in handy for some foul weather exterior days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Martin Stacey Posted June 15, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 That does it!!! I gotta import me one of those. RH drive versions available directly from Japan aparently. Exactly what I need. Good choice Afton Cheers, Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted June 15, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Irwin, have you considered a small trailer? No need to load and unload at home. Just drop it off in the driveway. And a ramp door for loading the cart. You could pull it with stingy diesel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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