What happens when you get an NV200

[windguy]

l could be wrong, but it looks like an NV200 or looked liked an NV200 until the freight train modified it.

maybe the driver should consider a TC next time and definitely strap that ladder down better too

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/officer-saves-man-from-oncoming-train-with-seconds-to-spare/vi-BBqwW6R

[G B L]

I seems to me that the choice of the van would be secondary to the choice of roads

Edited March 17, 2016 by G B L

[Fifty150]

Isn't it kind of hard to get an NV200 with seats?

[mrtn]

NV200 is a big no-no. It carries the vibe of eighties' Japanese vans, same awkward looks, lousy ergonomics and cheap materials.

[G B L]

They Have a Taxi version with A rear seat.

A Van you would not mind Drilling a hole in the Console !

[mrtn]

Ha-ha. 

Wouldn't hurt the aestethics a bit.

[Fifty150]

Does anyone else have a Mitsubishi 80's flashback?

[G B L]

That's a modern flashback! Try this one.

 

Edited September 16, 2016 by G B L

[Tiller]

3 hours ago, Fifty150 said:

Does anyone else have a Mitsubishi 80's flashback?

Reminds me of my Toyota Mini van!   This is a stock photo.  Mine was "copper" colored.  Way back in 1984.

I actually really liked that van.  I was able to fit two large dog crates in that plus gear. 

Also had a utility trailer I used for a motorcycle hauler to go with it.

Edited September 16, 2016 by Tiller

[mrtn]

These were extremely popular here late in the 80s/early 90s: Toyota LiteAce, Mitsubishi Delica and Nissan Vanette were the most visible ones. Seemed boring to me back then but would like to have one right now.

[Fifty150]

I've heard that the minivan market in The U.S. was huge, until all the people who drove them, didn't care for the "image".  A matter of form over function.  

 

Minivans became thought of as a "soccer mom" car.  So much so, that not even soccer moms wanted to be seen in one.  imagine that, a soccer mom didn't want to be seen as a soccer mom.  Is that why they have "mom jeans" and "dad pants"?  The soccer moms moved into SUVs.  Minivans either went big, or went home.  The Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and Dodge Caravan are probably the only survivors, and they had to bulk up to compete with Denali, Suburban, Expedition, Explorer, and whatever else a soccer mom wanted to look sexy in while driving her kids around.  Does a Hummer make your ass look better?  

Whatever happened to station wagons?  When I was kid, Brady Bunch wagons were everywhere.  There were 9 of them, including the maid, plus they even brought the dog along.  Sure, there's a little Audi wagon, and Subaru has something that looks like a wagon.  But nothing in today's market even comes close to those old school wagons with bench seats that all the surfers had.  

 

I'll give $1 to the first forum member to paint their van like Scooby Doo.

 

[mrtn]

Most cars sold in Europe are wagons for the obvious reason. Sedan has no function for family or hobby use.

[kxrf]

On September 15, 2016 at 11:18 PM, G B L said:

That's a modern flashback! Try this one.

 

My friend, Greg, had one of these - not in this good condition, however.  The first clutch I ever put in.  The rolled-on Lucite puke-green housepaint paint-job - an improvement over when he got it! And the price was right, what with gas over $0.20 a gallon!

I started out with  a Dodge Tradesman van - in orange! 318 and 3 on-the-tree. Amazing what some 8" rims and some radials did for that beast. Eventually had a Yellow VW Microbus - Westfalia camper version.

As for wagons, I currently have two: a VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI (which I will be keeping), and a BMW 528it.  Great vehicles.  Now I add a TC to the stable.  I lament that Volvo, BMW, Audi and the now defunct Saab don't bring wagons in anymore. (sigh)

Wagons and Minivans suffered the same problem: Marketing. Sensible vehicles that did not have "sport" in the name, so they got relegated to soccer moms and (gasp) families.  The Minivan actually is one of the most practical vehicles on the market as far as interior space is concerned.  SUVs are big on the outside, surprisingly tiny capacity for their external mass, and everyone has to have one.  They're sporty.  Yup. Thanks CAFE and EPA for making such monsters.  And they all friggin' look alike. Ugh. 

[Fifty150]

 I remember growing up in one of these.

 

 

[G B L]

 

6 hours ago, Fifty150 said:

 I remember growing up in one of these.

 

 

I have had lots of those , The GM Version.  They all would take a  4x8 sheet of plywood between the wheel wells.

[mrtn]

10 hours ago, kxrf said:

Sensible vehicles that did not have "sport" in the name, so they got relegated to soccer moms and (gasp) families.

European manufacturers figured this out quickly and simultaneously started to produce sportwagons, you can have AMG Mercs, RS Audis etc. I think Alfa Romeo 156 was the original sportwagon giving the kick in the butt for everyone. Now there are sportwagons available from Cadillac, who would have thought.

Pretty nice for a 20-yo design:

I drive to Germany a couple of times a year. The leftmost lane on the Autobahn is occupied by Porsches, Lambos and wagons.

[kxrf]

4 hours ago, mrtn said:

European manufacturers figured this out quickly and simultaneously started to produce sportwagons, you can have AMG Mercs, RS Audis etc. I think Alfa Romeo 156 was the original sportwagon giving the kick in the butt for everyone. Now there are sportwagons available from Cadillac, who would have thought.

Pretty nice for a 20-yo design:

I drive to Germany a couple of times a year. The leftmost lane on the Autobahn is occupied by Porsches, Lambos and wagons.

(drool)  And stick-shifts, too.  US has almost achieved their goal on completely non-interesting, non-fun vehicles in the (ahem) affordable sector.

Funny though, can't get the Cadillac Sport Wagon in the US any more.

[mrtn]

Now that you mentioned it, just xovers, sedans and SUVs here as well.

[Fifty150]

And apparently, Ford does not see us buying the Ranger.  So that was taken off the market.  Bad move.  People bought little trucks like Tacomas instead.  Now, the ranger is coming back.

 

But given the choice, I would still drive a little "City Van" like a transit connect, as opposed to those long station wagons of The 70's.  The only reason I ended up with this wagon, was because in my local market, Nissan, Chevy, Ram, & Mercedes are all cargo vans without seats.  That will be changing.  I expect to see the other manufacturers offering city vans with seats shortly.  They must see the market potential since all these Ford wagons are being sold.  Mercedes will have to offer a version that is a lot more luxurious.  I may move into one of those if the interior is more comfortable, and I can get a Mercedes diesel under the hood.

[mrtn]

Mercedes-Benz already has a direct competitor for the TC: the Renault Kangoo based Citan

It's more like a cheaper Fiat/RAM/PSA competitor and not luxurious at all. The design is a bit cheap, including the materials.

[G B L]

If Renault has anything to do with it, I am dubious.  

[DonShockley]

5 hours ago, mrtn said:

Mercedes-Benz already has a direct competitor for the TC: the Renault Kangoo based Citan .....

On this side of the pond their TC competitor is the Mercedes Metris

[G B L]

the Mercedes Metris is sized like the Ford Transit Custom .  The Transit Custom is one size bigger that the Transit Connect.   

[mrtn]

Yes, Metris is called V-class here. Much larger than the Connect and it's available in luxury trims.

[G B L]

And that luxury Benz Price