Hazard switch failed to stay depressed and water pump fragmented. Selling used car dealer (not a VW dealer)replaced hazard switch free of charge and water pump was replaced by VW under factory warranty.
The Eurovan (known as the Caravelle/Multivan outside North America) is underappreciated in North America and was never quite equipped properly or promoted properly by VWoA until only recently... and it was too little too late.
It's cavernous inside, but is as easy to park and is as maneuverable (small turn circle) as many midsize sedans.
Interior is good quality and the van overall feels well made except for a few interior rattles, particularly the sliding door inside panel.
Acceleration is very good off the line and at lower RPMS, but 12V engine gets a little breathless at highway speeds.
Braking is excellent and as good or better as many sports sedans, but brake pads and rotors are seriously expensive from the dealer and aftermarket alternatives aren't plentiful. Most parts are fairly pricey and could become quite hard to find in the case of the rare Eurovan.
Steering feel is good, but ratio is rather slow. Handling has good feel except for quite a bit of body lean (lower suspension and added/larger anti-roll bars of 2001 and later models is probably better). It's not a sports car and it never lets you forget it's a heavy vehicle, but at least it doesn't feel anywhere near like piloting a cruise ship in the storm of the century either.
Interior layout and features are elegantly simple and always impresses friends.
Relatively small tires and high load rating requirement means limited choice in tires and aftermarket wheel sizes.
Wish that US models had the more versatile interior of European Multivan models where the center rear-facing seats slide and swivel instead of staying fixed. I find I can't get quite enough seatback recline angle in the driver's seat with the center seat in place, and yet I'm only 5'8" tall. Cockpit legroom also is snug. Cockpit seating is good, but almost too high (or the seat bottom needs to be tilted backwards slightly)...I feel like I'm sitting on the seats rather than in the seats and have little lateral support, which would be nice to have more of because of the body lean.
I would have liked to have a manual transmission option and a TDI diesel option (Euro models have more engine/trans options than our single VR6 auto choice) for better fuel economy (the VR6 in this heavy vehicle is thirsty...16 to 17 mpg in mixed driving, 20 or 21 if I'm lucky on a highway trip with A/C off).
Automatic transmission sometimes shifts roughly from 1 to 2 and whines a bit in 1. Haven't had to repair the transmission, but hear it's incredibly expensive.
It's not the most modern of minivans today, but for a decade-old design that was boxy to begin with, it aged well and its performance matured very well. Why people buy a 1985-designed Astro or Safari over a Eurovan I'll never know.
Because the Astro and Safari vans have been around since 1985. This gave GM 18 years to perfect the design and work all the bugs out. Simply put, it's the most reliable time-tested model on the market today.
Well actually the Eurovan/Vanagon/Type II, have been around quite a bit longer than 1985. They are a superior vehicle. There is no way you can purchase that kind of legacy in a Chevy Astro.
VW was the true designer of the "minivan" concept, despite Chrysler's claims. VW has been manufacturing buses/vans since 1951, selling millions all over the world. Comparing an Astro to a VW is a bad joke...
I drove an "Astro" for this awful job I had once. I know the "Astro". Thank God my Eurovan doesn't drive like an Astro. Whoever wrote about GM "perfecting" the minivan needs to get out of their flag-draped house in the midwest and live a little in the 21st century.
Good afternoon.
About VW Eurovan.
I use to drive a GMC Safari 1995 (3 year old truck), and after a fire started in the dashboard and paying $1600.00 at a car dealer, I just sold it a week later, promising myself to never get another of those crap vehicles.
I went to work in Europe for several years and drove Passat, Bora, Audi, and T4 (eurovan). That Eurovan was the best car or truck I ever drove. In Canada by the past, I tried Rabbit, Golf, Jetta, Passat, and I'm still creasy about VW. I was crazy of VW before leaving to Europe, and remain crazy before coming back to Canada in 2006. So I dismantled my TDI T4 Multivan 2004 (dash board, TDI 2.5 ACV engine, Manual Gearbox, ECU and wirring, hood for intercooler, and lots of gadgets you can't find in North America plus several new spare parts. So I put all those into a container sent by ship everything. Once my wife and I arrive in Canada, I bought a 2001 Eurovan Multivan and I'm now ready to transplant all stuff into my Canadian Eurovan in order to give her a new life with a TDI - Manual Gear, and life custom lifting.
Lifting = regular look, no sport and crazy stuff.
The best of it is that the ACV TDI 2.5 Engine does 30+ miles/gallons and the VR6 engine did 12 to 18 at the best, and I guess I'm generous about that VR6.
Peoples will probably tell themselves during reading my message that I'm blocked with VW because I never tried anything else. but be sure this is not true, The truth is I've driven in the past Chrysler Voyager, GMC Safari, Ford Explorer, Ford Econoline 350 power Stroke and some other smaller cars as Sunfire, Suzuki Swift, Chevette. Those never gave me the driving feeling of a Volkswagen, whatever the models they have always been a new and very good experience.
Even during the worst period with the Diesel Rabbit first Generation 1978m which never wanted to start during hard winter. The important part is: at least, VW learned from their mistakes and could came up with TDI direct injection, improved the body from rust, not like Ford and their Econoline models, which rust within 3 years from 1969 up to 2007 under the driver carpet. I don't know now in 2009 how they are, it's almost impossible that Ford during so many years couldn't resolve at least that problem of rust. Anyway, my opinion is that whatever mistakes VW made by the past, they learned from those in order to build always better products.
For any comments about what I wrote above, do not hesitate to contact me at the following email revomaster@oricom.ca, with VW TDI subject. I'll be very happy to here from you whether you like VW or not. We are leaving in free world of expression.
Have a great day everyone.
Cheers.
REV.
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