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Show C-18 Automotive. THE PARK RECORD SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2001 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan by Bruce Hubbard The Advisor Group The Volkswagen Eurovan's are not the Miraobuses of the fifties or sixties. Few remember that the first mini-van in the USA was introduced by VW in the Lite S(Ts. They were the rage until others saw a need to change and improve the VW Microbus. Chrysler took over rwdubonized the way Americans transported their families. VW revived the enthusiasm for the Beetle and surely they hope their new concept Microbus introduced at Detroit's North American International Auto Show will follow suit. "We will be seeing a new Microbus sometime in the future if the public wants it, "VW representative Tony Fouladpour indicated. indi-cated. VW wants consumers to look at their web site (www.vw.com) and review the various a incepts of the Microbus. VW had their Sirni Valley, California design team work up the different concepts that ran be seen on their web site. Volkswagen and Audi has been a powerhouse in the North American Auto Market in the last five years. They will evaluate the customer's wishes in North America and come out with another winner. The enthusiasm is impressive and we bet that within three to five years a Microbus will emerge on the North American shores. Today's' Volkswagen Microbuses are the 2001 EuroVans'. The EuroVan is not a hippie hauler or transporter of the movement to Fiaight-Ashbury. The buses changed a little in the 70s and thai as a more squared-off model in 1980 still with air-cooled and later water-cooled engines known as Vanagons. Then the first EuroVan arrived in 1993 as the first VW van with a water-cooled front engine front wheel drive van But as we well remember the EuroVan of 1993 was very under powered. But, the unit was withdrawn from the American market a few years later. In 1999, it came back with the same look but now with ed out of the wall between those second-and-thirdrow seats. A triple rear bench seat with bed con- bilityisdlso which best suits the optional 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan (left) and the Volkswagen concept microbus (right). photo by Bruce Huboard power from the smooth running VR6 engine and ihe emphasis from VW was on camping or recreational activities. activi-ties. In Europe and other parts of the Warld VW Eurovans still are the vehicles vehi-cles of choice. (Mercedes makes an Eurovan that look similar in Europe). With the new model year we find many great reasons to buy the EuroVan. The best news for 2001 is that VW has reduced the price of the EuroVans' 16 (MSRP $26,200). Other news for this year Ls the increased power, better wheels and tires, and sure footedness of the front wheel drive GLSandMVgetESP as standard with traction control It is our vehicle of choice in the mini-van category. Simply because of how much cargo we can toad into the EuroVan. We can carry more building supplies than any mini vaa We can toad an entire film crew and their equipment inside the EuroVan GLS or MV We are amazed at how easy it is to change the interior to handle our There is one large sliding door on the right side for access to the rear seat-ing seat-ing area. The rear hatch flips up for easy loading of the cargo area. The EuroVan's size Ls 1885 inches long. Chrysler and Dodge extended Vans are approximately 12 inches longer. And at 724 inches, the EuroVan GLS and MV, and Camper are 44 inches inch-es narrower than the 78.6 inch Town and Country. But with its 76.4 -inch height makes it nearly a foot higher than the Dodge or Chrysler. This makes a big difference in cargo carrying carry-ing ability. It also makes it unique and as stated before like a big greenhouse. The EuroVan GLS and Multi Van have interior volume of nearly 198 cubic feet, compared with the Town and Country's 167 cubic feet (The Winnebago Camper version has even more cargo capacity) The suspension tuning is definitely all German. It delivers great handling even though being nearly 21 tons. The ride has improved in 2001 with the new wheels and rubber. The previous complaint that the noise of the road transmitted through is not nearly as noticeable on the new 2001 models. The dnve is better thanks to chassis improvements first made in 1999 to torsional tor-sional rigidity with a strengthened body, reinforced floor panels, as well as stronger B and C pillars. The 2001 VW GLS, MV and Camper are more capable on the road in part because of larger wheel and tires than the 2000 model. The wheel size is increased to 16" and the tires are P20560R16T, all season. Add the ASR (Mti-SlipRegulation) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and the GLS and MV can travel the snow, sand, gravel back roads effortlessly without the driver knowing that the computers are distributing power correctly cor-rectly every rnillisecotid the front wheel drive vehicle. The VW EuroVan GLS or MV can climb the peaks in the Park City, Salt Lake Gty area with ease. Ihe EuroVan can in fact trailer a 4,400 pound (braked) trailer or carry nearty 1,000 pounds of cargo. The EuroVan's have a new four-valve-per-cylinder version of the renowned VR6 that delivers 201 horsepower horse-power at 6203 rpm versus 140hp in the previous model year. Just as importantly, important-ly, this 28 liter multi-valve engine creates cre-ates a peak torque (pulling power) of 181 tbs.ft at 2500 rpm The most powerful pow-erful Chrysler Town and Country have not much more power or torque for their 2001 modeL Our EuroVan of choice would be the MultiVan (MV) that combines day-today functionality with the adventurous overnight capabilities of the EuroVan Lamper ineMVonty optional pop-up roof with two-person bed; window win-dow screens for two side sliding windows; win-dows; fixed left-hand rear facing seat (with refrigerator beneath lift-up seat bottom); second battery; and alternator. The MV also seats seven passengers, but contains two separate rear-racing seats, positioned back-to-back with front passenger seats. Also, a table fold- Package (only available on theMV).We wereableto use the multi-fuctionalMV multi-fuctionalMV as a mini office by day and wonderful motel room at night All EuroVans have keyless entry, tinted glass and a brake wear indicator. Additional standard feature include power windows, with one-touch-updown and pinch protection features, fea-tures, cup holders and a pollen and dust filter for the ventilation system. An optional automatic "Climarronic'' dimate control system is available for the EuroVan GLS, and EuroVan without the Weekender Package. The system automatically keeps the EuroVan at a cornfbrtable temperature for its passengers at all times according to their separate tastes in the front and rear. EuroVan interior options include a sliding sunroof($1000) with sliding sun and windscreen capabilities (not available avail-able with Weekender Package). EuroVan GLS also comes with optional leather trim, induding front heated seats. 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