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msinabottle
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Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 2962
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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 Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: Is the Vanagon's Successor Finally Here? |
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I saw one of these behind the local Dodge Dealership when I took the Dart down for a cheap oil change--and to give the Mechanics a thrill, Big Dodge was quite the celebrity to those who remembered the old '70 Dart Swinger:
The article on them is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ducato
The dimensions were similar. I mentally did a Westy conversion on the thing as I paced around it. It's smaller than a Sprinter, but bigger than those micro-Fords and most mini-vans. I don't know what the power, cost and mileage are, but Chrysler WILL be selling them.
I don't know if Fiat HAS done anything to fix their old reliability issues. But I admit to wondering...
Best!
(Changed the subject since they booted this to the 'Off Topic' forum. I thought it was apropos, but, hey, no worries)
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'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."
Last edited by msinabottle on Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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climberjohn
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Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 1646
Location: Portland Orygun
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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I think that looks pretty cool.
Just looking at it, it appears to be about the size of a small Sprinter.
Personally, I would take a Mercedes turbodiesel any day over a Fiat . . .
-CJ
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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highsierra
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Joined: March 25, 2011
Posts: 191
Location: Downieville, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| climberjohn wrote: | | I think that looks pretty cool. |
It looks hideous but some how also looks very cool! 
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'84 Westy 1.9 WBX 091 manual
"Its not broken. Its being maintained." |
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whafalia
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Joined: January 28, 2009
Posts: 438
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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| With a slide-out and a fiat 500 in tow it would be a nice euro answer to the horrid mega-motorhomes. I'm having a hard time seeing a poptop on it though. 3,2,1,...lock |
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dubbified
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Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 1078
Location: Redmond, WA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd like to see vehicles which expand length, and width to open up some interior area.. |
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Martin C
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Joined: February 23, 2012
Posts: 1
Location: Stockholm
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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All major European RV manufacturers has this van converted already.
Adria Twin, Knaus Box star, Hymer Car, to name a few. |
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Vsyevolod
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Joined: August 07, 2009
Posts: 187
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Uggin' fuggly...
Stephen
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campism
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Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I've seen a camperized foreign-tagged older model of this on the Outer Banks. My wife told me to quit following it and head back to the grocery that had been our original destination. |
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randywebb
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Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3202
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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what is the gnd. clearance?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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82WestyMan
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Joined: December 28, 2006
Posts: 1060
Location: South Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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what i thought was interesting was all the diesel engines...
makes me wonder what the MPGs on those vans is
i mean i love my 40 yr old Westy but there is much to be said about modern technolgy and features
.... just saying
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82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine |
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Dennis Perusse
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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Hello,
I've always wondered if the word Fiat stood for Fix It Again Tony.
Dennis |
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sparkleplenty
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Nah...Give me a Pontiac Aztek instead... 
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56' Karmann Ghia Coupe-Stock
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crofty
Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000
Posts: 16950
Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'd rather see a pic of your Dodge.
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| HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
Always selling on Ebay check my stuff out!
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dovebluewesty/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1 |
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Tram 
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Posts: 16848
Location: The human race, AKA 'God's Edsel'
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Dennis Perusse wrote: | Hello,
I've always wondered if the word Fiat stood for Fix It Again Tony.
Dennis |
No, it stands for Fix It All the Time.
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doc1369
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Posts: 3054
Location: Las Vegas, NV, again
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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Why are modern cars so %$#@ing %^& damn ugly? Would it kill them to NOT have half the vehicle raw efing plastic? $%^& the polar bears and *&^% safety! I'd gladly sacrifice them for a little style, wait I already do  .
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msinabottle
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Joined: September 20, 2005
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Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:23 pm Post subject: Portrait of a Dodge Dart Swinger |
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| Quote: | | I'd rather see a pic of your Dodge. |
Since we're here, anyway...
She's as sweet as she looks.
Best!
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'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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Eaallred
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Did I google that right? 39.2MPG?
I think when I need a new van for my HVAC business, these will definitly be looked at.....
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zozo
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:31 am Post subject: |
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| Eaallred wrote: | Did I google that right? 39.2MPG?
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With aerodynamics like that, how could it not?
Maybe the started at the top of a mountain and measured the mileage on the way down.
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sparkleplenty
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:50 am Post subject: |
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Is that a Hirschmann red tip antennae?
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56' European Oval Ragtop-Stock
56' Karmann Ghia Coupe-Stock
59' Italian Series I Li150 Lambretta-Stock
57' OG Paint Coral Red Oval-Stock
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notchback
Insensitive Jerk
Joined: December 16, 2003
Posts: 6788
Location: 208
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:00 am Post subject: |
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| Eaallred wrote: | Did I google that right? 39.2MPG?
I think when I need a new van for my HVAC business, these will definitly be looked at..... |
Google told me the same thing. That's unbelievable. Looks like I know what type of van I'll be looking for in a couple years. A 1.5 mpg hit for the high roof, but it's still incredible considering what other vehicles in the class get. I just hope Fiat/Chrysler won't dumb it down by shoving a 'hemi' in it.
http://www.car-emissions.com/cars/model/FIAT/Ducato
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