What type of work vehicle, do you drive during your normal day?.
Would it be a van, ute, vanette, Truck?.
Your input please-

Legendary work vehicle for electricians, plumbers,... used to be Toyota LiteAce. Many of them still around, but start being replaced with VW, Fiat and other types. There's one electrician around who drives a brand-new Chevy pickup, and everyone thinks he's nuts (imported American cars are rather expensive here and their reputation is not the best, many people say they consume too much gas, are too big, look awful, V8 engines sound awful,... just some of the prejudice against US cars). Only proven fact is taht they cost more than a usual craftsman can pay for a work vehicle.

Just recently, I've been using a Bedford van, or even taking my Volvo station wagon to smaller jobs where I don't need big ladders etc.

Ranger,
For about 10 years I drove American cars in England, including a '72 Pontiac, '78 Olds, '79 Chrysler, and a '77 Ford LTD wagon. I found that some people have very strange ideas about the cost and availability of parts, fuel consumption, ease of driving larger cars, etc.

Plus all the ones who thought that anyone who'd have a left-hand drive vehicle in the U.K. must be mad!



[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-17-2002).]

Tex:

European cars used to be cute. American cars seem like these grimacing, fearsome beasts with fangs. Look at a Zastava/Yugo or a DAF sitting next to a Chevrolet one of these days...and you'll see the difference.

However the new breed of European cars seem to be just as ugly as the American counterparts.

Look at the new Volkswagen or the new Mini-Cooper. UGH!!

I wish we had more choice when it comes to vehicles in the USA. I'd like to be able to see Ladas, Fiats, Skodas, Yugo/Zastavas and Renaults rolling down the street.

Anyone have an opinion on the Proton from Malaysia? It seems to be affordable (and some people say it's good)....

My favourite's still the Trabant 601 (600 wait, one gets it).
Cute plastic body and fantastic 2-stroke sound. Only alternative is Citroen 2CV. The 2 cylinder engine doesn't sound bad either. And the body... it was the last car for centuries to have the headlights seperately on a piece of pipe and not incorporated in the hood. And don't forget the fantastic suspension! The French used to know how to build that.

I drive a Hyundai H100 van, for most of my work, this vehicle is a bit of a nuisance to a person of my hieght, as you really have to stand on tip-toes to get the ladders off the racks on the roof, I stand 1.76m tall, and it's still a stretch.
It's a Diesel, it's as noisy as hell, but man, has it got good pick-up and it cruises well.
But at least I can get all of my tools and rubbish inside it, so nothing else really matters!.
Just as a sideline, when I was doing my time as a Line Mechanic, the Power Board had me sit all sorts of licences, to drive various
Equipment, that they owned, including an Elevated Bucket Truck, Pole Driving Truck,
and a Mobile Substation Truck, this thing has to be seen, to be believed.
However, I've only ever used the EBT licence, since leaving the Power board.

The new Beetle is Mexican, not European.

If you want to see cute cars, look at the old Fiat models, e.g. 500 or 126. The production of the latter siezed only recently. (Below!)




You are kidding, right? I don't think Ladas are exported anymore...


That's what the electricans, plumbers and the like drive here... (Mostly with the top rather than the open tray, though)




The Balkan wars have taken their toll on these cars I think. Were Yugos ever exported to western Europe, btw? They were sold in the US and one of the late models was named "Florida"... (The original Yugo was a Fiat 128 made in Serbia, just like the Vaz/Lada was a Fiat 124 made in Russia)


If there's a Proton, why isn't there an Electron? It would be the obvious choice for any self-respecting electrician

They've certainly been sold in the U.K. I can't remember the model names, but they are really tiny cars (look like they escaped from a fairground ride!).


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-20-2002).]

C-H,
A mate of mine(who works for a competitor company), was given a Proton, to drive during work, he said it was real good, best
vehicle he had ever driven,and really economical to run too.
We all know how you can clock up a few K's in a van, over a year, he's already done 10,
000km and he's only had it 3months.