The new FIAT/RAM van

Every now and again, I will see a European-spec, European-plated camper van tooling around these parts. I guess some really rich Europeans like to ship their RVs to the US and tool around.

As you probably have read, the FIAT commercial van (I forget what they call it) will be coming to the US soon as the RAM Promaster. We've all seen the pictures, and a whole lot of people think it looks ugly.

Well, I was sitting at an intersection today, and across the road I saw a Promaster (I thought). I said to myself, "Huh. I didn't think they started selling those yet."

As we both went across the intersection, I realized this van bore Euro plates and a FIAT badge. Then it all made sense.

I gotta say, if you think it's ugly in pictures, wait 'til you see it in person. Almost the entire front fascia is bumper. Gah, it's horrid!

EvanR wrote: Every now and again, I will see a European-spec, European-plated camper van tooling around these parts. I guess some really rich Europeans like to ship their RVs to the US and tool around.

It's actually not the "really rich" ones - if you want to travel around the country in an RV and you happen to own a camper van in Europe, you get to the break-even point compared renting an RV over here surprisingly quickly. Like, well within the 90 days that you normally get under the Visa Waiver Program as a tourist who happens to be an EU citizen.

Just sayin'. Shipping a car or van across the Atlantic - especially to a port on the East Cost - is surprisingly cheap.

good Dog... they are fugly...

BoxheadTim wrote:

EvanR wrote: Every now and again, I will see a European-spec, European-plated camper van tooling around these parts. I guess some really rich Europeans like to ship their RVs to the US and tool around.

It's actually not the "really rich" ones - if you want to travel around the country in an RV and you happen to own a camper van in Europe, you get to the break-even point compared renting an RV over here surprisingly quickly. Like, well within the 90 days that you normally get under the Visa Waiver Program as a tourist who happens to be an EU citizen. Just sayin'. Shipping a car or van across the Atlantic - especially to a port on the East Cost - is surprisingly cheap.

Well I suppose it's all relative. If you have the wealth to own a $75k+ RV, and to take a 90-day vacation, I suppose shipping a van back-and-forth across the Atlantic doesn't amount to much.

how many of those European tourists get here and then get confused when they find out that it takes more than a day to travel from New York to LA?

also, what is required to drive a vehicle that may or may not be sold new in the USA that has European plates on it? or is it no different than the Canadian and Mexican vehicles that drive into the USA on a daily basis?

In reply to novaderrik:

It's a temporary import permit that allows them to bring the vehicle in for I think up to a year.

I can't tell if I hate them because they're ugly, or love them because they're ugly.

^^^^ I think that looks pretty cool. Rv'd out would be sweet. Wouldn't want to write the check though.

perfect opportunity to bring this up.

i saw a fiat ducato here last month. normal ohio commercial vehicle plates. looked online and it was a late 90's/early 2000's model...

now i keep wondering how it got here because they didn't sell them in the US.

Strizzo wrote: In reply to novaderrik: It's a temporary import permit that allows them to bring the vehicle in for I think up to a year.

A number of years ago I stumbled across a Passat 4-Motion TDI 6spd MT with Swedish plates. The owner was amusing by me gushing over the car, not realizing it was unobtainium here. He said he was here on business for a year and decided to bring it over in lieu of renting something. Hopefully the crap fuel sold here at that time didn't hurt it.

I've been researching Sprinter based RV's lately. Figure on over 6-figures for a new one. I'm hoping for a DIY build on a used one in the 20's complete.

I think they are a tad ugly, but my question is:

Aren't those headlights way too high? Most Semi-Trucks' headlights are lower than that.

Also, the Sprinter and the Fiat are competitors across the pond, so we'll see how they will do here.

I think it's a lot better looking than the Nissan NV...

novaderrik wrote: how many of those European tourists get here and then get confused when they find out that it takes more than a day to travel from New York to LA?

Judging by questions on the German US-based expats and US vacation forum I'm on, a lot.

novaderrik wrote: also, what is required to drive a vehicle that may or may not be sold new in the USA that has European plates on it? or is it no different than the Canadian and Mexican vehicles that drive into the USA on a daily basis?

As long as it's registered in the country of origin and you have insurance that covers the US, it doesn't matter if the plates are German or Canadian.

It ain't pretty, but how many cargo/utility type vans are? The sprinter was better looking, but I don't wan't to have to keep one of those on the road. Man, the stories I've heard from owners.
The ProMaster is an interesting take on the cargo van market. Quite a number of revolutionary (for the segment) aspects to it.

DrBoost wrote: The sprinter was better looking, but I don't wan't to have to keep one of those on the road. Man, the stories I've heard from owners.

Euro-sourced diesel M-B or Euro-sourced diesel Fiat... out of the frying pan into the fire? At the least the Sprinter issues are reasonably well known by now.

For a van, it doesn't look too bad. Just paint the bumper/grille body color. check the headlight height on most pickups.

I think it's reallllly ugly. And FWD too! I'd love to have a kitted-out Sprinter. I did that cross-Alaska tour thing, and have been in them many times - but the best was the custom job that Mercedes sent to pick up two of us from the LA Auto Show. Bleached oak floors, leather recliners, flat screen TV, fridge... and Wifi!

mazdeuce wrote: I can't tell if I hate them because they're ugly, or love them because they're ugly.

Same here. Looks like it has fetal alcohol syndrome, but I kinda like it.

Lesley wrote: I think it's reallllly ugly. And FWD too!

Most new vans in Europe are FWD these days.

Lesley wrote: I think it's reallllly ugly. And FWD too! I'd love to have a kitted-out Sprinter. I did that cross-Alaska tour thing, and have been in them many times - but the best was the custom job that Mercedes sent to pick up two of us from the LA Auto Show. Bleached oak floors, leather recliners, flat screen TV, fridge... and Wifi!

I don't mind the FWD, my moms caravan went through parts of junkyards that trucks got stuck in.

As far as ugly goes, an ugly Dodge is just the universe telling me it loves me.

And I see an ad for the new NV200 Nissan has, really ugly as well. Uglier than the Dodge in fact.

Lesley wrote: I think it's reallllly ugly. And FWD too!

Yeah, the ProMaster would SUCK for the cargo van drift class I don't know, if I were loading heavy boxes of stuff in my work van I'd appreciate the long, flat, and LOW floor more than the ability to get the back end to come around while trail-braking. And for the RV crowd, the extra headroom afforded by the low load floor is a bonus too.
I'm just not understanding the hate. FWD has been around a long time, reliability isn't the issue, torque capacity isn't the issue. Handling is to a certain extent depending on what you want out of a car. I don't know that many ProMasters will end up competing at the local autocross.
I see a full-size cargo van that has a low load floor, good packaging, and a choice between a diesel and the Pentastar V6 that's wrapped up in an unconventional package.

I didn't realize it was FWD. That in and of itself doesn't bother me. What would concern me is what the towing capacity may be. I wish the SRW Sprinter had more than a 5000 lb towing capcity, but I think I could get by with that towing a small enclosed trailer just large enough for a small LBC or sports racer.

It makes this look pretty.

considering the use most cargo vans get.. I think those big bumpers are a good thing. Having beein in and out of NYC, Philly, and DC in a Ford van, I cannot remember how many times I got bumped in traffic or by people trying to park. Big bumpers is better than bent sheetmetal

Should have given it round headlights.