I've had my S2 E51 for 9 years now, thinking about replacement but it's a difficult act to follow!
We have a rear conversion, sleeping two with insulation pads behind the curtains, often with a load of sports kit including bike. Often now it's just me to accomodate, plus a mountainbike or two. With one mid-seat removed that works just about ok but the rear kitchen limits things a bit. Also removing the seat leaves the runners in place which are a bit of a pain, flat floor would be better. Replacement van would hopefully have a bench seat / bed / storage down one side and a couple of bike mounts the other side.
Oh, and we've had an LPG conversion for 9 years now, from Simon (lpgc). At best it'll do 25mpg on gas on a motorway trip with the cruise set at the max, 110kmh, plus a bit of A-road - pretty good really. Supplies are patchy now though, for longer trips (UK).
So far so good, why change? Well, we live on some tiny lanes with a load of hills, and lots of my mtb trips involve that too. Something a bit smaller, lighter and more agile would be great - possibly a Serena or Stepwgn (+LPG?) or other import. Have also considered NV200 and Connect/Tourneo/Proace but don't like diesel much, and would miss the JDM luxury. Even a Bongo or Delica, if there are any decent ones left.
As well as the weight and soft springs of the E51, the auto box and engine characteristics seem a bit out of place on tiny hilly roads. The sport-auto in my 2016 Vitara with switchable 4wd is much livelier on the lanes, as is the 1.4 boosterjet engine although it's only pushing 1200kg or thereabouts. Is there a JDM van with a more up-to-date transmission I wonder, auto rather than manual (definitely not cvt)?
So, the luxury of an E51 but a touch smaller, more agile and more economical in the hills, does it exist? Suggestions welcome..!
We have a rear conversion, sleeping two with insulation pads behind the curtains, often with a load of sports kit including bike. Often now it's just me to accomodate, plus a mountainbike or two. With one mid-seat removed that works just about ok but the rear kitchen limits things a bit. Also removing the seat leaves the runners in place which are a bit of a pain, flat floor would be better. Replacement van would hopefully have a bench seat / bed / storage down one side and a couple of bike mounts the other side.
Oh, and we've had an LPG conversion for 9 years now, from Simon (lpgc). At best it'll do 25mpg on gas on a motorway trip with the cruise set at the max, 110kmh, plus a bit of A-road - pretty good really. Supplies are patchy now though, for longer trips (UK).
So far so good, why change? Well, we live on some tiny lanes with a load of hills, and lots of my mtb trips involve that too. Something a bit smaller, lighter and more agile would be great - possibly a Serena or Stepwgn (+LPG?) or other import. Have also considered NV200 and Connect/Tourneo/Proace but don't like diesel much, and would miss the JDM luxury. Even a Bongo or Delica, if there are any decent ones left.
As well as the weight and soft springs of the E51, the auto box and engine characteristics seem a bit out of place on tiny hilly roads. The sport-auto in my 2016 Vitara with switchable 4wd is much livelier on the lanes, as is the 1.4 boosterjet engine although it's only pushing 1200kg or thereabouts. Is there a JDM van with a more up-to-date transmission I wonder, auto rather than manual (definitely not cvt)?
So, the luxury of an E51 but a touch smaller, more agile and more economical in the hills, does it exist? Suggestions welcome..!