Hello from Minnesota USA

llarosa16 · Nov 8, 2012

My name is Lisa and I really want a VW Cali. But they are not available here. I am betting there may be some info on this dilemma which is why I am here! There must be some complicated reason why I own 3 other VWs but cannot get a bus? So I am about to begin my journey to find out why, because I need one badly!

James · Nov 9, 2012

llarosa16 said:
My name is Lisa and I really want a VW Cali. But they are not available here. I am betting there may be some info on this dilemma which is why I am here! There must be some complicated reason why I own 3 other VWs but cannot get a bus? So I am about to begin my journey to find out why, because I need one badly!

Hi Lisa

Welcome, I own a 1991 VW Vanagon (I love American VW Vans), imported from the USA as well as my Beach. The simple reason is, because of tax reasons VW stop importing Vans to the US. The last van imported was the Eurovan (T4).

Quick look at one for anyone who is interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carfax-1 ... 2497wt_884

How did you stumble across the Cali - and perhaps an obvious question but what is it you like?

James

beardie · Nov 9, 2012

That US VW dealer really makes an effort with the photo's in the listing.

UK dealer listings are normally just three photos always from exactly the same angle.

Perhaps they have to make the effort in a much more competitive market

TwentyOneThirtyFive · Nov 9, 2012

The Westfalia T4/Eurovan based California was available in the US so maybe that is an option? They're a good bus (although I am biased!)

dan

James · Nov 9, 2012

TwentyOneThirtyFive said:
The Westfalia T4/Eurovan based California was available in the US so maybe that is an option? They're a good bus (although I am biased!)

dan

Lol a good van a lot of eurovans came with auto V6 and cruise. Even my humble Vanagon has cruise

James

James · Nov 9, 2012

beardie said:
That US VW dealer really makes an effort with the photo's in the listing.

UK dealer listings are normally just three photos always from exactly the same angle.

Perhaps they have to make the effort in a much more competitive market

They make an effort on US eBay - more customer focused - less mucking about - its just a higher level of customer service.

TwentyOneThirtyFive · Nov 9, 2012

Custard said:
Lol a good van a lot of eurovans came with auto V6 and cruise.

Ahh, cruise control, pure luxury. We just put a brick on the accelerator*

dan
* this is not actually true!

James · Nov 11, 2012

TwentyOneThirtyFive said:
Custard said:

Lol a good van a lot of eurovans came with auto V6 and cruise.

Click to expand...

Ahh, cruise control, pure luxury. We just put a brick on the accelerator*

dan
* this is not actually true!

AndyFromTheBrac · Nov 11, 2012

The reason VW busses are so scarce is a taxation thing

Years ago the US retaliated to a "Chicken tax" imposed by the French & Germans

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax#mw-mf-search

In particular it was imposed on certain light trucks, of which the VW was so popular. Whilst the splitty & later bay were pretty cheap, it wasn't such an issue, but as the Multivan/Cali's are more expensive, the extra tax makes them almost impossible to sell

I think even Ford has a problem with this, as it builds some minivans in Turkey & they have to be shipped as panels with the windows then fitted in the US!

reserves · Apr 4, 2014

Does anyone know if a personal export of a California to the USA would incur the 25% tax?

Seems to be a rule made for trucks?

johnyboy · Apr 4, 2014

Th irony is not lost on me when I explain to US colleagues that "the VW California is not available... in California.. or the rest of the States for that matter"