Some questions from a newbie. Would love some input please!

[SKVN]

I am looking at purchasing a Delica. They seem like the perfect vehicle for what we are looking for. I have searched the FAQ's. Even if you don't have all the answers but maybe 1 or 2 I would love your input.

1. What models are available in BC? L300 or charmonix? Are they they same thing or no?

2. 1991, 1992 or 1993? What is a good year, or is there a "good" year?

3. What is the height difference between the low roof and the high roof? Overall height? (worried about parkade clearance)

4. I take it the crystal light roofs are hard to find?

5. Standard or manual? Is it harder to find a manual or easier?

6. Any major issues I should keep my eye out for when test-driving?

7. For those with kids (or that know) is there any problems with car seats fitting?

8. Why do so many Delica drivers wear Crocs? Is there something I am missing or do they come with the vehicles?

9. Feel free to add anything that you think may help me in my search!

Thank you.

[mararmeisto]

1. What models are available in BC? L300 or charmonix? Are they they same thing or no?

All of them are available in BC, you just have to watch what is coming over on the ships: B200 (the truck, either cab or crew cab), L300, Chamonix, Jasper, Exceed, Super Exceed. If you see something, some of the importers will even watch for it in Japan and snap it up for you at the auctions.

4. I take it the crystal light roofs are hard to find?

No, not really, they come on nearly all the models except the low roof L300. There are two things to watch for with the Crystal Lite roof: weepage around the window seals; and functional blinds (some, most, none-at-all, or all of them).

5. Standard or manual? Is it harder to find a manual or easier?

Manual is harder (just weren't/aren't as many of them), but more importantly, the manual is geared lower and doesn't go as fast. That being said, neither goes that fast (compared to NA expectations), but it depends on what you want it for: off-road beatings, get the manual; driving the kids around town, get the automatic.

7. For those with kids (or that know) is there any problems with car seats fitting?

Don't know which year is the year the changeover took place, but before '92 or '93 there are no shoulder belts and the lap belts don't ratchet-lock. Without the ratchet-lock, securing a child seat is a bit more difficult, but I do know someone figured out a work-around. Or you can buy replacement lap belts (which all come with the ratcheting mechanism - about 70$ each).

8. Why do so many Delica drivers wear Crocs? Is there something I am missing or do they come with the vehicles?

I never got any Crocs... are others getting Crocs? How come I didn't get any? Can I get a pair? What about my wife - can she get a pair too? Why wasn't I told about this?

In closing, the best way to make a choice is to be thorough in your research. My wife and I took nearly three months to decide on these vans, weighing our options, checking out the various models. And don't just research the vans - check out the importers and dealers. Find out who is bringing what, how much maintenance they do while complying the vehicle, how much maintenance they do afterwards (repeat customers), etc. Price isn't the only issue: be choosy.

Check out the wikipages for further reading, browse through the FAQs and keep watching this forum. You'll get lots of info/help here. Also, check out our sister-forums in UK and AU (links on the front page) to get a different perspective of these vehicles (also a longer-lived perspective because they've had them much longer overseas).

[glenn]

Two things to note about kids:

make sure you get a post-91 model - comes with shoulder belts on 6 of the 7 seats, and added side impact beams in the doors. Also comes with the third brakelight. You cannot retrofit the shoulder belt easily or cheaply, there are enough post 91s around that this should not be a problem - just wait. We had no problems with child seats, although you would need to add a tether anchor if required.

Make sure you get the crystal light roofs - see photo below.

[SKVN]

Thank you very much for the input! It is GREATLY appreciated! We have pretty much set our sights on the crystal light windows, even if it doesn't fit in our parkade. Your responses are definitely food for thought.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I have a Chamonix that was constructed in November of 1992 and is a "P25", or low roof, also known as the "Aero-Roof" ( using brick aerodynamics). The P25 fits into every underground that I have tried and under many branches, too. The P35 (high roof) is five inches higher and less likely to fit under things but you do get more head space in the cabin, although the cockpit headroom remains the same. If you are looking at the "Crystal Light Roofs" ~ be sure the seals are doing their job, otherwise you have a potential rust issue.

The Chamonix is the Winter package (driving to the ski resort, named after Chamonix, France) ~ one way to easily ascertain this is by looking for a two toned rectangular orange sticker in the rear window (usually in the bottom left corner) that has white Japanese writing on it and stuck to the outside of the glass. The differences are as follows: It has two batteries instead of one, this is for cold cranking in the winter as one might find in Hokido where it gets to 15 below in the Winter; The carpet is more resilient but less plush and usually comes with design pattern intended to hide the dirt and snow from boots while it is dirty; the upholstery has also a more resilient weave, more for practicalities than for comfort; the exterior paint job tends to have more clear coats, again to deal with weather extremes. Of the Chamonixs that I have seen they tend not to have the hot\cold box which suites me fine but usually come with the double chromed rear bumper, as well as the rest of the guard bars are usually chromed. My Chamonix has also bench style cabin seating (with shoulder straps) as opposed to the "captain chairs" as are more common in the Exceed models.

From what I have seen the Exceed has the single battery; plush velour seats; shag carpet; captains chairs; single rear (but bigger) bumper bar and often the bambie bars are painted.

The Super Exceed is a more trumped up version of the Exceed (hence "Super") and I think it is the one that comes with the hot\cold box .

The Jasper came out in '93 and appears to be a kind of hybrid of the Chamonix ~ tougher but with nicer seats and it also has this vinyl thingy on the top of the bambie bars that says "Jasper". Oh, and the decals are different, but then the decals are often different on all of them and in Engrish.

If you bring them in by yourself it will be cheaper ~ but you really ought to make sure you have a reliable connexion in Japan. Where if you buy it here you pay more but can see what it is you are spending your money on and not having to deal with the import issues and BC vehicle standards, &c.

Falco.

[Green1]

From what I have seen the Exceed has the single battery

Any of them can have the "cold weather package" added, it is standard on the Chamonix (and I believe Jasper) and is very frequently found on the Super-Exceed.

The cool box is another option available on any model, most super exceeds seem to have them, many of the lower models don't, but it was available to all models as near as I can tell.

[The Pinkfingers]

From what I have seen the Exceed has the single battery

Any of them can have the "cold weather package" added, it is standard on the Chamonix (and I believe Jasper) and is very frequently found on the Super-Exceed.

The cool box is another option available on any model, most super exceeds seem to have them, many of the lower models don't, but it was available to all models as near as I can tell.

Our Exceed has the winter package.