![]() 03/14/2014 at 16:48 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Disclaimers:
-Every picture in this post is taken with an iPhone. GF Williams I am not.
-The company I work for owns a few of these vehicles for accessible transportation purposes. I do not drive them myself. I have however, driven them, because what kind of a person would I be if I had the keys to these things and did not hoo...I mean, drive. Slowly.
-We were an early adopter of the MV-1. I am sure (probably) that build quality and possibly some tech has improved since these earlier models.
-When I leave something out of this post, which I assuredly will, just ask and I’ll answer.
-I’m going to use Jalopnik’s categories in the review, but there will be no number scores. Because what in the hell am I comparing it to?
EXTERIOR
First, let’s go over the dimensions. Make no mistake, this thing is huge, and it drives huge. Driving one is intimidating at first, although short overhangs on both the front and rear make it less of a handful than you might imagine. Now, I don’t have too much experience driving them myself, other than taking one to the occasional car wash (REMOVE THE ANTENNA!), or taking one out for *ahem * testing purposes. I don’t drive large vehicles as my occupation, so keep that in mind.
When I say this thing is big as hell, I mean compared to cars, not E-series commercial vans. In any case, it is not small. Rear visibility is good enough for something of it’s size, and, yeah. Here is an extremely useful picture of my thumb on a taillight, to give you an idea of scale:
INTERIOR
Plastic.
The interior of this car is made from plastic. All of it. No, really, you would be hard pressed to find something in the cabin not made of plastic (okay, windshield)(okay, 12v outlet contacts). Otherwise, everything is made from the sorts of ubiquitous plastics that generally fill commercial vehicles. The flooring is made of pretty much the same textured plastic that lines the floor of P71 Police Interceptors:
That’s a good thing, because those P71’s are designed to have durable interiors, which means the MV-1 should be durable too.
Now, I said this thing was big outside, and it’s big inside too. Like, cavernous. There are hardpoints on the floor for wheelchairs, both where the front seat would be and in the main middle area. Build quality of the interior is so-so, with some squeaky panels and such. They haven’t been making these for very long, so that’s understandable. The driver’s seat is a bus-driver style up-and-down adjustable. The pedals are also adjustable.
The back seats are, you guessed it, plastic, of the tough industrial type that doesn’t even try to be faux-leather. This thing is roomy . I can’t stress that enough:
There is also a pretty cool jump seat attached to the back of the driver’s seat, you can see it unopened in the first interior shot.
ACCELERATION
It accelerates. Slowly.
But seriously, it’s a heavy car. That 4.6L wasn’t very athletic to begin with, and it hasn’t gotten any younger. That being said, it’s reliable and cheap to fix, the two most important aspects of a motor for a commercial vehicle. The motor is absolutely buried in the engine compartment. Like, when you open the hood, you have a solid 1.5 feet of downward vertical empty area until you hit engine:
There isn’t much else to say about that. Did you think it was going to be fast?
BRAKING
It has brakes. When you push them, the MV-1 stops.
RIDE
Unrefined and commercial, but not punishing. The suspension is beefy:
I should also make note that it is surprisingly quiet inside for a car which I am sure has very minimal amounts of noise insulation.
HANDLING
Well, it’s huge, heavy, has a high center of gravity, and is basically a commercial vehicle. Anything that sentence didn’t tell you, this picture will:
Yeah. No McLaren P1, this.
GEARBOX
It has one. Column shifter.
TOYS
Navigation. Bang and Olufsen stereo. Seat massagers. Heads Up Display.
These are all things the MV-1 does not have. The only thing I could possibly even call a toy* is the trick two-stage wheelchair ramp, which I will touch on later. (* not a toy)
Before someone says HEY THAT VOLUME KNOB LOOKS METAL, no, it’s plastic. Also, there is a button that says TCS off. I have no idea what this button does. I swear.
AUDIO
There is a stereo with, I think, 4 speakers. Two in the way front, two in the way back. Which means that if you are in the front, the front two speakers will be all you hear. If you are in the back, the back two speakers will be all you hear. If you are in the middle, you won’t hear much.
The engine sounds like a Crown Vic or P71, but with slightly less noise insulation. That’s not to say it sounds good. It doesn’t. But, it isn’t loud enough to bother you. Quieter than I thought it would be.
ACCESSIBILITY
Ready for this? Fantastic. I mean, the trick wheelchair ramp, along with the mounting hardpoints inside, and the basketball court-sized interior make this thing better than pretty much anything else as far as accessible transportation goes. The ramp has two modes: short and long. These modes are exactly what they sound like. I had a video of ramp operation, but couldn’t figure out how to post it. In any case, the ramp opens/closes in a matter of seconds, electronically, to the length you have selected. Cool. It is completely integrated into the floor of the vehicle. It’s almost like it comes out of nowhere:
VALUE
Actually, very good. These things are purpose-built. I don’t want people to think this is an overall negative review. It’s not. The MV-1 does what it was made to do, better than almost anything else. Furthermore, it is comparable in price to a wheelchair-converted Sienna or the like, and has far more utility. For about 50k, I think there is a strong argument to be made for value.
![]() 03/14/2014 at 20:48 |
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If the Panther Platform had a spiritual van, the MV-1 would certainly be it. Good to see that this review went up, and certain bits did bring a smile to my face.
![]() 03/14/2014 at 21:04 |
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Mac, very well done. I think Patrick would like to run this on the FP so for the sake of a wider audience than Oppo maybe edit out the first two lines. Then message Patrick and let him know it is up. Do you Tweet? That is often the best way. If not drop him a line on Kinja.
![]() 03/14/2014 at 22:37 |
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I enjoyed reading about this. I don't have anyone in my life that needs it, but I've always been fascinated by utility vehicles. This one certainly seems well suited to its purpose.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 00:11 |
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Which first two lines? The "first time on oppo" and the "disclaimers"?
![]() 03/15/2014 at 00:14 |
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Edited. Let me know if I should change anything else. Thanks so much.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 00:14 |
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Thanks a lot!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 00:14 |
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Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 02:10 |
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Looks good man!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 11:42 |
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OK, I know this is a commercial vehicle, but have you seen the interiors of the eurovans like the Sprinter and the Ducato? This is orders of magnitude worse. This looks very, very bad quality - and I'm saying this from a longevity point of view, not aesthetics or "luxury". Hopefully, it will cope with abuse, because I kinda dig the whole commercial feel and ugliness throughout!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:01 |
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This was a great post! I admire your humor as well as your evaluation. I wish you were an actual editor on here!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:13 |
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What an oddly majestic photo.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:13 |
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Great review! I was curious about these things. Would have been nice to have when we used to take my grandparents around town.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:18 |
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> taking one to the occasional car wash (REMOVE THE ANTENNA!)
Sixty grand and they couldn't put in either a power antenna or one that is sturdy and springy enough to withstand the car wash? (I don't recall losing factory-quality antennas in that position to roller-type car washes... losing the paint job to them is another question!) Or maybe one of those antennas that are built into the windshield?
It seems like an especially comic-opera oversight if the van is meant to be owned and driven by people in wheelchairs who might find it difficult to even get a tool onto the rather high-mounted antenna...
...much less want to remove and replace it for such a mundane procedure as going through the car wash; really not something any car owners should have to worry about in this day and age.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:18 |
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I've seen a couple of these in my area (or other VPGs? Dunno, but they're vans and they look like this thing). Make me wonder if you could put some 4.6l go fast goodies on it and make a decent RV or road trip van. I know my family would LOVE to have that kind of space when we hit the highway.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:24 |
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So nobody bothered cleaning it before you got your hands on it?
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:26 |
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What's all the headroom for, then?
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:28 |
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That's...not great.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:29 |
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Because you REALLY need a traction control system on something this slow.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:30 |
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Room for a 3.6L kenney bell blower!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:44 |
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I don't see this as the answer, it's far too big and unwieldy with too much unused space. IMHO the car and the wheelchair need to be made by the same company and the custom wheelchair should be able to be wheeled up to the door and hauled inside with a proprietary mechanism. No need for a ramp. The owner would then have 2 wheelchairs, a conventional one for home and the one that comes with the vehicle for traveling. If the vehicle manufacturer also made the wheelchair, there would be far more synergy and elegance to the solution.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 12:57 |
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WHA!!??? THAT's what that truck is! One of these lives in or near my hometown of London, Ontario and I have been haunted by it for YEARS! Every time I see it, it's going in the opposite direction and I have someplace to be! It's been driving me nuts! At first I thought it was some kind of modified Honda Element, but the last time I spotted this mechanical Sasquatch I could tell it was way too big. Thank you very much for this post!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:03 |
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How many gears in it's transmission?? I demand to know!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:08 |
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I think the consumer models have a slightly nicer finished interior than the fleet version. But, it fills a need and is well designed for what it does. That said, I really wish they had either revived the Checker name or come up with something more imaginative/engaging than "VPG MV-1" (now "Mobility Ventures MV-1", seriously, they couldn't have just called it an AM General?).
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:18 |
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Good number of these things in chicago. I like them more than the sad sad accessible minivans.
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![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:21 |
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The dash is lifted straight from an E150, the engine from the same or possibly the Crown Victoria, but they aren't going to be making many more of them, so I thought I had read or heard something about them working on re-powering these MV-1 vans with the 3.7 L V6 instead going forward, at least before they went bankrupt and AM General got ahold of the distressed assets.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:24 |
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Thanks, thats some serious praise!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:24 |
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It looks like any industrial vehicle. Hard to break, cheap and easy to fix. This vehicle is for getting shit done, not sipping lattes.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:25 |
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I believe its a 4-speed.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:26 |
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Ha thanks.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:27 |
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4 speed automatic transaxle with overdrive, the exact same power train from the Crown Victoria or E-Series van http://www.mv-1.us/download/mv1-b…
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:30 |
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The MV-1 is not meant to be driven by people in wheelchairs. It is made to transport people in wheelchairs.
Also, the antenna is pretty sturdy. Its just that the car is big, so there is little clearance to begin with.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:31 |
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The Mustang and Crown vic has/had a solid axle and this thing doesn't, despite the same engine. Funny.
Disclaimer: I own a crown vic. I only don't have a mustang because insurance is ridiculous. Not hating.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:33 |
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Rain and salt. What can you do?
I was a little low on time, so I just went outside, snapped a few pics, and wrote it. In retrospect, maybe I should have washed it and made it all shiny first, but, hey, I'm lazy.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:35 |
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That sounds expensive. I think one of the benefits of this platform is that it is compatible with most any type of wheelchair. Remember that this vehicle is for commercial transport. It should be able to accommodate multiple types of chairs.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:35 |
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You are quite welcome!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:36 |
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Thanks!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:41 |
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I think the Modular 4.6 is still widely available. Remember that this is a relatively low volume vehicle. You are right, the modular engine did appear in Crown Vics, E-series, and many other models to boot.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:42 |
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Time will tell!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:47 |
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I have pretty much given up on car names. That being said, I feel like "MV-1" is relatively simple, and easy to remember.
Remember, you can currently buy cars with names like "Mercedes Benz CLS63 S-Model AMG 4-matic" and "BMW 640i x-drive Gran coupé".
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:49 |
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The 4.6 has a long history of being modded for more power, although modding the MV-1 would definitely be a little incongruous!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:51 |
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Oh ok thanks!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 13:54 |
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They're certainly awesome vans - they would probably make for great taxis as well as regular vans on the market. Seeing just how cavernous the thing is on the inside, if they increased interior quality a little bit and added another row of seating it could be a fantastic people-hauler.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:03 |
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I believe that Ford was not going to make new ones, at least not for crate use since the only car that used the 2 valve 4.6 L was the 2011 Crown Victoria, and possibly the E-series, but oh well. They have little need for it outside of these vehicles, and doubtless don't want to build once they stop production of the van versions of the E-Series in replacement for the Transit with it's 3.7, 3.5 L EB, and 3.2 L i5 diesel
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:06 |
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"It has brakes. When you push them, the MV-1 stops."
I have driven my in-laws conversion minivan, and even though there is a pedal to the left of the accelerator, I'm not *actually* sure that it does anything.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:06 |
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You are probably right, I'm no expert on that. I will say however, that the engine bay has room for pretty much any engine. I think the Mod 4.6 was chosen for proven reliability and low cost, and that if it becomes unavailable, they will find another reliable and cost-effective engine to use.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:07 |
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For secret V10 swaps, DUH.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:08 |
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I saw the development work that they were trying to do over at the Roush Facility in Allen Park, so I recall having seen 3.7 L chassis mules, but either way it might not happen now since they went under in the first place.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:10 |
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I'm no expert but I know a beefed-up Element when I see one.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:10 |
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Great review, by the way! Are they still making these? I thought I heard news that the company folded.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:14 |
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Want to know something kinda funny since you touched on it? Insurance for my Mustang GT with full coverage is only $800 more per year than my 1995 ZJ. That was liability only.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:14 |
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So then what will AM General use?
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:15 |
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Ha! Can't unsee!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:16 |
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That's what I hear:
http://jalopnik.com/the-car-built-…
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:21 |
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Well until they exhaust their supply of V8s, probably still the V8, but if they had settled up with their debts and signed new contracts it's possible that they could have been working on validating a change. Again I don't know all the details since the last time I was even in that shop facility was sometime in early 2013.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:23 |
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Snow,Recycling,and Snakes. All I need to know about this van. Seriously though,they are large,I was behind one And was taken aback by the size. Still cool.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 14:53 |
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So if I'm disabled, I have to put up with ugly, clunky, institutional??
For the JDM, Toyota a whole lineup of accessible models under the "Welcab" name. WHY don't offer them in other markets???
![]() 03/15/2014 at 15:54 |
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Interesting. Looks like a parts bin car cobbled together from bits of Crown Vic, E-Wagon, F-truck, and maybe Explorer for maximum INTERIOR volume and FLOOR SPACE.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 16:15 |
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They could have made it more comfortable for the disabled, and less taxi like.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 16:24 |
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I'm a bit puzzled here. Is this meant purely for transporting people with disabilities or is it also meant so they can drive themselves? If the latter is the case, I would have liked the seats to be on rails or at the very least to turn, because I can tell you getting from a wheelchair into a parallel positioned seat is quite a pain in the rear.
In general this seems to be a decent vehicle, but I don't see a compelling reason to buy it instead of having a van or car of your voice modified for your needs (for driving yourself that is).
![]() 03/15/2014 at 16:29 |
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Sprinter starts at $40k here....
![]() 03/15/2014 at 16:59 |
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Good review and thanks for posting. As a quadriplegic, it looks pretty well thought out and great accessibility wise. As a car lover, the styling looks ridiculous. Unfortunately, for most, a minivan or this is the only option. I wish there were more options than minivans, something that looks better and was a bit faster. Unfortunately, there's just not a big enough market for any manufacturer to put a lot of money into designing something more interesting.
Cheers,
Philip
![]() 03/15/2014 at 19:05 |
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I hope that this company is successful and maybe one of the big manufacturers will buy them. I've always wondered about the possibility of a battery - powered wheelchair that would mount and lock into an vehicle drivers position, and would pass safety tests. The car could even recharge the chair. It would be an engineering challenge, but any of the big manufacturers would do it if someone would prove that there was money in it. Maybe the DOT would make a few compromises in the interests of the mobility of disabled people.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 19:42 |
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Not entirely accurate. There are hand controls available. The driver must be able to sit in the driver's seat however. The lack of a front passenger seat makes it easier for a wheelchair bound driver to wheel into that space, lock down their chair, and then move to the driver's seat.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 19:53 |
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Two things:
1) This is primarily designed to transport people in wheelchairs, not to be driven by them. Most of these in service are operated by mobility organizations who provide "dial a ride" services to a wide variety of clients who would otherwise be homebound. Sort of like car sharing, so being able to accommodate everything from a sports chair to a fully motorized chair with mouth control is important.
2) If you're looking for a disabled driver option, then there's the Kenguru. It's a one person, wheel in and drive vehicle. Small, not unweildy and absent any unused space, it's compatible with a variety of chairs.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 20:01 |
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Yes. You. Do.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 21:07 |
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Looks a damn sight better than what used to pass for a disability car here back in the day.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 21:13 |
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I drive a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan with the Braun Entervan conversion. I'm curious how much MSRP for the MVP-1 is, my Entervan (bought in 2008, had 800 miles on it) cost me $48k and is the most basic model I could get. most folks don't realize how expensive this stuff is. By the time I pay off my van I'll have to trade it in for a new one and start all over. It's pretty ridiculous, but it's something many of us must do. So you say it's large, would you say it's bigger than a minivan? And the variable length ramp would be awesome, I can't count how many times I've had a car use the blocked off access spot next to my vehicle and I litterally have to go up the ramp from the side, then make a 90 degree turn on 3 wheels. Anyways thank you so much for this review. I am curious to see one.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 21:39 |
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I think the MSRP is right around 50, and yeah, its big. There is more open space inside than a minivan, although I don't really have any experience with those converted vans.
And, of course, you are very welcome, and thank you so much for reading!
![]() 03/15/2014 at 21:42 |
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Thanks for correcting me. I just know that ours don't have hand controls, so thats what I was basing my claim on.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 21:46 |
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I was originally under the impression that the MV-1 was meant for transporting people with disabilities, although it has been brought to my attention by commenters that hand controls are available. Our units do not have hand controls.
![]() 03/15/2014 at 22:34 |
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...Fair point.
![]() 03/16/2014 at 01:14 |
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So, it's a slightly larger, American TX4 (London taxi)?
![]() 03/16/2014 at 04:14 |
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In the UK at least there is a company that manufactures and fits their own wheelchair accessible conversions to normal road cars - the conversions are comprehensive: lowered floors, integrated ramps, winches etc - but the exterior looks the same as the original. Check this out: http://www.brotherwood.com/new-vehicles/k…
![]() 03/16/2014 at 12:12 |
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A-ha! That's what it is! I saw one of these in Austin a few weeks back and have been racking my brain trying to figure out what it is. Thanks!
![]() 03/16/2014 at 12:25 |
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Thanks for the link. This looks pretty well done. I've never been a huge fan of Kia or crossovers but I'd take this over a minivan any day.
![]() 03/16/2014 at 13:34 |
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I saw one of these cruising around Brisbane California and didn't know what it was, but it was huge and painted yellow so it was hard to miss. I thought it was extremely ugly in the best purpose built way possible. It has that strange appeal that checker marathons or rando soviet built cars have.
![]() 03/16/2014 at 14:02 |
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The Sprinter or Ducato are from established automakers, who sell thousands of vehicles. Therefore they have switchgear that they can just shove in and it's not too bad. VPG doesn't have that advantage. Although why they didn't nick something from someone else's parts bin I don't know.
![]() 03/17/2014 at 09:05 |
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I've never seen one of those! There are definitely some similarities that I can see.
![]() 03/17/2014 at 09:05 |
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You are very welcome! Thanks for reading.
![]() 03/17/2014 at 11:31 |
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It's hard to make a car look showroom new after the first year or so anyway, at least that's what I tell myself when I notice the many stains, scuffs, and dents that make me feel great shame. Even moreso with a fleet vehicle.
![]() 03/17/2014 at 12:04 |
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I cant help but think front wheel drive in this would be a better from a practical point of view. But then again the donuts would not be the same.
![]() 03/17/2014 at 12:46 |
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I want the MV-1 to succeed and be awesome. It sounds like it's got the important boxes checked. As long as VPG can improve it enough to make it more desirable in every way — I already think it looks better than the "everyday" vans I normally see. I saw several in the DC area and these things look tough, chunky, but in a classic Jeep Grand Wagoneer kind of way. I mean that as a compliment.
![]() 03/18/2014 at 23:00 |
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Does it have provisions for towing? If so, what is its recommended tow rating?
![]() 03/19/2014 at 06:51 |
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I don't know, actually. I don't remember seeing a hitch. Ill check and let you know.
![]() 03/19/2014 at 14:34 |
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I'm the crazy one who looks at that and thinks. "it's neat and it has a lot of space. and a driveline that can have many upgraded parts. I wonder if I can modify it for speed/handling/etc and then tow my race car with it."
![]() 09/29/2014 at 08:30 |
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It has Camaro axle with a 3.45 ratio and a DeDion tube in the rear...weird right.
![]() 09/29/2014 at 08:40 |
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So, would it do a burnout? I would like to see a burnout, no videos exist on the internet of this yet.
![]() 01/28/2015 at 10:28 |
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Required by law.
![]() 01/28/2015 at 10:29 |
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Any idea what resale might hold up as? This looks like it might be a good truck for when I need to move shit around. Can it tow?
![]() 01/28/2015 at 10:39 |
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I blame idiotic drivers.
![]() 08/04/2015 at 15:52 |
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Saw one of these this past weekend. Had to look it up because I had never seen one. Good article and love your humor.
![]() 12/19/2015 at 08:58 |
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I’ve seen one of these rolling around here in Guam. I don’t know why but I want one.
![]() 02/24/2016 at 07:24 |
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Hi, can you let me know your email? I am working on MV1 blog post and have a few questions for you. Thanks a lot, Mark
![]() 02/24/2016 at 14:07 |
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bobbytriplesticks@gmail.com