How many delis a day?

[The Pinkfingers]

Before I bought a delica, I rarely saw them. Now I see them all the time. (It hurts all the more knowing our delica is still sitting in a Japanese port...). I live in North Van, and I think the most I've seen has been 5 in one day. It's not uncommon to see one every day for a few days in a row if I'm out driving.

How many delis a day do you see?

We bought one because they were so unique... but I guess lots of others felt the same way. So... am I still unique? Or am I just one of the crowd.

For those who actually have the pleasure of driving a delica and not looking at tiny pictures of their delica on their computer, do people still look twice, or are delicas ho-hum now?

[FalcoColumbarius]

They look twice and often ask you questions about them. I can go days without seeing another Delica then pass five or six in the space of half an hour, usually on Marine Drive in North Van, oddly. When I first got my blue GMC van it was uncanny how many of them I saw, same colour, &c.. When I first got the Miss Lil' Bitchi I saw a few but not like when I got the GMC. However, I think there are more Delicas on the road but they are still a rare breed.

Falco.

[coaxial]

Yep I live in north van and drive/ride to work downtown or UBC every day and I usually see at least 3 a day.

In Vancouver I rarely get a reaction, although I do constantly have people come up and ask the common questions*. Once you leave town and go down to seattle or especially down to the little towns along #7 like mission, etc. you get a LOT of weird looks and reactions.




*... (we should carry a card with a FAQ) (in order of frequency)

• 1 Cool.. Where is it from? - japan
• 2 Wow how is it driving on the right? - RHD is perfectly fine, almost no difference, especially in a high up vehicle you can see everything great
• 3 How is it to find parts and get service? - in vancouver, very easy
• 4 Various engine questions - 2.5 tdi, good on fuel considering weight, etc
• 5 Various 4x4 questions - part time 4x4, lowrange, good clearance/articulation/approach angles, LSD on some, etc.

[konadog]

Never Ho-hum, never! Hey, I drove a VW bus when there were tons of them around and other owners waved and connected and loved their rides. Not all, but most. Like the old VW buses, Delicas aren't cool just because they are (were) rare - Just think what you thought when you first saw one... What makes you want one so much? Ya just know! People that don't have them approach me all the time with the "I see these these cool vans all over the place, tell me about it!" Like the VW's they will always be a point of connection between most of the people who drive them. Not everyone will keep an eye out with a wave at the ready, but most will. Just look at the enthusiasm here on the forum. I see at least one or two everyday in Campbell River. I know where 5 live on my daily routes but also see others driving regularly and have spotted several transients too. More all the time. Sure doesn't change my interest or enthusiasm for mine

[jessef]

I see at least 3-4 every day. Live in kits and commute to burnaby.

It's funny. When I owned my pajero, I thought the Delica was a rare treat.

Now that my Pajero's gone and I'm driving my Delica, I rarely see any Pajero's but see a ton of Delica's everywhere I go.

I used to get a lot of looks/q's with the Pajero. I'd say 8 out of 10 people don't give the Delica a wierd or second glance anymore.

They are getting pretty common which is a good thing. More the merrier.

Not as 'unique' as they used to be a few years ago in the lower mainland that's for sure.

Still unique to me though, which is what counts. I couldn't care less about image. They are one of the most functional vehicles I've owned.

Jesse

[mark]

I do the North Vancouver-to-Downtown commute every weekday, and I estimate that I see a minimum of two per day.

[Fishtank]

We bought one because they were so unique... but I guess lots of others felt the same way. So... am I still unique? Or am I just one of the crowd.

Just remember, you are unique... just like everyone else.

For those who actually have the pleasure of driving a delica and not looking at tiny pictures of their delica on their computer, do people still look twice, or are delicas ho-hum now?

Take a good look at your van-to-be... does it look ho-hum to you?

I am familiar with my van, but I never see it as ho-hum. In fact, if I stop and look at it for more than 5 seconds I realize how much I still really, really like it. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it, at least not for another 5-10 years.

[stubblebut]

Somedays my wav'n hand gets sore...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Yeah, she's mine...... wha'? ~ It's called a Delica..... 2009?... ha ha.. no no... she's a used car... mmhmm..... 16 years old.... no sh*t.... No, really man... she's sixteen years old..... Diesel.... 2.5 turbo..... um... about 8.5 kilometres on average for city..... I haven't done enough highway to say, but at a guess I would say ~ 10ish..... Oh, I learned to drive in England so it was no big deal for me, as a matter of fact my only concern was having a flash back and pulling out of a car park into the oncoming traffic or something but that has not happened.... Yes you could..... I know a lot of people who have driven only left and they seem to have no problem.... Maybe the windscreen wipers go on when you try to signal...... mmhmm.... ....... Are you serious?..... How could I be unpatriotic?...... What Canadian car?..... GM is American....... The Civic is Japanese..... No, they are not made in Canada...... Some of them are assembled here...... No, they are not made here..... I believe the last car to be made in Canada was the Brickland..... No, they are not dangerous.... yes ~ if I was going down Lonsdale doing an hundred and sixty K and tried to throw her into a 90 degree drift and go east on Keith she would probably flip...... No, she doesn't..... on the contrary it is quite low on the vehicle....... She weighs two short tonnes and most of the weight is in the sliver pearl area...... I understand she is stable at a thirty five degree lateral angle...... all vehicles in Japan have to do that..... yes, I really believe that....... I have had her at a twenty-five degree angle when I was down a creek bed and she was stable....... Yes, she can go off-road...... a creek bed....... Why would I make that up........ Okay..... (smiles)....... You have a nice day, too......

[torchard]

I don't get the questions like I did a few months back but there's so many Deli's in Victoria... There are three in my office parking lot every day.

My wife was complaining the other day that the novelty has worn off; that she doesn't get the second looks like a few months ago. (I told her to lose some weight. She told me to get f....d).

I could easily see a half dozen a day.

Novely or not, we are sill loving the van. My wife has a newborn on the boob so the van is a great feeding and changing station. the two year old treats it like a playground (hence the smashed up panels) and my ten year old treats it like her throne. Sadly it's mostly an urban grocery getter rather than rock-eating offroad rig, but as such it's great in the city especially when compared to our Jetta or sister-in-laws MPV.

Ok that's enough deli love-in for one day.

-Todd

[mararmeisto]

...

*... (we should carry a card with a FAQ) (in order of frequency)

• 1 Cool.. Where is it from? - japan
• 2 Wow how is it driving on the right? - RHD is perfectly fine, almost no difference, especially in a high up vehicle you can see everything great
• 3 How is it to find parts and get service? - in vancouver, very easy
• 4 Various engine questions - 2.5 tdi, good on fuel considering weight, etc
• 5 Various 4x4 questions - part time 4x4, lowrange, good clearance/articulation/approach angles, LSD on some, etc.

I have a handful of business cards I printed up at home which cover the particulars. Also includes a link to this forum and IVOAC's 15yr explanation. They've come in handy a number of times, for sure.

Also, Falco that's a good conversation you got going there with yourself. I remember the rendition you gave me when you came to visit, and it would seem you've had to repeat it a few times since. Don't let the ignorant get you down: "Just smile and wave boys. Smile and wave." (Skipper the penguin, Madagascar)

[marsgal42]

I find Vancouver drivers work very hard at not being interested or excited about anything except running red lights. I guess there's an image to uphold or something.

Outside of Vancouver it's another matter. Gumdrop gets lots of admirers. South of the border people almost run off the road staring, and I've explained to a number of people in parking lots what it was they were looking at and why it was special.

...laura

[The Pinkfingers]

yes ~ if I was going down Lonsdale doing an hundred and sixty K and tried to throw her into a 90 degree drift and go east on Keith she would probably flip......

Lol! I'm trying to picture this (not the flipping, the other part).

Just remember, you are unique... just like everyone else.

Lol again.

Take a good look at your van-to-be... does it look ho-hum to you?

Nope. Not to me. I'm glad everyone else has retained their enthusiasm. I'm not interested in image, but I am interested in not having a boring car. The Deli suits that bill fine.

Most of the Delis I see in North Van are north of the Hwy, but that's where I do most my driving too.

[ghmorris]

We have the first Deli in Central Ontario and some days it like cleaning bugs off glass, the admrires are three deep. Where's it from, now old, diesel?, mileage, is it cool, how many does it hold, how clean to run is itm how long will it last?

The most enthused are the ladies. I guess something about driving the same old minivan for shopping, Deli with offrad manners and styleplus you even drive they darn thing from the right hand side.

How cool is that?

I allowcate about half an hour per day for questions.

OTOH, all the services guys - dump is a prime example. They know you are a local because of the crazy car and make you not not jump hoops too get your id. Cool!

Very cool.

George

[jaggedfish]

I drive Oak Street every weekday on my way home to White Rock from my office... often see one or two around VGH and usually one or two on Oak. Get waves more often than not (even from some of the Pajero types).

What I find is that people (non-Delica) are generally hesitant to make eye contact during rush hour times but if you look in the mirror they will hold back and smile to themselves or have an animated discussion with their passenger. I smile at those who do make eye contact and often get a knowing smile and nod. Pedestrians seem to be a different breed and will smile and rubber neck of give a thumbs up. One fellow almost jumped in front of me because he was so excited about seeing my van - was quite comical... eyes as big as saucers, frantic waving, then thumbs up... funny.

By far the coolest conversation I had was with an old war vet who just loved the van and all things about it. Chatted about WW2 and Mitsubishi's part in all of that (They were responsible for the Zero and Ki-46 'Dinah'). Ex-military myself. Really enjoyed our chat and was disappointed to have to part company.

Lots of smiles from the ladies too.

Never boring... always unique... not just about the van itself but the community of owners/enthusiasts who dig their rides. Love it every day!

Ian