Why so many sales? / Low roof advice

[Blissy]

As I browse around looking for the right van for us, I realised, a lot of private people are selling right now.
Like on vancouver craigslist.
Any idea, why?
Cause they go for good money?
RHD too awkward for people?
Why would you sell your wonderful Deli?

I've got my eye on a low roof one.
Any comments on advantages and down-sides?

THanks everyone
Chrissy

[39Ronin]

Some are just situational sales, like moving to another country or buying a house so they need cash ect... But most are people trying to make a few bucks and right now thats all they are making is a few bucks. I guess you can call it a bandwagon now. With the increased amount of Delicas for sale the competion is stiff, a few are well serviced while most of the cheapies are not. It would be tough to import a Delica by yourself right now and save tons of money.

[quadzilla]

I have noticed that certain vans are posted on MANY websites (e.g., Craig's list, Buy and Sell, importer's web sites), and some of those vans have been there for several months. What you may be seeing is a lot of old stock that gets continually recycled on the web. An example of this is my van - I recently noticed it was still posted on the seller's website nearly 4 months after I bought it. A quick web search of the importer turned up my van on no less than 5 different web sites.

All you buyers out there - the 1992 exceed, manual transmission, crystal light roof with 111K IS NOT FOR SALE.

[jaggedfish]

I have a low roof myself and enjoy being able to drive it to my office downtown (Vancouver) and get thru the 7 foot high parkade gate. A high roof would push the limits of this capability. I have 2 TV antennae on the top of mine (one on each side) which I can angle to get an exact measurement of my clearance - as my van sits right now... about 6 to 7 inches. Once my torsion bars are adjusted this will likey be reduced to 4 to 5 inches. This helps off-road too in low clearance situations.

Question yourself as to how often you would really take advantage of the high roof... I am 6'-2" and sit quite comfortably in the back. Would I steer clear of high roofs?... No.

Really depends what you are using it for. I love mine and if I were to sell it, it would only be to upgrade to a newer one.

[Delicanagan]

Our high roof with racks won't do many parkades and such...but I've tested plenty of low roof models versus high roof and for me being 6'3" and sporting an enormous head, I wouldn't consider a low roof model simply because I enjoy the head room (especially when adding 'bounce' to the ride). I can wear my enormous hat on my enormous head with a high roof!...And if I do the "way over your head" gesture, I don't wrack my knuckles! (As pathetic as that excuse may sound, please consider the waving like a madman/woman that goes along with meeting another Deli. on the road!)

As for the number being sold in the classifieds...consider than many folks are using the allowance of importing and selling a few per year without need for a dealer license. Buyer beware. There are some fantastic and honest people out there, but you have to watch out for the wolf in sheep's clothing.

Always listen to the little voice. We all have one and if we all listened more often we'd all be a whole lot better off...NEVER underestimate the conscience.

[ExplosiveAbe]

My response is in relation to having the Crystalite (only available in a highroof). Having the Crystalite roof on dark & cloudy days, which seem to be more often than not these days, is awesome! Makes life worth living.

[JMK]

I have a high roof which to me is more suitable than the low roof, as I don't live in the city and use parkades, and I don't live on the coast and use the ferries every week or two.

However, if I could have the high roof, and the Crystalite as well, that would be the best of both worlds, I would jump at the chance. In the beginning, (the denial stage) I consoled myself that I always have a Pod on top and that I heard the glue rots the seals from the inside out. However it didn't work for long. I had to admit that I envy you guys that have it, even if they do have to fix their blind retractors and the odd leak or two.

Could someone perhaps console me with maybe some horror stories of the Crystalite roof?

[Green1]

Could someone perhaps console me with maybe some horror stories of the Crystalite roof?

just awful things they are... you don't want them at all, why just the other day the sun came out and the crystalite roof let all the heat in, I had to close the shades! and today I looked through the windows in the crystalite roof and saw the snow landing on them... without that roof I could have been ignorant of the snow!

see, they really are just awful things that you wouldn't want any part of

[TardisDeli]

Hi Blissy, Welcome. One rarely sees delic's from this website for sale, and then only for valid reasons, but with those you can see their complete BC History via the fixes they have posted.

When we were looking for ours we looked at some on craigslist ones, but they were mainly just backyard importers out for a quick loony, so they did the VERY barest minimum as there are no guarantees or warranties. Very Scary.

Buy from someone who is mentioned on this site, as then you can get a sense of how they treat people, and whether they care about after service.

We love the high roof as we camp alo, and need to move around inside. Jay is 6'3 so prefers the high roof. He rode in Falco's low roof on forestry roads and said he only hit his head once or twice on big potholes.

Your profile does not list your location, or what purpose you want to use Deli for (commuting, camping, young kids, surfing). If you give some info we can help.

Cheers, Christine and Jay of the TardisDeli (Burnaby BC).

[BCDelica]

The simple and easiest solution with so many available; get one of each.

Wouldn't two be better then one?

[ExplosiveAbe]

Yeah, shooting stars & lunar eclipses can be quite distracting in a Crystalite when you're trying to "get some".

[FalcoColumbarius]

I really dig my P25 (low roof). Miss Lil' Bitchi can get into places like underground car parks and under lower branches when hiding from predators like the "chevrolet"

As a painter I find the access to the underground quite useful. I am not so sure it really makes much difference regarding the wind, perhaps the high roof is better off that way, being more rounded, ergo aero dynamic.

As far as getting two Delis..... I daren't speak like that in front of Miss Lil' Bitchi... I remember when while I was waxing her, my land lady walked by and told me that I should really get a girl friend.... OMG.... She nearly blew a seal.

Falco, faithful to his ship.

[JMK]

This begs a question I have about the difference between the roofs. On my high roof, I noticed the roof rises at the back behind the driver's seat. I assumed that the cabin roof in both models was therefore the same, and only the passenger compartment had the higher roof. However the posts above seem to dispell that notion. So in the high roof model, is the driver's cabin also higher than the low roof model?

[FalcoColumbarius]

Honestly....

I haven't noticed the difference when sitting in a High roof cockpit and as you stated, JMK, it rises as it goes further back.

Falco.

[konadog]

I'm 6'5 and have a low roof. I did test drive a couple of high roof delis and didn't notice any difference. In both I feel like I am up a little higher than I would like but relative to the windshield and not the roof above me, though I do wear a small form fitting hat If the seat were 10cm lower and went the same further back the world would be perfect, I would get a better view without having to hunch forward, and could straighten my legs that extra little bit. Ah well, if I were the only driver I might look into modifying the seat like I did with my old VW. I like the simple lines of the low roof, but wouldn't turn my nose up a a nice high roof model. They both look good and have a delica under them! Interesting question about the aerodynamic differences, though put a roof rack on either and any advantage there is gone I'll bet. Sure like BCDelica's suggestion about getting one of each, How many delica models are there anyway? Let's see if I sell the house...