What are these babies like on the real-world highway?
What are these babies like on the real-world highway?
Any Delica drivers out there; we have ordered one through "Japanoid" in New West (due sometime in September), and have had one urban test drive spent mostly trying not to turn the wipers on when we were planning a turn. I would appreciate any and all feedback from you regarding a Delica as the family daily driver, because that's what it will be for us. I've had an '82 Toyota Trekker, a '93 Suburban, and now an '03 Highlander, and my main concerns are about safety on the highway. My wife commutes to West Van every day, and we have an 18 month old son, so in my new-dad paranoia I wonder if we're giving up safety/maneuvreablility/braking in order to save on fuel costs (plus having what seems like the ultimate poor-guys road trip vehicle!). Please give me your veteran impressions of "Life with Delica", for which I will be very grateful. Thanks!
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Green1
- Posts: 3257
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- Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
- Vehicle: 1994 L400 Royal Exceed PF8W
- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
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Re: What are these babies like on the real-world highway?
due to the short wheelbase of the delica you just can't beat the manoeuvrability, the mirrors are awesome with a convex on both sides as well as mirrors pointing at both your front and rear bumpers allowing you to always see exactly what's around you.
as for braking, as with any vehicle the brakes need to be kept in decent shape, but if so, they'll stop you as well as in anything else (probably better than in the suburban as there's less weight)
safety... well, they are a bit top-heavy, but so is pretty much any SUV, and these don't seem to be any worse than most... beyond that, the only thing to note really is that mounting a child seat will probably require some customization, the rear seat seatbelts don't "lock" the way conventional rear seat belts do, they only stop things when the vehicle is braking hard (or has been hit) the centre of the rear bench has a "normal" middle seatbelt, but is a long way from the front seats, some people have retrofitted different seatbelts on some of the seats, and some people have also put their kids in the front seat (it's ok because there is no passenger airbag)
personally I love the Delica and it has done everything I've asked of it and done it well, but my needs are different than yours, so I can't speak for your situation.
as for braking, as with any vehicle the brakes need to be kept in decent shape, but if so, they'll stop you as well as in anything else (probably better than in the suburban as there's less weight)
safety... well, they are a bit top-heavy, but so is pretty much any SUV, and these don't seem to be any worse than most... beyond that, the only thing to note really is that mounting a child seat will probably require some customization, the rear seat seatbelts don't "lock" the way conventional rear seat belts do, they only stop things when the vehicle is braking hard (or has been hit) the centre of the rear bench has a "normal" middle seatbelt, but is a long way from the front seats, some people have retrofitted different seatbelts on some of the seats, and some people have also put their kids in the front seat (it's ok because there is no passenger airbag)
personally I love the Delica and it has done everything I've asked of it and done it well, but my needs are different than yours, so I can't speak for your situation.
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Kuan
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:24 pm
- Vehicle: 94' L400 SWB
- Location: Cowichan Station
- Location: Cowichan Valley
Re: What are these babies like on the real-world highway?
Hi Craig,
I have a 3 month old baby and a 4 year old. We've had the van since January and both my wife and I love driving it. Its been absolutely wonderful to drive and feels as safe as our previous vehicle, a Volvo. Visibility from the drivers seat is amazing! Being up high, and right up front makes it very easy and comfortable to drive and it feels very safe in the back. Good tires and brakes on it make it fine. Maneuverability is great too and parking is easy. Its actually smaller than our 1980 Volvo wagon. The special parking mirrors on the front and back let you see exactly how far you are from things. Good turning radius... etc etc.... I was worried too in the beginning but it only lasted until I drove it.
Actually, when we got back in the volvo we were surprised at how much less visibility there is and how much harder it was to drive because of that.
The only thing thats hard is passing but we don't do that much anyway...
I have a 3 month old baby and a 4 year old. We've had the van since January and both my wife and I love driving it. Its been absolutely wonderful to drive and feels as safe as our previous vehicle, a Volvo. Visibility from the drivers seat is amazing! Being up high, and right up front makes it very easy and comfortable to drive and it feels very safe in the back. Good tires and brakes on it make it fine. Maneuverability is great too and parking is easy. Its actually smaller than our 1980 Volvo wagon. The special parking mirrors on the front and back let you see exactly how far you are from things. Good turning radius... etc etc.... I was worried too in the beginning but it only lasted until I drove it.
Actually, when we got back in the volvo we were surprised at how much less visibility there is and how much harder it was to drive because of that.
The only thing thats hard is passing but we don't do that much anyway...
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piyeguyo
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Wed May 02, 2007 9:55 am
- Vehicle: 1991 Super Exceed
- Location: Calgary, AB
Re: What are these babies like on the real-world highway?
My 2 cents with respect to the baby & the Delica...
Good: We have a 17 month old baby girl and we put her car seat on the captain chair next to the side door. The captain chairs in "our van" have 2 seat belts and I think this is very nice because it gives her extra security. (I think the second seat belt feature is optional)
Bad: The side door is on the left side of the van, so when you open it to get the baby, you have to be careful with the oncoming traffic.
Not so good: You can move the captain chars 360 degress, but when you have the baby's car seat this is not possible because of the seat belt. This is only a minor inconvenience...
Good luck,
Fabio
Calgary
Good: We have a 17 month old baby girl and we put her car seat on the captain chair next to the side door. The captain chairs in "our van" have 2 seat belts and I think this is very nice because it gives her extra security. (I think the second seat belt feature is optional)
Bad: The side door is on the left side of the van, so when you open it to get the baby, you have to be careful with the oncoming traffic.
Not so good: You can move the captain chars 360 degress, but when you have the baby's car seat this is not possible because of the seat belt. This is only a minor inconvenience...
Good luck,
Fabio
Calgary
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intlfunk
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:43 pm
- Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
- Location: Edmonton
- Contact:
Re: What are these babies like on the real-world highway?
Having just done the longest trip yet with my Delica, I have to say it was smooth sailing, and I haven't had many problems with visibility, braking, driving on the right, etc
EXCEPT, you cannot go over 110 kms/hr without burning mega fuel and uphill on the highway it struggles a bit.
Just have to get used to doing the speed limit.
EXCEPT, you cannot go over 110 kms/hr without burning mega fuel and uphill on the highway it struggles a bit.
Just have to get used to doing the speed limit.