My first experience of a column shift manual was coincidentally a Toyota HiAce van.
I quite liked it.
I'd imagine most non American vehicles would feel underpowered to you John.
The European equivalent of say a Chevy Dayvan here gets by with a pokey little 152c.u. Turbo diesel!
Very few commercial vehicles here have petrol engines let alone a V8.
Even my Vauxhall Movano was rated at 3.5 ton and had a 152 c.u. motor......the 6 speed manual helped utilise the torque available though.
