Am I one of only a few that wouuld buy one of these? I love this concept. Now, I wouldn't replace my Ridgeline with it, but it could be a fun vehicle for long trips.

I absolutely LOVE IT!!!! I'd buy one

I heard it's coming in 2008.

Owned several veedub microbuses when I lived in Europe in the late 60s/early 70s and they were always practical, reliable and tons of fun. Had a '57 with the small windows all around the top, a '63 (1st w/sliding side door) with a Porsche 356C engine, tranny and brakes/suspension (required by German law) and full-length roof rack (great for watching races), a 60-something Transporter/crew-cab pickup with drop-down sides and a '71 Westphalia "Houston" camper. VW had a lot of "firsts" with these vehicles (the original minivans) and it would be great to see them make a comeback.

Groovy! All that it needs is a peace sign.

Groovy! All that it needs is a peace sign.
U-H, you should have one from back in the day, don't ya? :D I think I can dig up an old pair of bell-bottoms jeans and a tie-dyed t-shirt from somewhere in the attic. :o I wonder if Woodstock comes up on Navi?

My 1970, $3125, was the last car that I paid cash for...:(

This looks pretty cool, I wonder if it is any wider than the old ones.

I had a 1968 bus, back in the early seventies, when drugs were fun and motorcycles were dangerous. Cruise control was resting your foot on the top of the gas pedel in the wide open position, hoping for a tail wind, and letting some unconsious part of your brain drive (kind of like talking on a cell phone and driving).

It actualy hadled quite nicely, my car before that was a Mini, I called my bus the Maxi.

U-H, you should have one from back in the day, don't ya? :D I think I can dig up an old pair of bell-bottoms jeans and a tie-dyed t-shirt from somewhere in the attic. :o I wonder if Woodstock comes up on Navi?Yes, ditto on the attic, and yes it does.
Back in 69 ~ 70 I had a back-lit peace sign that I made for the front licence plate. It was a little too bright so it looked like a goofy fog light kind of thing. It was unmistakable at night when I turned it on.

Crazy kids! Sheesh!:rolleyes:

Have you seen what mid 60's microbuses are going for now? It will make you absolutely cry. I have seen junky ones go for $5000. The deluxe versions with the little windows around the top sell for prices that will take your breath away. It makes you wish you had kept them because one in pristine condition will cost you as much today as a Ridgeline or MORE!! :eek:

I believe that is the 21 window Microbus. A good friend of mine owns VW show cars and is restoring one of those right now.

One of the guys at work lives and dies by the vans, that's his pickup on the front page of Bulli Boys (http://www.bulliboys.com/). It's gone now but he still has a Westfalia, a Synchro, and a Split window (too be restored). He was living by the dealership with a bag of money for the "new" micro but they sunk it. Came out with the Toe-Rag instead.

They have this out there now, Chameleon (http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-1964-Volkswagen-Deluxe-Microbus-Chameleon.htm) but you'd think a re-issue of the any bus would be a no-brainer sales hit.

you'd think a re-issue of the any bus would be a no-brainer sales hit.

I don't think that it would sell well in the US. It's too much of a niche vehicle. People love their SUV's and trucks too much. When I think about a microbus, the first thing I think of was how underpowered they were. We all know about that one.

I don't think that it would sell well in the US. It's too much of a niche vehicle. People love their SUV's and trucks too much. When I think about a microbus, the first thing I think of was how underpowered they were. We all know about that one.
The times they are a-changing...:cool:

The times they are a-changing...:cool:

I hope so. I really like the microbus concept. I just hope it is a little more reliable than the new Beetle. VW is an innovative company. I personally like the new GTI. Not as well as the Civic but it would be a top contender if I were buying a vehicle in that market segment.

I don't think that it would sell well in the US. It's too much of a niche vehicle. People love their SUV's and trucks too much. When I think about a microbus, the first thing I think of was how underpowered they were. We all know about that one.I think if they did it properly and aimed at the nostalgia crowd along with the folks buying Scions and Elements there'd be lineups again.

Don't forget the hole in the gas tank, or the way the shifter linkage would fall of the busses also!

Back in the days when I was young and foolish I had a '59 (I think that was the year) Karmann Ghia, then a '62 Beetle. Hey, folks, those were not very good cars. Poor handling, lousy suspension, they struggled to keep up with traffic and were dangerous in a crash.

Remember the heater? Had to turn this knob to open some flaps to divert engine heat into the cabin? Defrosters? Ha!

Remember - no gas guage? You drove till the thing sputtered and then you turned this handle under the dash for the "reserve" gallon in the tank. What fun? Reaching under the dash while driving! Duh!

Even crummy cheap cars available today are tons better than those things. And don't even get me started on the dealers and service departments! Geeze....where did they find those clowns? I could write a book on trying to get something done right at a VW dealership!!

back in the early seventies, when drugs were fun and motorcycles were dangerous.

The good ol' days. Only wish I remember what happened those first 2 years of college.:D

Remember the heater? Had to turn this knob to open some flaps to divert engine heat into the cabin? Defrosters? Ha!!!

My Westphalia campmobile and '71 411 wagon (worst car I ever owned, so many trips back to the dealer that I was on a first name basis with the service manager!) both had the gas-fired auxiliary heater. Worked pretty well but was never completely comfortable with it from a safety standpoint.

You're right that these were not the quickest or best handling vehicles on the road, but they were certainly a lot of fun and definitely cheap to purchase and operate. Had a '68 Squareback that I owned for nearly 3 years (in Germany) and the total cost of ownership (cost of vehicle, maintenance, fuel & insurance) was less than a nickel a mile! Ah, those were the days. :D