VW Bus concept

Brian · « **on:** November 23, 2007, 07:53:49 AM »

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/la_auto_show_2007/311

Bumble65 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:58:39 AM »

I haven't seen the pictures of this one yet only heard about it.Thanks for posting the pictures of it.

Personally, I'm not sure I would call a 4-seater a bus or van for that matter; however, the paint for that version of the Space Up! concept is definately Samba inspired.

The Vortex has a pretty good write up on the Space Up! concept.
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_2083.shtml

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2007, 01:31:07 PM »

So they are going to try it again huh. Butt ugly as far as I'm consurned.
I'm not a big fan of the water-cool VWs, but what was wrong with the Euro-Vans ? You can go to the VWAG web site and see all kinds of van products they make. Some of them are just right and practical but will never be in the U.S.A. for some reason.
I just read where West-Failure is making campers for the Mercesdes/Dodge Sprinter vans now. I'm 6'3" and can walk from the rear of that van to the front without having to bend over or ducking. VW has a van thats almost a clone to the Sprinter in Europe. So whats their problem other than the $40,000 price tag. It also has a Turbo TDI diesel option.
The Dodge Sprinter with the Turbo 5 cly. inline M.B. diesel is getting about 25-27 mpg in mixed driving conditions. Tain't no wimp off the line either. I have talked to several owners and they love them.

Bumble65 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:46:20 PM »

You might like this fact about it though, taken from the VWVortex summary:

"The space up! is a small space wonder. On just 3.68 meters (141.7 inches) length and 1.63 meters (64.2 inches) width, it offers the space of a considerably larger vehicle. The clever space concept of the space up! is to a great extent attributable to its engine layout: The environmentally-friendly gasoline, diesel and electric powertrains of the future up! family are always located in the rear – just like on the Beetle and the Bulli (Microbus) of the past."

Bumble65 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:46:54 PM »

Sorry about the double post, internet has been acting up the past couple of days.

Bugnut · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:37:16 PM »

:puke: :puke: um yeah that'll do.

certdubtech · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2007, 10:20:20 PM »

The biggest problem with the T5 Transporter that VW is building right now is the price tag on the thing. Translated through the loss of currency between the US dollar and the Euro, you can get a very well equipped version for somewhere around, oh, say $60,000 or more. Quite simply, if you sit that next to a full size Chevrolet van that you can get for $25,000, with 0 percent financing for 80 years and $10,000 in factory rebates, you kind of see what the problem is. The Eurovan never really was a big seller here. early five-cylinder versions tended to be slow, especially when compared to a van coming from Detroit that had a small block under the hood. Later VR6 versions moved down the road a bit faster, but I guess by then it was too late. If I had the money, I'd love to buy a later model Westy, like Herb's. they were well equipped, fast enough, and kind of fun to drive (If your into the whole leaning, tipsy cornering thing, like most traditional bus owners)...
But, fear not kiddies, the Chrysler built VW minivan is still on the books and could arrive as early as this next year....
Yes, I said CHRYSLER......

Oh, joy.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2007, 09:11:49 AM »

Linda and I rode to Effingham with Herb and Dee in their VR-6 Euro Van and I was impressed in the way it performed and rode. Not noisy at all. I would own one If it didn't cost so dang much. I don't know how much it would cost to keep it up either.
Isn't the Mopar/ VW van to be built in Canada ? It might have a chance seeing that the U A W won't have their grubby little hands on it.
I'm not going to hold my breath though. VW is noted for the wrong vehicle at the wrong place and time. Its to bad that VW doesn't look at Brazil with all the really neat VW products they have. I don't about build quality though.

el guapo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2007, 10:40:00 AM »

i think someone has been watching to many si-fi movies to think up something like this or they have WAY too much time on they're hands :lol:

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2007, 12:52:52 PM »

I'm with you on that Guapo. Whats really sad is that these "creative challenged" souls are the ones that get the big bucks. I sure would love to be King for a year. It would be "Off With Their Heads" if they showed me something like that. What really bothers me is one day in the future we will just tell our cars,Ride or what ever they will be called, to go to the store, go on vaction, run over the neigbors kids while we sit on our collective Butts grilling our Lead and steroid encrusted Porterhouse while learning to speak Chinese. :roll:

dubtech · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2007, 03:28:06 AM »

I have to second Rick's call on this one - price is a huge issue when it comes to these vans. When I was in Berlin they had a display of several different T5 Vans (Eurovans) including some that had a sticker price of 65,000 Euro. That translates to about 85 or 90 thousand dollars. It's a nice van but not 90K worth of van. Now, the price isn't a straight translation when it's shipped over here. I saw several R32s similar to what we get over here that were priced at about 38 to 40,000 Euro and the U.S. versions are in the low to mid 30s. But still, it's a damn expensive van.

The Up! concept cars should be a little cheaper but that's assuming that what you see is what you're going to get.

As far as the whole Chrysler/VW minivan project goes I'll hold my judgement on it until I'm looking at one at the training center.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2007, 11:15:31 AM »

OK Hal , How did things go in the "Fatherland" ? Photos ?

cindy · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2007, 07:23:11 PM »

There was a great article in the Chattanooga paper yesterday with Hal's picture. We're proud of you!!!

dubtech · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2007, 08:53:01 PM »

Wellllll, I can't divulge the actual winners but let's say that "the locals" did really well in the competition. The top 3 spots were occupied by people that, more than likely, drove to the competition from their respective countries (the home team included). Since I wasn't one of those 3 people I'm not sure how I placed but hope to eventually find out.

Despite that fact, Germany was incredible. We got to ride the high speed (250 km/h) train from Wolfsburg to Berlin and got a guided tour of Berlin that included stops at Checkpoint Charlie and the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall. VW went all out every evening with huge dinners that lasted for hours at the AutoUni, Wolfsburg Castle and the Technical Service training center. Everybody got to meet and shake hands with Prof. Dr. Winterkorn (head of VW worldwide) at the last night's dinner. After the competition was over with on Saturday afternoon they bussed everyone out to a rock quarry/gravel pit where we got to spend several hours behind the wheel of Touaregs, Phaetons and 4 door R32s. Oh, we also got tours of the Autostadt and the factory. In fact, they had so much stuff planned for us that it turned into an unofficial contest of endurance.

I'll be studying my butt off this year so that when the competition rolls around next year I'll have a shot at doing it all over again.

dubtech · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2007, 09:03:26 PM »

View of the Autostadt at night from our hotel room.

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