Drove a VW Type 2 camper van last night...
Discussion
Close friends - and camper van owners - are getting married on Friday and have asked whether I will convey the bride to the church in their van. In order to properly prepare for this momentous task I went over for a drive around in it yesterday.
I am rather ashamed to admit that I quite liked it. Didn't go far but there was a smooth mechanical honesty to it that I found compelling, quite apart from the elevated driving position and excellent visibility.
Is there something wrong with me? I'm off out for a thrash about in the Exige tonight. Will that balance me out?
I am rather ashamed to admit that I quite liked it. Didn't go far but there was a smooth mechanical honesty to it that I found compelling, quite apart from the elevated driving position and excellent visibility.
Is there something wrong with me? I'm off out for a thrash about in the Exige tonight. Will that balance me out?
Don't drive a Mazda Bongo then.... you won't want to drive anything else after.... Auto...4wd...superb seats and driving position... turbo diesel or V6 are smiles all the way.....not a sports car....but then you can stop anywhere ....sleep the night and enjoy a cold beer or whatever from the fridge....
Enjoyed the GP at the weekend in comfort....
Enjoyed the GP at the weekend in comfort....
No you are totally sane ! i have a 1971 VW campervan that sits alongside a 996T. The campervan is of course totally different but I get a really sad sense of mechanical honesty from it. It bumbles along, but you do feel as though you are driving IT not the other way around.
Of course the main difference is when you drive along people wave at you with 5 fingers, in the Porsche they tend to use just the 2 !
Of course the main difference is when you drive along people wave at you with 5 fingers, in the Porsche they tend to use just the 2 !
chevronb37 said:
Close friends - and camper van owners - are getting married on Friday and have asked whether I will convey the bride to the church in their van. In order to properly prepare for this momentous task I went over for a drive around in it yesterday.
I am rather ashamed to admit that I quite liked it. Didn't go far but there was a smooth mechanical honesty to it that I found compelling, quite apart from the elevated driving position and excellent visibility.
Is there something wrong with me? I'm off out for a thrash about in the Exige tonight. Will that balance me out?
There is something wrong with you. Have you had to park it yet? Or drive it in crosswinds? Or in rain?I am rather ashamed to admit that I quite liked it. Didn't go far but there was a smooth mechanical honesty to it that I found compelling, quite apart from the elevated driving position and excellent visibility.
Is there something wrong with me? I'm off out for a thrash about in the Exige tonight. Will that balance me out?
I'm pleased I'm not alone. I was becoming quite concerned about myself. This seems quite a well-sorted example but I loved the vagueness of the gearbox, the funny hinging on the pedals, the horizontal steering wheel...In fact I'm yet to drive any vehicle I haven't enjoyed to some extent. I love jumping into something and trying to progress smoothly and safely, learning its nuances and working to improve yourself. Just part of the infinite joy of motoring, I suppose.
Tomorrow I'm off to try out my friend's newly-acquired F430 Spider. Should make an interesting comparison...
Tomorrow I'm off to try out my friend's newly-acquired F430 Spider. Should make an interesting comparison...
MarJay said:
There is something wrong with you. Have you had to park it yet? Or drive it in crosswinds? Or in rain?
Or use the hilariously bad brakes, or the bizarre vague gearbox (am I in 1st, or 3rd, hey it doesn't matter anyway!), or useless wipers, or go up a hill, or have the handbrake seize on....They DO have a wondeful charm about them, that makes you forgive almost all of the shortcomings, but only for short journeys IMO, I couldn't imagine actually using one to go camping holidays in!
lescombes said:
Don't drive a Mazda Bongo then.... you won't want to drive anything else after.... Auto...4wd...superb seats and driving position... turbo diesel or V6 are smiles all the way.....not a sports car....but then you can stop anywhere ....sleep the night and enjoy a cold beer or whatever from the fridge....
Enjoyed the GP at the weekend in comfort....
I'll second that, apart from the 4WD bit, I'm stuck with a RWD V6. Thirsty old thing, mind. Enjoyed the GP at the weekend in comfort....
Was talking to a VW type 2 owner in the van field at sonisphere this weekend, he'd driven down at 3am to avoid overheating in traffic. Much as I like the old VWs I can do without that kind of 'character'.
hornetrider said:
No I quite agree. I took somewhat perverse pleasure in piloting a 1984 Hiace camper around New Zealand for 3 months (2.2 non-turbo diesel, manual column shift). It must have had about 30 horse power that thing but I loved it!
I had exactly the same thing, and just like you, loved it! Absolutely gutless up hills but once you got it moving it was ok!They are enjoyable to drive. I have had a few and actually just sold one. A 1971 VW Camper and it was a cool little honest old bus.
You can get great pleasure from driving something that is so basic.
Much likes James Hunt loving his Austin A35.
I have just got the one modernish (88) rear engined VW Bus now. I am about to have Flat 6 230hp motor stuffed in the back. A real sleeper.
You can get great pleasure from driving something that is so basic.
Much likes James Hunt loving his Austin A35.I have just got the one modernish (88) rear engined VW Bus now. I am about to have Flat 6 230hp motor stuffed in the back. A real sleeper.
ehonda said:
Was talking to a VW type 2 owner in the van field at sonisphere this weekend, he'd driven down at 3am to avoid overheating in traffic. Much as I like the old VWs I can do without that kind of 'character'.
Surely it’s well-worn, they run cooler and cooler in traffic, not hotter. Also the brakes aren’t too bad if they’re in good shape, all 1700cc and bigger vans had a brake servo. Try one without for hero braking skillzehonda said:
I'll second that, apart from the 4WD bit, I'm stuck with a RWD V6. Thirsty old thing, mind.
Was talking to a VW type 2 owner in the van field at sonisphere this weekend, he'd driven down at 3am to avoid overheating in traffic. Much as I like the old VWs I can do without that kind of 'character'.
If you have a look at the cars I currently own, you'll see I am over-endowed with that great unquantifiable - 'character'! Was talking to a VW type 2 owner in the van field at sonisphere this weekend, he'd driven down at 3am to avoid overheating in traffic. Much as I like the old VWs I can do without that kind of 'character'.
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