Non-Volvo car chat megathread

[volvolugnut]

I’ve been reading about the new Bus for 20 years. It’s always just around the corner. Sometimes it’s electric, sometimes it’s a T4. Sometimes it’s a fan mock-up, sometimes it’s a VW in house render. Sometimes it’s a camper. But never, ever does it appear.

So this not coming here I suppose is poetic irony.

Wasn’t the assassination attempt on De Gaul the basis for the famous book Day of the Jackal? My parents had that, and I tried to read it when I was 11 or so, but after the action at the beginning, it was so boring I almost cried. I should try again maybe

Those DS gauges scream 1950 while the vents scream 2250.

Try to read 'Day of the Jackal' again. You may have been too young.

A friend of decades ago had a goal for several years to own many iconic cars. He owned in sequence a Nash Metropolitan, a Citroen DS-21, and Mercedes 450SE (about 1980). He drove each about a year and sold them again.

volvolugnut

[BlackBart]

That would be fun, if you could do it without losing much money on each one. Something interesting - but not super collectible - drive it, enjoy it, move on. Whenever I target a car I want, it’s a forever car and I’m too attached to it.

[BlackBart]

Those DS gauges scream 1950 while the vents scream 2250.

Yeah...and goldtone, and polished alum, and grey-ivory leather, and dusty green, and tan leather....yowza!

We haven’t gotten the real VW Transporter for years - ever since they sold out to Chrysler and shared a platform.

The retro microbus was a cool prototype years ago like you said, then died, and recently reappeared in revised form because it’s easy to adapt the new electric skateboard modular chassis to any shape. I think they plan to make it, but like you I’ve been tricked before. I think it would sell like hotcakes.

[abscate]

I’ve still got the T4 I bought new in 2002 and suspect I’ll take a “ dirt nap” in it. Only 100k and used for fun stuff only

The crap that goes for content now is unbelievable. You are supposed to be an authority on autos, but can’t figure out the range of a 13kW battery pack because VW hasn’t told you?

Tesla gets 300 miles out of 100 kW and no one can touch them yet on battery management, so do the math already.

Vw’s history of numbers , ah, has a “history of departure from the truth “

[BlackBart]

^^^ tru. So skeptical after being a VW fan most of my life. My wife's brother had to sell his diesel Golf with sport seats and sport suspension back to them. It paid for a new car, but.....

So I saw this story about the new id Buzz prototype out testing. If this is the real thing I'm really disappointed, from a design standpoint. The retro microbus was a great idea and would sell very well in my opinion.

This thing, however.....

But... it's very common now (and sort of legendary in VW-Porsche history) to cloak a new test mule in a different skin or at least front and rear plastic fascias. Note the fit and finish isn't very good. There appear to be some cover-up panels here and there. Also note the windshield shape, the quarter windows, and side windows are very close to the microbus prototype they hyped. It could be hiding inside this bland box. or...not. Does it need the family jowls at the front bumper like everyone is doing? Does it need a grille if it's all electric?

A news blurb:

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz prototype spied out and about in Germany

"Breaking spy photos reveal the latest visual insight into what looks to be VW’s all-new ID. Buzz in near-production form. The EV microbus will be available in both commercial and passenger body styles overseas for 2023, however, in the States, expect the incoming 2024 model to strictly be a passenger vehicle. The gallery below showcases the European’s panel van/commercial variant, aptly called ID. Buzz Cargo. It appears to maintain most of the fundamental cues suggested in the spirited design of the 2017 ID. Buzz concept. (Me: Really??)
The hotly-awaited ID. Buzz will needs to be a stalwart for the future of EVs. If any vehicle can both look to the future and capitalize on somewhat familiar brand nostalgia, the reborn Microbus is up to the task. Hopefully by the time it arrives, charging infrastructure will be able to better support the kind of adventuring Microbuses once made famous."

What about these recent ads....?
https://www.vw.com/en/electric-vehicles.html



https://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/future ... -electric/

id buzz with microbus.jpg (259.57 KiB) Viewed 1063 times

[abscate]

The marketing hype of the surfboard theme is hilarious. The only people who know about surfing live in NewJersey

[Sveedy]

^ Yeah right . Say that to someone from Hawaii or California.

[BlackBart]

We have frogsuited surfers in downtown Missoula....on the river! They replaced an old weir with a surf & kayak wave and it's very popular.

[MoVolvos]

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Woke But Not Awake Mr. President



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[BlackBart]

We now return you to your scheduled program.....


Very satisfying start-up procedure for your Porsche 917 -



Then they made this howling induction wail at full throttle - fantastic. The Ferraris were more of a raspy shriek.
This is from the movie Le Mans intro, but all the footage is from the real race. They actually entered a camera car in the race, with cameras hanging off the front and back, a Porsche 908/2 that McQueen had raced at Sebring and purchased afterwards. It had to come in regularly to change film reels, but still finished in 9th place, 2nd in P3.0 class.

1970-le-mans-no29-1.jpg (95.62 KiB) Viewed 1014 times