TheSamba.com :: View topic - The "other" VW in your life:T3 owners perspective

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:17 pm

daily driver is a 97 B4 passat.........TDI
gotta luv 46 MPG!!

Thar she blow... by my old deluxe...... gone but not forgotten, traded for notcho

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:30 pm

rosevillain wrote: For me, the past included buying too many cars that needed too much work, and fantasies of actually completing them.

:lol: im right there with you. i promised myself i wouldn't do that anymore

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:59 pm

My 61

my wifes first car, she's been driving it since '85

Before that was a 72 super, my first car and a 60 beetle.
I'm hoping to be driving the square as my daily in the spring.

The wife still wants a Ghia and a westy to round out the stable.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:54 pm

Growing up, our family went camping and used our Squareback to transport us. Now that I have my own family I wanted to go camping; I love the outdoors.

My fiancé wasn't too hip on my way of camping: Throw it on your back and hike in! Roughing it for her was no room service. About that time my buddy gave me a Westy. It was in terrible cosmetic shape and had no engine but it was a driver...as the previous owner did drive it to his shop and take out the engine! The missus was curious and talked to me about camping and expectations. I had her lay on the Westy bed and explained the various features. We agreed the childs cot above was absurd for either of our kids (aged less than 4 at the time). The front cot was neat but, for us, would've been only good for one child.

So I explained to her about a friend's Vanagon I borrowed and how it had 2+2 adult sleeping and she liked that idea (actually, so did I). Then we did some searching in the classifieds here and other locations to see Rivieras. We agreed that an air-cooled VW would be a good choice because I could do the work on it (saving us money!) plus it was a classic dub and that kept me happy. I put my foot down that I would never own NOR DRIVE a mini-van unless it was an original (a Type II). We eventually found one from the classifieds here and drove it home.

I never, ever thought I would own -- much less like! -- a Bus. But it is a GREAT, versatile vehicle! We use it for grocery shopping, hauling stuff (like out-grown clothing and toys to Goodwill), picking the kids up from day-care, and...oh yeah...CAMPING! What's nice about it is it can hold car seats whereas a T3 cannot with any reasonability. BTDT so don't argue with me.

Camping is great because the kids sleep above (on the thinner mattress) while we sleep below (on the thicker mattress). No sink or cabnetry so there's more space to move about (the more we use it the more we're glad we don't have all that Westy stuff). If the kids get out of hand it's easy for mom to move from the front seat to dole out the whupings...wait, that's daddy's job...any way...

Yes, I think the Splitty looks best but it can't beat the power of a stock T4 FI engine and I think the Riviera is a better design than a Westy -- which is why we specifically looked for one.

For what you're looking to do, you can't go wrong with a camper Bus of either style. DO IT!

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:03 pm

Though most would not consider a 1976 Bus old, the rest of the public has no idea about the age range of air-cooled VWs so, to them, it's an old car, a classic. So we get waves; kids smile (it came with Scoobie Doo seat covers, curtains, and Scoobie Doo bobble head); people come up and tell us their stories about the Bus they had growing up. While away from the Bus but close enough to see it, we'll see people slow down and sometimes stop to look at it. To the general public, a Splitty and a Bay are the same age: An old Volkswagen mostly associated with hippies. And I always wave to other Buses when I see them, cuz there's so few of us around!

Keep on truckin' :wink: :vw:

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:05 pm

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:18 pm

Oh yeah, as for other dubs...I'm happy w/my Squareback and Bus, really don't want any others. Additional vehicles for me will be mostly in the [classic Italian] exotic range. Maybe one day a Porsche 930, 5-speed. But one that's not white...yuck...why are so many white?

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:36 pm

I've delegated my '67 Squareback as a daily driver, when I'm not driving one of my newer cars (Dodge & Porsche) but I currently have a varied selection of VWs to choose from when the mood strikes.

I wanted to be able to choose between a sedan (1947) a sunroof (1954) or a convertible (1956). Then I ventured into having one of each type. So I went out and bought a Type 1 (1966 vert), a Type 2 (1966 Deluxe) & of course a Type 3 (1967 Variant).

But,like most collectors, I will always try to rotate the fleet when the opportunity arises to replace with a much earlier version when they become available.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:25 pm

Rest assured gang that Jason's very early Feb. '62 Notch didn't end up in the Garage of some 17 year old who's only desire is to own the lowest Notch on the planet. I know most of you think that I need another Notchback like I need a hole in the head. But I like the idea that this car is probably to oldest running Notch in North America.

I am a true T-3 diehard but I wish Jason well in his venture for a Bus Phat Chick! I think he should consider changing his nickname to "Bay-Boy" kinda rhymes with something else... don't it? :lol:

Bob

Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:29 am

Gizmobob wrote: Rest assured gang that Jason's very early Feb. '62 Notch didn't end up in the Garage of some 17 year old who's only desire is to own the lowest Notch on the planet. I know most of you think that I need another Notchback like I need a hole in the head. But I like the idea that this car is probably to oldest running Notch in North America.

I am a true T-3 diehard but I wish Jason well in his venture for a Bus Phat Chick! I think he should consider changing his nickname to "Bay-Boy" kinda rhymes with something else... don't it? :lol:

Bob
Dude, you've got issues. :D Congrats.

Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:41 am

Envious wrote: Gizmobob wrote: Rest assured gang that Jason's very early Feb. '62 Notch didn't end up in the Garage of some 17 year old who's only desire is to own the lowest Notch on the planet. I know most of you think that I need another Notchback like I need a hole in the head. But I like the idea that this car is probably to oldest running Notch in North America.

I am a true T-3 diehard but I wish Jason well in his venture for a Bus Phat Chick! I think he should consider changing his nickname to "Bay-Boy" kinda rhymes with something else... don't it? :lol:

Bob
Dude, you've got issues. :D Congrats.

Srsly.

Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:45 am

Tram wrote: Envious wrote: Gizmobob wrote: Rest assured gang that Jason's very early Feb. '62 Notch didn't end up in the Garage of some 17 year old who's only desire is to own the lowest Notch on the planet. I know most of you think that I need another Notchback like I need a hole in the head. But I like the idea that this car is probably to oldest running Notch in North America.

I am a true T-3 diehard but I wish Jason well in his venture for a Bus Phat Chick! I think he should consider changing his nickname to "Bay-Boy" kinda rhymes with something else... don't it? :lol:

Bob
Dude, you've got issues. :D Congrats.

Srsly.
^^^ I just noticed Tram's tag line. Too funny. :D

Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:07 am

Envious wrote: Tram wrote: Envious wrote: Gizmobob wrote: Rest assured gang that Jason's very early Feb. '62 Notch didn't end up in the Garage of some 17 year old who's only desire is to own the lowest Notch on the planet. I know most of you think that I need another Notchback like I need a hole in the head. But I like the idea that this car is probably to oldest running Notch in North America.

I am a true T-3 diehard but I wish Jason well in his venture for a Bus Phat Chick! I think he should consider changing his nickname to "Bay-Boy" kinda rhymes with something else... don't it? :lol:

Bob
Dude, you've got issues. :D Congrats.

Srsly.
^^^ I just noticed Tram's tag line. Too funny. :D

That's a play on knotchboy's tag line:

notchquisling wrote: "Dont wreck them, restore them!"

I put that in my sig the day he put his Notch up for sale. :lol:

Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:08 pm

heres my 67 fasty

my polo when i first had it

my polo now

Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:36 pm

I'll make it easy

Type III Only !

Never owned or will own something else

The TIV with the Subaru engine was a partnership and is collecting dust at this moment

BerT3

Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:44 pm

BerT3 wrote: I'll make it easy

Type III Only !

Never owned or will own something else

The TIV with the Subaru engine was a partnership and is collecting dust at this moment

BerT3

So, in other words, you're part owner of a non Type 3 fat chick VW abortion hack.

That's 50 demerits. Owning a Bay Bus is only 5 demerits. Sucks to be you! :D

Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:58 pm

So where does this leave me? I only have room for one at a time.

Having said that, I've had:
'72 bay deluxe
'69 fasty
2 '69 squares (1 current)
1 split window bus

too big for clown car bugs... 6'5" just desn't work in something that small...

Now, the Subaru crowd gives me credit for having a air-cooled VW. Do I get any credit from y'all for having a flat-4 underpowered stationwagon as a DD, even if it is Japanese? I was even bad- the brakelight on the Subaru died late one night, so I replaced it with a bulb from the VW because I wasn't going to be able to visit a parts store for several days. 30 years apart, same bulbs...

Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:05 pm

My next VW will be a single cab. I've wanted one forever. My truck was totaled last month, and I ordered a new camaroSS (should be here in early/mid nov), so I will need some other type of truck. My wife has a tahoe, which works well for heavy towing, but I need something "rough" for taking welding bottles in for refills, and trips to the metal supply.

I spotted a 61 single in el paso, if its still available if a few months I might pick it up.

Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:21 pm

HotStreetVw wrote: My next VW will be a single cab. I've wanted one forever. My truck was totaled last month, and I ordered a new camaroSS (should be here in early/mid nov), so I will need some other type of truck. My wife has a tahoe, which works well for heavy towing, but I need something "rough" for taking welding bottles in for refills, and trips to the metal supply.

I spotted a 61 single in el paso, if its still available if a few months I might pick it up.

at the risk of offending a die hard chevy fan (if you are one), I've driven both the new Camaro SS and the new 2010 Mustang GT, and the mustang is head and shoulders better... :|

(and I usually have NOTHING good to say about domestics in general...)

Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:27 pm

Saw this thread brewing yesterday and was pretty amused, as I have been secretly lusting for a Bay double cab for some time now.

After my multiple hip surgeries, getting in and out of the T34 has become downright painful. Time will tell how this pans out...