Informal Poll

[Xevin]

Kids or cars. Make good choices that one can support properly and not be a burden to others. I’m not a parent to a human (that i know of, Heyooo! )


From the internet:
“Children are not an investment in the traditional financial sense, but rather a "labor of love" and a significant personal and emotional commitment. While they require a substantial investment of time, energy, and money, this is generally given without the expectation of a financial return.”

Like a classic VW but with more responsibility.
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Keep on Busin'

[ALLWAGONS]

We are going off topic here. The pill says who’s keeping, who’s selling or who’s planning to buy.

We all know there are some people out there that don’t know how to manage money.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[SGKent]

As of Today December 17, 2025 the count is

84% (49) Who are planning on maintaining their present ownership in 2026
5% (3) who are planning to sell and leave the bus community in 2026
10% (6) who are considering a new, additional or replacement bus in 2026

Personally I think that shows a pretty stable market, at least here on the Samba. Now for the whole world of people who don't come here, I can't say, but to me that looks like this is a good time to keep ones bus. The market is stable, not crash diving, and not rising. Not many buyers but certainly there are people looking for a bus in the right condition at the right price. To me, this is a pretty positive response.
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Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).

George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[TDCTDI]

[dodger tom]

steve, while i voted (to keep, of course), i didn’t comment.

i’ve owned four buses (including a ‘62 27-window) and two karmann ghias (including a ‘66 convertible). i’ve owned the ‘79 ce2 since 1991, and will have it to the end.

if i had the financial wherewithal, i’d own another ghia (or an ac 912 or 911). maybe a single cab. but, don’t expect either.

i’ll happily keep the ce2 going, and enjoy it to its highest purpose as my home-away-from-home. it isn’t an investment. it’s family.
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1978 Champaign Edition 2 Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Rag00oll]

In my personal experience for every one person I’ve seen “leave” the hobby. One or two new people join. And someone who is in it, like myself, gets a new project or an already nice driver. While I agree the forums and project threads aren’t as busy as 10+ years ago on here I think that’s more because a lot of people seem to be using facebook. All the vw facebook pages im on are constantly busy. Though half the advice given there needs thrown in the trash and the other 25% are people just being mean.

Im keeping my 68. Got a whole bunch of stuff I want to fix this upcoming year and drive it as much as possible!

I was going to pull my engine and gas tank for the winter to get to my fuel sender but there’s the potential of some driving weather coming up again provided the rain comes first to wash the salt.

[OB Bus]

[richparker]

At the end of the day they are valuable. May not be worth as much as the owner thinks, but they are still worth money.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[Xevin]

[Buggeee]

I've never tried to make money on my VWs, but I've never lost money either. I've always gotten the money out that went in. Every penny. But I do the labor myself.

My time, however, endless hours of researching, installing parts, gaining and exercising new skills... all that goes unaccounted for and uncompensated as far as cold cash is concerned. For me, fulfilling dreams, satisfying curiosity and having a healthy way to spend my personal time is priceless. In that way, the money is working for me while it sits, insured, in the VW. Like a savings account that I can drive around.

And when it comes time to make the withdrawal, I have been able to step right out of it for what I've got in it, quick, because it does not have to be top of the market for a simple withdrawal. Just like a stop at the credit union to cash out a CD.

I would have a real hard time making this passion into a business as I work slow and in spurts as the mood hits or spare time allows. It has kept me off the couch, however, and a very fun way to have a savings account.
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Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[Xevin]

Always liked your style Buggeee
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Keep on Busin'

[Bobs67vwagen]

Bungee sums up the VW hobby as I have always found it to be. I always had a bug or a bus or ghia that I would work on, repair, drive and enjoy for a while and then sell it and move on to the next one. I did this over a 25 year period starting in the 1970s. They were always an easy sell and I usually made money but I did it because I enjoyed it and another VW that I was enthusiastic about always seemed to turn up. It was enjoyable, always had a bit of a cool factor around it, and felt good to be able to put together a VW that I could drive across country reliably. It is a bit more difficult in today's world with the cars being so much older but still possible with a good bit of hard work.

[ALLWAGONS]