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Busdepot
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 1357
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 Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: Brazilian Kombi going away / Last Bus made in Brazil |
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This is kinda old news, but now it's apparently "official" ...
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/vw-ending-kombi-production-after-63-year-run/
This will mark the end of Type 2 production worldwide, as the Mexican Kombi went away a few years ago. Unfortunately, over time it will also reduce the availability of new genuine VW parts for German Buses, as many of the genuine VW/Brazil parts that we currently sell (including seals, metal, and mechanical parts) only remained in production because they also fit modern Kombi's.
Moderator note:
Other articles, some from this thread, some from other locations are below.
If you know of others or want to add to this list PM EverettB
http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20130820-catching-the-last-bus
http://jalopnik.com/old-school-vw-microbus-will-finally-end-production-this-1153016890
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/08/volkswagen-microbus/
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/23/volkswagen-to-haltproductionoficonicbus.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/18/brazil-auto-taxes-idUSL2N0JX02S20131218
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/12/18/volkswagen-kombi-may-keep-on-trucking/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2013/dec/...n-pictures
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/usa/end-of-road-for-volkswagen-camper-vans-1.1265713
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-volkswagen-van-a-fond-farewell-2013-12-23?siteid=yhoof2
From a post dated December 22, 2013:
| cliveawn wrote: |
Here are some pics of the last 3 busses made in Brazil.
A sad day!
Like the way all the workers autographed one bus and then the other had pics of them all on it.
These should go into a museum!
Here is the production line empty and all quiet!
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The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52281
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Brazilian Kombi going away |
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| Busdepot wrote: |
This is kinda old news, but now it's apparently "official" ...
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/vw-ending-kombi-production-after-63-year-run/
This will mark the end of Type 2 production worldwide, as the Mexican Kombi went away a few years ago. Unfortunately, over time it will also reduce the availability of new genuine VW parts for German Buses, as many of the genuine VW/Brazil parts that we currently sell (including seals, metal, and mechanical parts) only remained in production because they also fit modern Kombi's. |
That is really quite sad to hear, but not surprising. A pretty outdated car in many ways, there are certainly many better light vans cruising the blacktop these days and/or bouncing through the ruts and potholes of the back country. It would not have done us owners of classic Bays much good, but VW should have totally redone their Kombi twenty years back, maybe making the larger version of the Vanagon their world mainstay.
Hopefully they will not destroy all their molds, patterns, and such.
Any idea if they plan on replacing it with something? Hopefully not a Routan or whatever they call their present excuse for a Transporter. |
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thewalrus
Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 3014
Location: Belchertown, MA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Brazilian Kombi going away |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| Any idea if they plan on replacing it with something? Hopefully not a Routan or whatever they call their present excuse for a Transporter. |
Pretty sure we're the only country that got the Routan. Lucky us 
Everyone else got the T5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vw_t5
Not surprising that they're ending production. Hopefully this won't skyrocket parts or bus prices too much. I guess they can finally say "Ya know they don't make these anymore!" and not be lying
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'73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb
| notchboy wrote: |
| You ran over some #Vanlife'ers hopes and dreams? |
| 60vwnewengland wrote: |
| Looking forward to next weekend, weed, krunk juice, hookers, blow, hanging with bums, philly, ...the awards! |
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Westfabulous
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 4207
Location: The tropic of Canada, dodging the giant flying moose of Surrey!
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Brazilian Kombi going away |
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| thewalrus wrote: |
| Wildthings wrote: |
| Any idea if they plan on replacing it with something? Hopefully not a Routan or whatever they call their present excuse for a Transporter. |
Pretty sure we're the only country that got the Routan. Lucky us
Everyone else got the T5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vw_t5
Not surprising that they're ending production. Hopefully this won't skyrocket parts or bus prices too much. I guess they can finally say "Ya know they don't make these anymore!" and not be lying |
Oh no you weren't. We got the Dodge VW Routan too. 
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 17823
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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good. now we can really listen to people bitch about prices
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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shiningstar76
Samba Brewer
Joined: July 12, 2003
Posts: 2689
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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I really liked the prototype camper that VW scraped. I was actually excited about it.
But, anything we get in the US market will undoubtedly be only available with a gas automatic. Sort of like that ford transit. I thought, oh, cool, saw them in europe. Maybe there will be a 5 speed diesel option.....nope and nope. I have a german friend who calls the stick shift the american anti-theft system.
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96 Tacoma
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My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42398
Location: at the beach
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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It is still a shame. The Brazilian Bays should have been sold here if someone wanted one. To this day there is not another vehicle on the market that has the same utility as a Bay.
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Chris_914
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2011
Posts: 344
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| It is still a shame. The Brazilian Bays should have been sold here if someone wanted one. To this day there is not another vehicle on the market that has the same utility as a Bay. |
I can't say they have the likeability but I would beg to differ that the Mercedes Benz Sprinter has at least and probably far greater utility value.
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52281
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris_914 wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| It is still a shame. The Brazilian Bays should have been sold here if someone wanted one. To this day there is not another vehicle on the market that has the same utility as a Bay. |
I can't say they have the likeability but I would beg to differ that the Mercedes Benz Sprinter has at least and probably far greater utility value. |
Agreed, the rest of the world has a lot of makes and models to choose from, in the US we are limited by the Chicken Tax and a deep stack of safety laws, many of which have no reason being on the books. |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42398
Location: at the beach
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris_914 wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| It is still a shame. The Brazilian Bays should have been sold here if someone wanted one. To this day there is not another vehicle on the market that has the same utility as a Bay. |
I can't say they have the likeability but I would beg to differ that the Mercedes Benz Sprinter has at least and probably far greater utility value. |
I don't know. I have a bed in the back of my bay or a seat in just a few minutes. I can roll over and look out the window if I want. This doesn't look as appealing although perhaps for large loads it would be more room.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin |
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69rulz
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2009
Posts: 867
Location: On a trip on my couch
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| Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:28 am Post subject: |
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We had a good run  1950-2012
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Id rather die on my feet than live a life on my knees Right turn clyde |
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Bruskyvw
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2009
Posts: 682
Location: Poulsbo, Washington
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| Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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:/ Sad, sad news.
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Current VWs: 2001 2.0 New Beetle 250k
1974 Super Beetle
Past vws: 1977 Champagne Edition I Bus (Cedar)1991 Capri Green Wolfsburg Jetta 1978 Sage Green(Taiga) Transporter 2.0 FI (Paddy) 1980 Inca Brown Rabbit Diesel LS 1969 Karmann (funky weird blue that wasn't original) Ghia Autostick 1991 Bordeaux Red Vanagon GL 1992 Tornado Red GTI 8V |
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CoastalAirCooledVW
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2012
Posts: 1882
Location: Mckinleyville, CA (Humboldt County)
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| Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Only 3 years till we would have beat the bug
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52281
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| Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| CoastalAirCooledVW wrote: |
| Only 3 years till we would have beat the bug |
Now that is sad.  |
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CoastalAirCooledVW
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2012
Posts: 1882
Location: Mckinleyville, CA (Humboldt County)
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| Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| CoastalAirCooledVW wrote: |
| Only 3 years till we would have beat the bug |
Now that is sad. |
Do we still get second? Or is their something else?
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WestyPop
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 1734
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:58 am Post subject: |
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Mmmm… the Routan. Never drove one, but 4 days ago I fell into an incredibly good deal (intra-family purchase) on a late model Chrysler T&C minivan. Yes, it has a V6, power windows, good A/C, air bags, power-adjustable pedals, and even sliding doors on both sides (woo-hoo!), but after driving it for a few miles, my thoughts were, that I really like my ’68 Westy a lot better. The Chrysler (a.k.a. Dodge or Routan) just doesn’t show me 40 years of advancement over the early bays, not in handling, usable interior space, driver feedback, or especially, feeling like I’m really “in charge”. I.e. it’s freakin’ “dull”. Yeah, I know that’s very subjective, but the feeling is getting even stronger, the more I drive the T&C. I’ll probably give it to a stepchild, grandchild, or some such in the next year or so.
Please don’t sign me up for a Routan, unless it’s a giveaway drawing for a freebie, and even then I’ll still prefer a bay.
Bummer for Brazil and the rest of us. Wish I could buy up 2 or 3 new current Brazilian Kombis & just dry store them for future use, but it looks like I’ll just have to take good care of what I have. OTOH that feels OK.
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52281
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:28 am Post subject: |
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| WestyPop wrote: |
Mmmm… the Routan. Never drove one, but 4 days ago I fell into an incredibly good deal (intra-family purchase) on a late model Chrysler T&C minivan. Yes, it has a V6, power windows, good A/C, air bags, power-adjustable pedals, and even sliding doors on both sides (woo-hoo!), but after driving it for a few miles, my thoughts were, that I really like my ’68 Westy a lot better. The Chrysler (a.k.a. Dodge or Routan) just doesn’t show me 40 years of advancement over the early bays, not in handling, usable interior space, driver feedback, or especially, feeling like I’m really “in charge”. I.e. it’s freakin’ “dull”. Yeah, I know that’s very subjective, but the feeling is getting even stronger, the more I drive the T&C. I’ll probably give it to a stepchild, grandchild, or some such in the next year or so.
Please don’t sign me up for a Routan, unless it’s a giveaway drawing for a freebie, and even then I’ll still prefer a bay.
Bummer for Brazil and the rest of us. Wish I could buy up 2 or 3 new current Brazilian Kombis & just dry store them for future use, but it looks like I’ll just have to take good care of what I have. OTOH that feels OK. |
When I sit in the seat of a newer car at first everything feels so nice and comfy, but within a few miles going down the road my elbows will begin to hurt because they don't like the padding the newer arm rest are made of and withing an hour I am getting spasms across my back because my body doesn't like the wrap around seats that don't allow me to shift my position. By the time I have run through a tank of gas I have trouble getting out of the car and moving, straightening up is painful. By the end of a full day of driving a newer rig my ankles may be swollen up to twice their normal size. In my Bay in contrast, 600 or even 800 miles in a day doesn't bother me much.
My wife pretty much feels the same way. She and my one daughter did coast to coast in my bay a few years back in 2 1/2 days, seldom going above 60. Don't think she could have done it in that short of a time frame in a more modern car which restricts you down to close to zero body movement leaving you sore and beat.
Last edited by Wildthings on Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:53 am; edited 1 time in total |
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aryue
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2006
Posts: 1027
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:37 am Post subject: |
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My two main beefs with modern front wheel drive mini-vans are:
The body design is centered around glass encased, air conditioned comfort - which do not allow the installation of manually operated, slider type windows with screens in the rear.
Second, they lack good ground clearance. There is lots of low hanging fruit underneath to damage on rutted, unpaved roads.
I could get used a five or six speed automatic transmission, if I had no other choice - but I prefer a manual transmission. Manual transmissions are basically extinct in most North American mini-van offerings.
- Andrew in Austin, TX -
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http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/VW/VWBus.html |
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samwise
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2010
Posts: 611
Location: North Salt Lake, Utah
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| SGKent wrote: |
I don't know. I have a bed in the back of my bay or a seat in just a few minutes. I can roll over and look out the window if I want. This doesn't look as appealing although perhaps for large loads it would be more room.
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Then again, a Kombi version of the Bay didn't come with a bed either.
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Ben
1979 7-passenger bus
Harvee the Wonder Bus' pics |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22659
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:27 am Post subject: |
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If anyone wants to throw a LT 4x4 crew cab or panel my way, Im sure Id catch it.  Thats the one I wish we got here
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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