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BuddingAD
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Savannah
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 Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: What if the Thing was rereleased? |
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I'm working on an advertising thesis, so this is all in theory.
What I'm wondering is if VW decided to re-release the Thing- like they did with the Beetle, do you think there'd be a market for it?
Let's say it was pretty much the same as it was 25 years ago, with a few minor modernizations.
I really feel the Thing was ahead of it's time. the first compact SUV almost. And I think in today's market, it could be a fuel efficient fun alternative.
What do you fans think? Is it greatness factor based on its rarity or its over all fun factor? |
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bmwloco
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Joined: March 19, 2006
Posts: 1093
Location: Asheville NC
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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It is an interesting thought.
Keep in mind, though, that VW did a design study on bringing back the Bus. It went so far as to make posters, entice old school VW fans, and almost come to market.
Then the bean counters came in. Only the US had the nostalgia for the old Bus retro look.
Personally, I think the Thing has been redone and updated for now. Just look at the four door Jeep.
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'85 Vanagon Westfalia |
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Fun 181
Zu Geil!
Joined: October 20, 2006
Posts: 1003
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome Budding AD!
I've been doing the Art Direction thing for over a dozen years and came up with my own Thing ad about a year ago. I actually had a copywriter look at this once and ask me if it was a real VW ad!
The copy reads...
"Unsafe.
Safety isn’t cool, and it sure isn’t fun. That’s why we invented the Volkswagen Thing.
For all the folks out there living on the edge, we’ve got just the Thing for you.
Throw caution to the wind and test drive one today."
I illustrated the car and wrote the copy as joke. Well, at least I thought it was funny!
I'm assuming your working your way through SCAD. If so, good luck!
p.s. don't be stealing my ad for your thesis!!! I've got connections down there! |
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BuddingAD
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Fun 181 wrote: |
Welcome Budding AD!
I've been doing the Art Direction thing for over a dozen years and came up with my own Thing ad about a year ago. I actually had a copywriter look at this once and ask me if it was a real VW ad!
The copy reads...
"Unsafe.
Safety isn’t cool, and it sure isn’t fun. That’s why we invented the Volkswagen Thing.
For all the folks out there living on the edge, we’ve got just the Thing for you.
Throw caution to the wind and test drive one today."
I illustrated the car and wrote the copy as joke. Well, at least I thought it was funny!
I'm assuming your working your way through SCAD. If so, good luck!
p.s. don't be stealing my ad for your thesis!!! I've got connections down there! |
OK, I promise. lol. Well, maybe your illustration. JK. Though the safety factor was one of my worries- thus, some modernization. Yes, SCAD is my deelio. I'm actually 15 years removed from undergrad so this is all for me. But we have many departments that could help me out on this.
As for the comparison to the bus, I feel the Thing has more potential. Vans have gone by the wayside. This fits into the SUV category- yet with the appeal of a hybrid.
My goal is to resurrect a dead brand- real or not. I'm in the beginning stages here and thought I'd like to check in with one segment of my target audience. Thanks to anyone giving feedback! |
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Rev. Scott
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Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 770
Location: Philo, Ca.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| just get subaru to make a convertible wrx and your done! leave the blessed thing alone and out of ralph naders hands, thank you very much! vw didnt do the beetle any justice! lets not encourage another failure!... |
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BuddingAD
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| inkwelz wrote: |
| just get subaru to make a convertible wrx and your done! leave the blessed thing alone and out of ralph naders hands, thank you very much! vw didnt do the beetle any justice! lets not encourage another failure!... |
I'm curious why you say the beetle was a failure. Is it because it was not recreated close enuff to the original? What else? Sales were phenomenal. So... really please share. This is what I need to understand.
Also, I'm not going to actually launch the Thing. I'm trying to understand the audience, so I need advice. |
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Rev. Scott
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Joined: June 04, 2006
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Location: Philo, Ca.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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the "new beetle" was/is cute! the tdi is sorrta desirable even. the overall package however doesnt hold up and is an insult and a mockery to its namesake! and the golf is a far superior production, already in the line up! marketing of cute crap is the downfall of the industy...make it perform!!!
...a jeep with air bags??? what good is that?!!! |
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Doc*181
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Joined: December 09, 2003
Posts: 479
Location: Belgium
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howiesfamily
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Joined: March 31, 2004
Posts: 858
Location: Panther City, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:52 am Post subject: |
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| BuddingAD wrote: |
| inkwelz wrote: |
| just get subaru to make a convertible wrx and your done! leave the blessed thing alone and out of ralph naders hands, thank you very much! vw didnt do the beetle any justice! lets not encourage another failure!... |
I'm curious why you say the beetle was a failure. Is it because it was not recreated close enuff to the original? What else? Sales were phenomenal. So... really please share. This is what I need to understand.
Also, I'm not going to actually launch the Thing. I'm trying to understand the audience, so I need advice. |
The majority of New Beetle owners drive one because they think it's cute. They have never owned an air-cooled Beetle and never would because it's too primitive. They aren't "VW people". To them, it's just another car, just like the Honda Civic they had before it and the Toyota Prius they'll get after it. Those are the folks that have made the sales phenomenal. If VW would have done only 2 things different, the sales would have been much greater. First, put the engine where it is supposed to be, in the back. Second, support the air-cooled community by providing OEM parts and not suing every person they find whose farts sound like "fweem". (I'm waiting for the day when they copyright that term)
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Michael B
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Posts: 394
Location: Murrieta,CA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:58 am Post subject: |
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My thought is.
The older VW’s appeal to so many people because of the simple nature their built on. You have in one hand a next to bullet proof mechanical vehicle that even when they brake, most everyone with two hands can figure out and get it running. On the other hand you have a vehicle that can be customized in endless ways for what your budget will allow. I would love to see someone try and build a baja or dune buggy out of the new beetle.
I have been working on my Thing “Face Lift” for almost 8 months now and I’m so impressed with the engineering of this “Work of art”. You just don’t see the simplicity on cars made today that allow the backyard mechanic to tinker. Also with all the regulation on “Safety & Smog” now a day it would surely tie the hands of most people by now allowing them to tinker.
If the Thing was ever brought back it would surely take away from the ones we have today.
If I worked for a car maker I would find a way to build a vehicle that incorporates the simplicity that the original VW i.e. Pan, air cooled, solid but light suspension.
JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE and it will last forever.
Michael |
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BuddingAD
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Joined: July 14, 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Savannah
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:45 am Post subject: |
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| You are all bringing up some interesting thoughts. I think the diehards would be disappointed in a new Thing regardless of how close it was to the old. But that is no to say it could not be successful. I think people in today's market would eat it up. |
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spaeth
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:23 am Post subject: |
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I drive a New Beetle and have driven lots of old beetles. I also can handle the primitive stuff. I drove a 60 double cab as my only vehicle for years. So not all of us new beetle drivers simply drive them because they are cute. Although I will agree that the majority of them might. Ours is a TDI and gets 48 mpg is fun to drive and I love the looks. I would have preferred a Jetta wagon TDI but they are twice the money.
As for an updated Thing, I really think a convertible Honda Element would come really close. Water resistant interior, boxy shape, with a few styling cues from the Thing it could be a pretty close updated thing. I am sure it would get bombasted from the true Thing people just as the New Beetles are. But if I was given a safe, fun, reliable alternative to a Thing I would be truly tempted. The 4wd option would be great as well. For now I will stick with the two 73 Things I currently have.
Just my thoughts,
Craig |
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Ian Epperson
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Joined: January 12, 2005
Posts: 2262
Location: Alameda, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| inkwelz wrote: |
| the "new beetle" was/is cute! the tdi is sorrta desirable even. the overall package however doesnt hold up and is an insult and a mockery to its namesake! and the golf is a far superior production, already in the line up! marketing of cute crap is the downfall of the industy...make it perform!!! |
For a long time (still?), the New Beetle was a new body on the Golf chassis - it was the only way VWOA could get the car built as Germany did not hold nostalgia for the bug - just a reminder of the hard times after WWII. As such, there was little performance difference between the Golf and the New Beetle.
Like it or not, "marketing of cute crap" sell cars.
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Video Bob
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Joined: November 03, 2005
Posts: 261
Location: Bishop, GA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:48 am Post subject: |
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If I worked for a car maker I would find a way to build a vehicle that incorporates the simplicity that the original VW i.e. Pan, air cooled, solid but light suspension.
JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE and it will last forever. |
Michael |
[/quote]
Auto makers don't want it to last forever. They also don't want you working on it. How do you think that they sell at a minimum mark up and maintain the elaborate dealership facilities?? The profits are in the $300.00 check off list that you wait in the waiting room for 2 hours and watch TV eat snacks as they rack up more ways to charge you for something you don't need!! As someone mentioned, it's already been done with the 4 door Jeep.
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1956 Oval
1966 Beetle
1974 Thing
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AZVDubbin
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Joined: January 02, 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Phoenix, Arizona!
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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I too.. am a New Beetle owner. We chose the beetle not because it was cute, but because it was the most affordable convertible with decent fuel mileage that we could buy, and still fit two carryon suitcases in the trunk. It also drives very well, tight fun steering, and great brakes. The golf/jetta/rabbit is a great car, but lacks the fun and carefree style of the convertible bug. We also own a '73 Ghia, and '73 Thing.
Now, as to the idea of a new "Thing", the Jeep is not even close! The new Wrangler has become over bloated, over hyped, and over priced. I agree that fuel economy is king right now, but people do NOT want to give up the positives of an suv. I think their would be a case for a cheap, fun, four door converible that returns excellent fuel mileage, and drew on the inspiration of the original! Jeep has already realized that the new Wrangler is too big and sluggish, not to mention horrid MPG.. they are working on a new concept CJ7, smaller, 4 banger and stripped down barebones! I believe VW needs two lines of cars.. the more mainstream jettas, passats, and suvs.. and then it needs the cheaper, rear engined, aircooled, runabouts for people like us! Just my two cents...
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AZVDubbin
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mrea46
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Location: Montrose, Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject: why not... |
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Make a baby VW hummer, Call it a bummer and be done with it.
With modern upgrades, i.e., roll up windows,convertible top, modern heat etc.
Definately have to have at lease 130 HP. I think it would sell great but it would have to be an all weather vehicle. |
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Doc*181
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Joined: December 09, 2003
Posts: 479
Location: Belgium
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: What if the Thing was rereleased? |
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| BuddingAD wrote: |
And I think in today's market, it could be a fuel efficient fun alternative.
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(okay, I know ... it 's an old topic  )
Keep in mind that on the other side of your ocean, the vw181 was/is not really fuel efficient. Fuel consumption of most cars is really low in Europe. Except the imported cars from the US... they drink a lot! 
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norcalmike
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| if the thing was re-released, it would be a joke, just like the new beetle. |
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Semper_Dad
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Posts: 3534
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: What if the Thing was rereleased? |
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| BuddingAD wrote: |
I'm working on an advertising thesis, so this is all in theory.
What I'm wondering is if VW decided to re-release the Thing- like they did with the Beetle, do you think there'd be a market for it?
Let's say it was pretty much the same as it was 25 years ago, with a few minor modernizations.
I really feel the Thing was ahead of it's time. the first compact SUV almost. And I think in today's market, it could be a fuel efficient fun alternative.
What do you fans think? Is it greatness factor based on its rarity or its over all fun factor? |
I believe the VW Iltis (Type 183) was the logical evolution of the Type 181. Almost unknown in the United States this vehicle was primarily a military work vehicle. I understand that for a short time a civilian version was was available in Germany. Unfortunately the cost was almost twice the price of a Golf of it's day. It was a very spartan and borrowed parts and technology from different VW and Audi cars of the time. Audi-like Quattro transaxle, 1.7l Rabbit motor. It even used the old 181 windshield frame. A TDI diesel was made available toward the end of it's run.
Price, emission controls and safety concerns is what killed the 181. I believe if the thing were to be re-introduced it would have to be:
4 wheeled drive
Water-cooled gas or TDI engine
Retained spartan interior |
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