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Is it a Bus or a van?
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TDCTDI
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:14 am    Post subject: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

While most are adamant that they be called a Bus, even VW called them a van. Very Happy
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:58 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Bay Window BUS.

VW called them differently in different parts of the world.
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 6:00 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

I have always been amused and amazed at this debate. Why does it really matter whether it is called a bus or a van? And why does it matter to us, those who own them? If I tell a layperson that I own a Volkswagen van or a Volkswagen bus, they always know what I am talking about. The question they always ask is if if it is one of those with all the windows. Not if it is a bus or a van. TDCTDI, I agree, If Volkswagen can call it either a Van or a Bus, why can't we?
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:07 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Most were officially station wagons, with some models being called delivery vans. VW also called them cars. I almost never heard the term bus used until I joined The Samba, every owner that I knew always called them VW Vans. I think the term bus was regional as was calling them bugs. For buying parts from a FLAPS, they were always Transporters or Type 2's.

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VW also just referred to them just as cars or vehicles.
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KentABQ Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:14 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Here's mu $0.02 worth from the Stupid Question forum last year...

KentPS wrote:
Why do the US Sambanistas insist on using the term "bus" when referring to a Bay Window vehicle?

According to an on-line dictionary:
"Van:
n. - A truck with an enclosed cargo space; A camper equipped with living quarters
Bus:
n. - A vehicle carrying many passengers"

So either term is fitting for a Westy or similar. "Bus" would be more appropriate for a transporter.

To me, the term "bus" brings to mind the loud, over-crowded, stand-in-the-aisle, hold-on-for-dear-life experience of using a community transit death-trap. "Van" brings to mind a simple, get-away-from-it-all escape vehicle.

Therefore, I've decided my 1976 VW Riviera is my VAN.


And Chloe smells better than any bus I've ridden on. Lol!
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richparker
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:26 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Station wagon
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:14 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Cue Karl for the mike drop Very Happy

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Mal evolent
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:27 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

the VW van was the first small family van. vans did not have a name until American manufacturers made their own version. vans did not have or need a name until vans existed

way back when, they got the wrong English as a second language German as a spokesman. he called it a bus. he was wrong. he was wrong, but he was first, so his wrong became enshrined as gospel in minds that can not see this simple truth.

if you can think for yourself and figure this out for yourself, call it what you want. America, first amendment, freedom of speech, who's going to stop you how?

if you have somehow concluded that the random German guy from 65 years back was in fact Saint Random German Guy appointed by God to make a pronouncement from on high, call it a bus and act like an enraged goose when a native English speaker uses English words to describe a thing which which is in every way a van and in no way a bus.

keep in mind that those of us who say what we will and do what we please may be calling it a van just to watch you flapping your wings and squawking like a goose.
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:48 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Mal evolent: Applause
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"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!"
---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
Very Happy Shocked Mad Sad Embarassed d'oh! Pray Brick wall Pray Dancing Dancing Dancing ---williamM
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:18 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

A Mexican Combi being used as a Colectivo fits the definition of a bus, most US Type 2s do not. Wink
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Xevin Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:21 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Caravan! Discuss Wink
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:45 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

richparker wrote:
Station wagon

I "think" in New York the DMV classifies them as Suburban
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TDCTDI
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:05 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Glenn wrote:
richparker wrote:
Station wagon

I "think" in New York the DMV classifies them as Suburban

Mine was registered as “Kombi”.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.
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TDCTDI
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:11 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.
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oprn
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

In '69 my father bought a 7 passenger type 2 VW to transport 5 children and 2 parents about our daily life. I bought it from him in '85 to transport our 4 children and their parents plus we had a wheel chair bound friend who depended on it to get around too.

That makes it a Bus! Not?

Very Happy

The ones with the pop tops and beds we called "Shaggin' Wagons!" Wink
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 2:16 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

Call your own chariot whatever you like.

Call someone’s else chariot what they like.

My T4 is named Ludwig Van

Yours is awesome too.

Aloha

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a-marshal
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 5:46 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

I always assumed that "bus" came a a contraction of the earlier "microbus"..
a term I first heard used in the Arlo Guthrie song "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" from 1967..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPx2t7xoF1k

personally I move randomly through all 4 accepted names and the two additional sub names.. Bus, van, Type2, Station Wagon and then Westy or Camper as the case may be...
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 7:34 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Wink
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Lil Lulu
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:57 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

The state of Washington insists that my 72 Transporter is a “campmobile”. I prefer “bus” from “microbus”.
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:53 am    Post subject: Re: Is it a Bus or a van? Reply with quote

It's a gawd-damned van. Period. Done.



You're welcome.
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