[KellyAdmirer]

We had a VW Microbus when I was a kid, might even have been a '73, I can't remember. Anyway, it would sway whenever there we went over a tall bridge on a windy day - I mean, noticeably sway - and yes, the heater wsa like an air conditioner. They forgot to mention the insane clutch, which is almost impossible for a non-VW driver to master and which needed to be replaced like clockwork.

Still, a really cool vehicle, and handy as heck to move stuff with in those pre-SUV days due to the removable middle bench seat.

[GretchenM]

I had the misfortune of being a passenger in some of those VW minivans ... cold doesn't quite cover it, and I remember being quite concerned for my safety every time I got into one due to the sway and the fact that they could put a tuna can to shame for crumple quality.

[MarkL]

We had a VW Microbus when I was a kid, might even have been a '73, I can't remember. Anyway, it would sway whenever there we went over a tall bridge on a windy day - I mean, noticeably sway - and yes, the heater wsa like an air conditioner. They forgot to mention the insane clutch, which is almost impossible for a non-VW driver to master and which needed to be replaced like clockwork.

Still, a really cool vehicle, and handy as heck to move stuff with in those pre-SUV days due to the removable middle bench seat.

In highschool, a buddy of mine's family owned a body shop (actually a number of auto dealerships, including a body shop), and as a joke, they took a VW Bus, and cut about 4 feet out of the middle, and welded it back together! It was a hoot to drive, as when you dropped the cluth, you would do a wheelie! I think that the wheelbase was about 6 foot by 6 foot square! It was frightening to drive at more than about 15 mph! Other vehicles that family built included one of the old "round back" honda civics, with a 426 Hemi (it was featured in a hot rod magazine), a "street bike" that started out as a Kawasaki KZ1300, bored and stroked to nearly 1500ccs, with dual turbos, running on alcolhol, and what looked like a standard Corvette Stingray (mid 70s body style) that had a tubular steel frame, and an aluminum Keith Black 650cid big block chevy "mountain motor."

One of the dealerships was a Pontiac dealer, and I saw a brand new 70 1/2 Trans Am, never sold, never titled, up on blocks in their warehouse. This was back in 1982. They had disconnected the electronics, and filled the crankase and cylinders with oil. If they still haven't sold it today, I'd be willing to bet that car's worth a mint!

Mark

[spanalot]

A friend of a friend became a quadroplegic in a VW bus.