I have been driving since 1978 and i have had a hgv driver licence since 1982 , i have driven most thing on the road including bays , t25s splittys etc , i have driven the best lorrys on the road and the worst . i have to say driving a bay is one of the most pleasurable of experiences , the seating position is great the feel of the road or feedback through the column is right and the hum of the engine when tuned right is poetic , splittys and t25s do not have the right feel imo , splittys wander and t25s feel bulky at times . Obviously if things are'nt right its not going to be such a comfort but as i said i have driven most type of vehicle's on the road and most weeks i do 2200 miles in a modern all singin all dancing truck , but vw got the feel right with bays and they are a absolute pleasure - i could have driven her all day No she is'nt my fiirst bay i have owned three and probaly done 40-50000 miles in them over a period of 12years ownership .
I love the way your high enough to see over the hedgerows and they bay window gives great vision of the road ahead I love the wheels underneath you feel of the steering and i like that you get feedback of whats happening through the steering wheel and gear lever
I love the way I'm low enough to scrape the exhaust and axle on the floor and bang my head on the sliding door opening.
Replacing all the worn parts on my suspension and steering certainly has made it drive like a different bus Before i took it off the road driving would be more like clinging on for dear life as you bounced across the road trying your hardest to get the bus to point in the direction you wanted to go Taking your hand off the wheel to change gear took guts and determination
i can imagine thats a pain but i have been very lucky with all my vws the steering has been very positive
its a fair question though Mick , i bought because i had already pressed the bin button on ebay and could'nt really moan at the price i was getting her for anyway - i always get out of my truck and into my car feeling like i am sitting on a skateboard
Strangely enough, I really like the gear change ??? I like the fact that I have to actually take time over it and feel the selector into the gears - it's a much more of a relationship between me and the van than driving most modern cars.
... good post this. Obviously I agree about the feel of driving my bay: the way you're so high up. The only thing I don't like is parking in multi-storey car parks, who claim that the head room is 2m compared to my Westy's 2.02! I took a lift with a mate and his family in his modern Merc 4x4 diesel auto. At one point he said "we can make these lights", and just floored it. Being a modern car it went like a rocket. All I remember thinking is "well, those high revs aren't going to do the engine any good", and also, in my bay, I would have just thought "ah well, lights changing. never mind, there's no rush". I love my bay.
Great motors to drive. I also like the fact you get a smile or a wave from driving so slowly. We're you would normally get the finger from most drivers.
