Oh, you don't like those do you?

These are the words I hear so often when people find out I'm restoring a VW bus. They're said in a derogatory manner, with a look of dismay as if to suggest VW Bay window T2s are rubbish, that I'm crazy. There are of course many who react in a great way, who've always loved the buses. But does anyone else suffer negative comments and dismaid looks from folk during conversations when they find out you're into Bays?

 

I've always just said an old vw camper, people probably assume a splitty but hey ho, other than that i dont really get many folk who dont at least see the potential of owning a bay even if its not 'their bag'.

 

Did you mean Bays specifically or buses in general?
I doesn't matter in my case anyway. Texans don't generally know the difference. They smile, they wave at the hippie guy in the cute Scooby Doo van (which was a Ford), they even ask to take pictures of themselves next to it for their facebook page. Then they ask, "What is it?". ???
They all think it's cute and love seeing it going down the road, but I think most Texans would rather put a cigarette out in their sphincter than be seen driving one. They would rather own a good, old, huge, gas-guzzling, American-made pick-up truck. Yee- (if I may)- Haw. :

 

I've found a hugely positive response - from the people I work with who find it funny given how far removed it is from my job - through the postman, to the guy walking his dog who delayed me this morning!. I find people with young ish families especially think its cool.

I've not found anyone (not into cars) that knows a splitty from a Bay, so haven't experienced that.

In fact, only Mrs Moons has let the side down this week, by seeing a recently fannied up splitty and falling in love with it. Her lack of loyalty has been noted, and like the Sword of Damocles, will hang over her until a suitable opportunity for it to be brought up.

I also think that there is an inherant snobery around VW circles - but then I've I'd wacked out £24k more for something older/rarer, then I'd want to justify it too!

I've always liked splits - but never enough to actually desire one.

 

i always get the comment "doesn't it break down all the time"
my answer is always the same, its been going 39 years so it must be doing ok
3 years on and i have never called out the breakdown people. said while touching lots of wood!
peoples perception is a bit weird though. we have all been told about the porsche engine and jamie oliver has one etc etc but we need to remember these guys are just taking an interest or trying to make conversation on a subject they know nothing about

 

I often get the comment "is it one of those ones with the split screen" when I tell people I have an old VW Camper. The reaction is always the same when I say its a bay. It normally involves whoever asked dismissing the van and the fact I own one and changing the subject.

Not that I mind, if they are that 'type' I dont want to talk to them about how cool I think mine is anyway

 

I've got a mate with a nice old Merc library bus he's converted into a camper. He's put a line of insulating tape down the windscreen to make it look like a split screen. I just say nothing....

 

my hairdresser said "why would anyone ever want to ride in an old bus with no air conditioning?" which resulted in her having one customer less.

mostly all bad comments about the car would be regarding it's age, which i usually reply with "we'll see how you'll be holding up when you turn 40" Though people who don't understand the terms "classic" and have no regard for old things, usually aren't people i have interest in making friends with anyway.

 

Everyone we know loves bays, maybe more than splitties. My dad had a bay too, so as far as i'm concerned they are THE campervan.

 

Weve been lucky enough to always get positive comments.
We took a trip to Southport beach recently and parked up, got the chairs out, put the sun awning up and made a brew.
A couple with two young kids came over and said "would you mind if the kids had a look at your bus, they love it!" The adults then proceded to have a good poke around making cooing noises while the kids stood there looking bored and embarrased!! >
The best reaction weve ever had was in Wilmslow town centre (Premiership footballers central!)
We were driving past a group of about 10 schoolkids who started waving, cheering and giving the thumbs up. :mwave:
What made it so much sweeter was that they were stood on the pavement outside an Aston Martin dealership! ;D
Guess money just cant buy that kinda reaction!

 

Always get nice comments when I'm out working on Daisy. My boss often makes sarcastic comments but then I tell him we can compare the state of my bay and his BMW 5 series when that's 30+ years old!

 

i always get a good response from people when the find out iv got a bus , i dont know if half of them know the differance between a bay and a split to be honest .

.... and it seems to be a fanny magnet i might ad

 

Always happy to chat to people about Marge, lots of people who would love to own a camper stop and ask what it is like, I always warn them that if they buy one they need to be prepared to speak to a lot of strangers and when they look a little bemused, this is when I point out what we (the stranger and I) are currently doing.
You have to be nice to own a camper.

 

Im always happy to chat to people about mine

Im getting sick of the scrap men asking if i want rid of that old thing though

 

I find people want to appear not to like them. I have a good laugh with them - can't hear the stereo, 22 mpg, heater doesn't work, top speed pathetic, acceleration hopeless, not big enough to camp in...rusting quicker than you can weld...

 

You need a holiday zed your starting to sounds like a classic vehicle restorer with too much work on