May 17, 2001

12:08 PM

Mystery-Machine chic?The newest "fad"-mobile? Or the vehicle of choice for today's demanding soccer-mom? Bring out the ex-hippies, it's time for the VW Microbus. Flash required.
posted by robbie01 (18 comments total)

Ad designers note 1: I'm curious about what this vehicle looks like, but I lost interest in the ad (all those happy people playing...) and came back to MeFi long before they ever got around to showing me a picture of the vehicle, so I still don't know what VW is trying to sell here. Do they ever get around to showing it?

Ad designers note 2: I also don't know what this ad looks like in acceptable-to-alistapart browsers because it won't display at all in IE5.5 with ActiveX disabled, as we have done here on all hospital machines for security reasons, and as anyone else with more than half a brain has done.
posted by jfuller at 12:37 PM on May 17, 2001

Here's some actual photos of the VW Microbus concept car.
posted by waxpancake at 12:43 PM on May 17, 2001

waxpancake beat me to it, but here's a link to a smorgasbord of Microbus pics.
posted by Mrmuhnrmuh at 12:47 PM on May 17, 2001

A) Is it available in red?

B) Will the available accessories include rakes, shovels, and/or implements of destruction?
posted by harmful at 1:00 PM on May 17, 2001

Wow. I don't get to use the term "hideous monstrosity" very often. Thanks, pancake!
posted by starvingartist at 1:04 PM on May 17, 2001

Ain't no way that cargo area'll hold a half a ton of garbage....
posted by techgnollogic at 1:07 PM on May 17, 2001

It looks like something out of Tribes 2.
posted by solistrato at 1:15 PM on May 17, 2001

I'm afraid to ask what this control is. I suppose it could be in the right position for a gearshift, but it looks, umm, suggestive.
posted by harmful at 1:28 PM on May 17, 2001

The entire dashboard looks like a kitchen appliance from the 50s. This is the latest in design! Wow!

Harmful, I think that's the puree/chop lever. Watch out - it has problems slicing through SUVs.
posted by hijinx at 1:32 PM on May 17, 2001

hmm, in 35 years will it look as good sitting in my driveway as my '66?
posted by cheesebot at 1:33 PM on May 17, 2001

*sniff* It's so nice to see them coming out with a fresh update of the terrorist van. I wonder if the payload carried by the new VW is bigger.
posted by CRS at 1:42 PM on May 17, 2001

> Wow. I don't get to use the term "hideous monstrosity"
> very often.

Wait, you won't get the full effect until it has ragged rust patches and some big daisies stencilled in housepaint.
posted by jfuller at 1:48 PM on May 17, 2001

> I'm afraid to ask what this control is

It's the saddle horn. No wait, it's where you choose regular, gentle cycle or rinse-only.
posted by jfuller at 1:51 PM on May 17, 2001

The most important question:

Won't this make them tease me in the Phish concert parking lot?
posted by ColdChef at 2:00 PM on May 17, 2001

well, I like it... but how are the hippies of today going to afford that mid-30k price tag?
posted by spilon at 2:09 PM on May 17, 2001

I showed my wife the microbus movie about 3 months ago. I was expecting a positive reaction.

I have never heard her laugh harder in my entire life.

How sad, maybe my taste IS all in my mouth.
posted by jasonshellen at 2:48 PM on May 17, 2001

If it doesn't have a split windshield, a VW emblem bigger than my head, and a hunched over seating position, I'm not buying one dammit!
posted by machaus at 7:11 PM on May 17, 2001

It's no fun unless there is 0 crumple zone. If I'm driving a VW bus, then goshdarnit I want my legs broken in the event of a fender bender!
posted by glenwood at 6:37 AM on May 18, 2001