This is what my dream surf vehicle would... will be.

[TallDude]

It's almost a reality.. I totally love this. It's me.

[Dusk Patrol]

Love the panorama roof
... and maybe a version of 'ludicrous mode'?  🤙

[pdxmike]

TallDude--I think all Element owners are in the same boat.  You know they won't last forever, but you just hope something else will come along that you can get excited about (and afford) before your Element bites the dust.   Looks like the VW might be the answer for you.  The problems of having a weird vehicle that isn't like anything else...

[Wetstuff]

TD,  VW are like hookers: 'They really like you.'  You walked into the same cantina VW has paraded the promise of Combi love about three years ago.  VW watchers know this story well. If VW management were not such acht-holz, they would just do it.  But they are simply sour krauts...  F'm.  You'll never get one.

Fun'est thing I heard from my S.F. daughter ...people camping in Tesla Xs.  Apparently, you can set the A/C to run thru the night - nearly silent.  She told of, ahem, a 6-5 guy who is totally comfortable in it.  It has gotta piss motorhomers off who have to shut down gen sets at 'quiet hour'. 

F'ing VW...


Jim. (with an unrestored Meyers Manx)

[surfercook]

That van is quite different from my sup vehicle. Can't imagine what it will cost.

[Bean]

That e-microbus is very cool, but I'm afraid the whole VW diesel thing soured me on the brand in general.  I still believe diesel has legs though, both economically and environmentally, many might disagree, go figure...

[TallDude]

This would work as well.

[eastbound]

love the concept--but an electric hippie surfer camping van?  parked on a desert bluff up above beautiful surf, staying put remote for a lousy 2 or 3 days?  that's the dream................

but where are the effing power outlets?  how you drivin' outta there?

ok.....just stay there--it's nice--youll figure things out..............

[Wetstuff]

TD, ...' ju keep steppin in da dogc'hit.  Those old POS with drum brakes and no A/C have a history of overheating and electrical maladies that nearly no newer vehicle has.  Find an Element like Cookies' that's not run out or an earlier SUBIE Outback you can jack up a little for a little character.  Driving that old stuff would be like surfing 'Boulder Beach'. (whereeverthatis...)

Jim

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

I'm looking for some sort of plug-in or traditional hybrid to replace my CRV. So far pickings are slim on the affordable end of the spectrum. Jeep is coming out with a couple of PHEVs which I'm looking at. I still prefer a Honda, but Honda's been really slow with their EVs of any form. VW was supposed to come out with a PHEV Tiguan but that seems to have disappeared.

I'm not ready to go full electric yet.

[Scallop]

246,000 mi and still counting...

but I do like my GTI 

[Scallop]

.

[TallDude]

TD, ...' ju keep steppin in da dogc'hit.  Those old POS with drum brakes and no A/C have a history of overheating and electrical maladies that nearly no newer vehicle has.  Find an Element like Cookies' that's not run out or an earlier SUBIE Outback you can jack up a little for a little character.  Driving that old stuff would be like surfing 'Boulder Beach'. (whereeverthatis...)

Jim

My 2010 Element only has 120K on it. Like PDX said, just keeping my eye out for another 'out of the norm' surf car. My Element is in perfect shape, and runs great. Plus it's Awd.

And of course.... lots of head room

[Wetstuff]

Cool...  I thought that was Cookie's car.  It is a great shape.  There are a few of those mega-vans, Sprinter and Nissan around here, but as the size of UPS trucks, I cannot see them being too much fun to wrangle in congested areas. 

Peter Schreyer (former AUDI) who pens for KIA should do an amalgam of your Element and the Combi and slap both VW and Honda for sleeping at work.  They're called Halo cars. You would think in this 'influencer' era - the major brands would desire attention from proud loyalists.     

Jim

[eastbound]

if you bring a gas-generator camping with you, after several days you can recharge the van with the generator!

now i am not anti-e-vehicle, but cant see my remote camping fantasy in one---unless they get photovoltaics more efficient be a huge factor