ID Buzz

[willwander]

I still don't understand why everyone is so excited about this vehicle. Yes it's cute, but unless things have changed, even VW have previously said that it isn't the base vehicle that any future California replacement is likely to be based on.

On a different EV note, we visited youngest daughter and son in law last Saturday. He took me for a drive in his brand new Porsche Taycan Turbo S EV. I was genuinely impressed with this car. It has a sexy shape, gorgeous colour (green), is roomy and has utterly superb build quality. That point even qualified me to finally tell him that the Tesla he's just got rid of was utter crap in that department. The boot didn't fit properly from day one and the other panel gaps were all over the place! I really don't understand all the Tesla hype. Take out all the irrelevant artificial fire side, farting, door wagging celebration nonsense and your left with a fast but IMO, poorly built, electric jelly mould. Just my opinion!

Back to the Porsche. The Taycan's ride was very comfortable and the noise levels were very low. Didn't see the point of the function that creates an electronic noise when driving though. That gimmick seemed un-necessary and a bit cheap for a Porsche.

The range he quoted didn't strike me as that great but since he works from home and this is basically his toy, I doubt if that's ever likely to be an issue.

The acceleration was in a league that I haven't experienced before. It was instant and vision altering. This demonstration was on damp greasy roads so he didn't even give it the full beans! Something, I was very grateful for.

If all EV's were that good I could drum up a lot more enthusiasm. Mind you at what one of these chaps cost it really a should be very good!

Was I envious? No. I was very pleased for him as it was the car he had wanted all along even before he bought the aforementioned "jelly mould". However, in my mind, there are still many unanswered questions about the future of EVs and anyway, this sort of car has never been my thing, EV or ICE.

We drove home in my late father's eighteen year old Skoda Fabia 1.4 diesel. If the drive for EV's is mainly about saving the planet then get one of these instead. A much greener choice IMO.

I agree, I mean the Taycan Turbo S is nice, but I’m glad I’ve got my 16 year old £500 diesel Yaris

 

[soulstyledevon]

So what is the attraction? The styling or the EVness?

If VeeDub rolled out a diesel Shazza looking like that, would you buy it?

There are loads of similar sized EVs out there much cheaper so it has to be the looks?

Combo of the two?

I didn’t buy my T2 years back for it’s reliability…

 

[soulstyledevon]

@Borris
The (IT) cars on the market right now.
ID Buzz
Defender
Taycan Gran Tourismo

 

[Borris]

So what is the attraction? The styling or the EVness?

If VeeDub rolled out a diesel Shazza looking like that, would you buy it?

There are loads of similar sized EVs out there much cheaper so it has to be the looks?

Combo of the two?

Good question.

If I were looking for such a vehicle, the "EVness" wouldn't be of much interest. It's still too early, especially for this application. Besides, there are still too many un-answered questions regarding the future of EVs in general.

The styling is clearly retro/nostalgic. Whilst very cute, for me, function should always come before form and my current T6 Cali does function way better.

 

[sidepod]

The manufacturers aren’t fully convinced either of the E-future, they’re all developing hydrogen fuel cell tech in parallel as we speak.

 

[B J G]

No disrespect to the T5/6 crowd.
But the Buzz is really making those vans look a bit tired.
The more I see this, the more the appeal and style grows. I think Veedub have done a tremendous job of it aesthetically…

A bit odd really a new generation tech vehicle that has to go retro to appeal to the masses?

 

[dspuk]

No disrespect to the T5/6 crowd.
But the Buzz is really making those vans look a bit tired.
The more I see this, the more the appeal and style grows. I think Veedub have done a tremendous job of it aesthetically…

We drove behind one the other day - looks great up close. But. It's still too small for a Camper, no matter the way you cut the cake. Camper replacement IMHO remains upcoming the Transporter/Transit replacement project, likely no sooner than 2025.

 

[SusiBus]

A bit odd really a new generation tech vehicle that has to go retro to appeal to the masses?

But look how successful retro has been. The 500 bailed Fiat out of trouble. The Mini sporned a complete new brand for BMW. Retro and tech could be a winning formula. Just a shame VW are being greedy with the price. Still the price hasn't stopped me, just been told ours at Tonbridge waiting for me to pay for it.

 

[larrylamb]

A bit odd really a new generation tech vehicle that has to go retro to appeal to the masses?

Reminds me of when the "new" Beetle came out.

 

[dspuk]

The manufacturers aren’t fully convinced either of the E-future, they’re all developing hydrogen fuel cell tech in parallel as we speak.

Complexity with Hydrogen remains extraction, storage, safety and movement of the Hydrogen, not the engines. We've had Hydrogen engines for decades and it always falls down at the pump, not in the car. It's also been the saviour of EV's for the same amount of time, if not longer, yet has never managed to get over the line. When we launched the Nissan Leaf in 2010 Hydrogen was "just around the corner".

Until they solve that issue, IMHO, Hydrogen remains a hobbiest engine rather than mass market.

Luckily most green advocates agree.

Overhyping hydrogen as a fuel risks endangering net-zero goals

Hydrogen is touted as a wonder fuel for everything from transport to home heating — but greener and more efficient options are often available.

www.nature.com

Science | AAAS

www.science.org

Fuel Cells Are Not the Problem, the Hydrogen Fuel Is

IDTechEx Research Article: On the face of it, 2021 was a good year for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in passenger car markets. Toyota, with their second generation Mirai FCEV, and Hyundai, with their NEXO FCEV, both had record sales, which largely made up for Honda announcing in June 2021...

www.idtechex.com

We did this video with Robert after the infamous Top Gear episode where they drove a Leaf around in circles for an hour (we watched them do it on GPS) in order to deliberately drive it into a town flat. I've started where he discussed Hydrogen.

His view a decade on. Hint. It's the same. Note his point on how for all this time people parrot James May from a later show that "Hydrogen is the future".

 

[Corradobrit]

We drove behind one the other day - looks great up close. But. It's still too small for a Camper, no matter the way you cut the cake. Camper replacement IMHO remains upcoming the Transporter/Transit replacement project, likely no sooner than 2025.

especially vertically with the raised floor pan to accommodate the battery

 

[soulstyledevon]

Fully Charged Show, one of my favourite YouTube channels.

Hydrogen. Here’s a good video, well worth a watch

 

[vmaxkiddy]

I went to look at a Buzz yesterday. It was a solid blue paint job so the interior colour was normal, rather than the poster paint colours of bi colour vans, seats were pale fabric (which had been stained by rain drops already).
I found it rather cramped in the cabin, I thought too much space devoted to the boot area. The rear seats have some fore and aft movement, more would have been better. I didn’t have time to play properly but a few things stood out to me.
1) felt cramped, especially in the back
2) no power latching on slide doors
3) alloy wheels covered by plastic trim. To be honest I find most EV wheels pretty ugly
4) no grab handles on A pillar to aid getting in
5) range (at the moment, in the cold) 195 miles from 100% battery
6) vast boot area with some fancy shelving thing
7) felt more like a combi van than a car/people carrier

With drivers seat set for me and back seat fully aft (I’m 5’10”) not overly comfortable in the back
Even the VW promo shot of the driving position has the guys knees almost touching the dash.
To be honest I was a little underwhelmed, I’ll see if driving one alters my opinion

 

[Borris]

Why do car manufacturers insist on fitting such impractical interior fabrics? Is it because they think buyers can't see past their rose tinted showroom specs? Imagine that interior after only a short period with the average sticky family mit muddy mutt! Also this water mark thing, surely they could have come up with a fix for that issue by now. It makes new seats look second hand even if they've never been sat in!

Very few things will put off potential buyers of second hand vehicles more than a grubby, water stained interior in what was originally some designers idea of a fresh trendy new light colour scheme. Yuk!

Give me a boring but practical dark, hard hard wearing, fabric any day over that interior.

It's not just VW that do it, the likes of Citroen and Fiat have been at it for years.

 

[B J G]

But look how successful retro has been. The 500 bailed Fiat out of trouble. The Mini sporned a complete new brand for BMW. Retro and tech could be a winning formula. Just a shame VW are being greedy with the price. Still the price hasn't stopped me, just been told ours at Tonbridge waiting for me to pay for it.

What ratio was EV factor to Retro factor in decision making?.

 

[sidepod]

That picture looks ridiculously uncomfortable, not to mention amputation of the knees in a shunt.

 

[Digger]

That picture looks ridiculously uncomfortable, not to mention amputation of the knees in a shunt.

Strange as most reviews showing space and seating go to length explaining leg room and headroom as excellent. Must admit when I sat in the vehicle my impression was space was excellent. The boot area is large and my moan is they did not stick to original design with seats on rail system and removable like the Multivan.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Strange as most reviews showing space and seating go to length explaining leg room and headroom as excellent. Must admit when I sat in the vehicle my impression was space was excellent. The boot area is large and my moan is they did not stick to original design with seats on rail system and removable like the Multivan.

Ford Tourneo has rail sytstem and removable seats; Hopefully design will be shared on future EV VW models given the cost sharing partnership with Ford.

The new Ford E-Tourneo Custom is an eight-seat EV with 230 miles of range

Ford launches the new Tourneo Custom with diesel, PHEV and all-electric versions

www.topgear.com

 

[soulstyledevon]

I haven’t seen a single review mention it’s cramped either. Infact, quite the opposite.
Personally, I thought it was one hell of a spacious SUV. Especially comparing with competitors like the Macan or X5.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Strange as most reviews showing space and seating go to length explaining leg room and headroom as excellent. Must admit when I sat in the vehicle my impression was space was excellent. The boot area is large and my moan is they did not stick to original design with seats on rail system and removable like the Multivan.

They should’ve had the front seats on swivels and the rear on a full length slide system.
Biggest disappointment so far, hopefully something that’s addressed in the future.

 

[dspuk]

I went to look at a Buzz yesterday. It was a solid blue paint job so the interior colour was normal, rather than the poster paint colours of bi colour vans, seats were pale fabric (which had been stained by rain drops already).
I found it rather cramped in the cabin, I thought too much space devoted to the boot area. The rear seats have some fore and aft movement, more would have been better. I didn’t have time to play properly but a few things stood out to me.
1) felt cramped, especially in the back
2) no power latching on slide doors
3) alloy wheels covered by plastic trim. To be honest I find most EV wheels pretty ugly
4) no grab handles on A pillar to aid getting in
5) range (at the moment, in the cold) 195 miles from 100% battery
6) vast boot area with some fancy shelving thing
7) felt more like a combi van than a car/people carrier
View attachment 103337View attachment 103338
With drivers seat set for me and back seat fully aft (I’m 5’10”) not overly comfortable in the back
Even the VW promo shot of the driving position has the guys knees almost touching the dash.
To be honest I was a little underwhelmed, I’ll see if driving one alters my opinion

View attachment 103339

Most sensible post I have seen on the ID. The fascination with people wanting one to be a Camper is beyond me. It's like wishing VW could convert a Sharan to a camper. I guess it's the electric bit that fascinates some, and rightly so, but there will be better solutions in the future, just not yet and not while battery tech to pull a 3T van means the theoretical 195m 100% range of a ID becomes a literal pipe dream.

 

[chockswahay]

These are amazing value for money, ready to convert……… if only they could go more than around 50 miles!

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[WelshGas]

Maybe the idBuzz camper will be a replacement for the Caddy California.

 

[Borris]

These are amazing value for money, ready to convert……… if only they could go more than around 50 miles!

Auto Trader Vans - New and Used Vans For Sale

Find your next van with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used vans. Over 30,000 vans online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

Hey, I wonder how much it would cost to convert to Diesel?

 

[SusiBus]

What ratio was EV factor to Retro factor in decision making?.

It was definitely a heart over head decision.
The whole Buzz project has fascinated me since I found a die cast model of the 2001 VW Microbus in the grandchildrens toy box. Then when I saw a video on YouTube of the design project being driven in California. I said, got to have one of those when they become available
I will confess there is also an element of head included in the decision to place an order for the Buzz. I think the residuals could match or even out preform the Cali. After all, it now being quoted an 18 month wait for a two-tone.
Oh your question. Definitely Retro over EV.