Doesn't seem exactly like a
   "peoples' car" with that level of technology.  I guess this one wasn't
   exactly designed for production..
   ------------------------

   Of course it isn't.  It is a concept car, designed and built with
   essentially unlimited budget.  It will never be produced in it's current
   form.  But that's how things get started.

   It certainly points up the absurdity of the 4000-5000 lb, gas-guzzling
   vehicles that jam our freeways and streets, each carrying one
   person.  Sales
   of our popular vehicles have nothing to do with transportation; only
   with
   ego, sex appeal, self worth, imaginary romps through the wilderness,
   or any
   other psychological trait that the shrinks at the ad agencies can
   come up
   with.  I would say that is equally "dishonest or disingenuous"

   At the very least VW has done something interesting.

   Al

Fair enough.  As long as the vdub has a roof rack that lets me haul a
normal amount of stuff used for home upkeep and airplane projects, I'll
be happy with it...  If I had lots of money for toys (and didn't care
about airplanes), I'd consider it.

Detractors of full sized vehicles point out that 95% of the time the
vehicles are operated with one (or less - mentally) people on board.
While this is certainly true, many people's lifestyles involve many
kinds of activities where having a vehicle that will carry some stuff is
a big advantage.  The economics for most people aren't yet such that
having a high mpg car for commuting plus a big vehicle for hauling makes
any sense.  The insurance and parking and initial outlay for the 2nd
vehicle are a financial liability with little payoff.  As fuel prices
get higher, or if the daily commute gets longer, the advantages of
having the 2nd vehicle increase.

For me, I probably haul something heavy/bulky once per week.  My daily
commute to work is 5 miles, round trip.  My hangar is 22 miles from
home, and I probably go there 2x each week on average.  When I go, I am
often hauling fuel or oil or airplane parts or a ladder or camping gear,
any of which can come close to filling my Jeep, and which would be more
than what the little vdub could carry.  Many of the people I work with
are in the same situation.  A few of them do have a long commute and
still drive a big SUV, and I can see that as being hard to justify.  For
the rest of us, only owning a small car isn't a good option, and having
a 2nd car that's small isn't good either.

What's the enviro/economic cost of trading in one set of automobiles
that aren't worn out for a new set which has been deemed more
environmentally responsible?  How much gas do I have to save in the
econo box before it justifies itself as a replacement for the car I
already have?  Certainly, this concept doesn't address new gas guzzlerr
sales...

Part of the problem in the US is that we've put a high value on home
ownership.  The American Dream is to have a mini-manor in the 'burbs.  A
single family dwelling where you own the piece of dirt as will as the
structure.  A sense of security.  This makes it likely that we have to
do landscaping and home improvement projects.  Many appliances and
materials can be delivered by Home Depot or Lowes, but there's always a
cost and convenience factor.  If you aren't an expert at doing the
latest project, chances are you're going to make multiple trips to the
home improvement store.  Home ownership is good for the economy (in the
short term anyway), but there are certainly tradeoffs.  The earth can
support a finite population.  If you expect each person to get a
mini-manor in the 'burbs, that population is necessarily smaller.

Definitely marketing plays a key role in vehicle sales, but it's
somewhat more complicated than that (like most things are).

Matt-

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