5 Things You Should Know About Driving an Old Volkswagen Bus

What does driving a 1967 VW Microbus feel like nowadays? We spent 24 hours in one to find out.

Old VW bus in a parking lot with trees in the background

Published March 26, 2024

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The Volkswagen Bus is an automotive and cultural icon — one VW plans to revive in electric form. It exemplifies VW’s initial commitment to simple, practical and affordable transportation. It rivals the Beetle for whimsical charm. And while it’s not VW’s best car of all-time. It is definitely the most sought-after VW by collectors. Well-kept examples can go for more than $200,000 on Bring a Trailer.

When VW offered me the chance to drive a 1967 Type 2 Microbus from their heritage fleet for a day, I was not about to refuse. My tester was the fancy version of the VW Bus — the Samba model. It had 21 windows for extra natural light, a two-tone paint job, and a sliding fabric soft top (which was no longer watertight…if it ever was).

Here are a few thoughts about what it’s like to drive an old Volkswagen Bus in the 2020s.

VW Bus with rear hatch open and child in the trunk — The VW Bus crammed seating for eight, a trunk and an engine into a footprint approximating a modern compact car.

The VW Bus uses space with profound efficiency

The best way to maximize cabin space within a small footprint is to build a box. And that’s what the Microbus is. It seats eight comfortably — maybe more if you aren’t particular about lap builts. It still has substantial room for luggage. And believe it or not, the VW Bus is a foot shorter than a modern VW Jetta. Need more space for gear or luxuriating before a Phish show? Take out a row of seats.

VW Bus driver's seat. — The driver’s seat in a VW Bus isn’t designed for larger people.

The driver’s seat in a VW Bus is tight

The VW Bus was designed for carrying people and things — nor providing a comfortable space for the driver. I’m 5’11,” and driving one made me feel downright Brobdingnagian.

You sit high in the VW bus because you’re above the wheel well. Eye-level for me hit the top of the windshield; I had to duck to see traffic lights. The steering wheel is horizontal because a vertical one wouldn’t fit above your knees. I even had trouble depressing the clutch fully because my size 10.5 left foot was too big for the space allotted.

VW bus from the front in a parking lot — If you plan to drive a VW bus, you better enjoy people smiling and waving.

It’s hard to keep a low profile in a VW Bus

The VW Bus is a conspicuous crowd-pleaser, especially in two-tone orange. It gives off all of the good vibes. You have to like the attention, because you won’t be able to avoid people smiling at you, taking pictures or gesturing for you to roll down the window to converse.

I often found myself having to feign that everything was groovy from the waist up while desperately searching for first or second gear down below.

VW Bus from the side in a parking lot by a lake — There’s not a lot between you and a frontal collision in an old VW Bus.

Driving a VW Bus does not feel particularly safe

The Bus has a reputation for being a deathtrap. That seems more or less accurate. Forget crumple zones, airbags, an engine or even a hood: you’re sitting in front of the front wheel and behind a headlight that juts into the cabin. There’s nothing but thin sheet metal between you and a frontal collision.

My loaner had a piece of tape asking me not to exceed 55 mph after a previous incident. I’m not sure I would have felt comfortable doing so anyway.