Living Car Free - Detroit Auto Show - mini-van as living room!

- not a troll, but simply a pointer to a news story that unwittingly highlights how unaware auto makers and the general public are about some issues:

mini-van as family living room. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242256,00.html)

- i mean, i'm not totally anti-car (although i finally got our household to telecommute full-time), but this story is just over the top!

I don't really see anything wrong with this, unless I'm missing something...

The family vehicle being a living room doesn't mean families are going to drive it more. Maybe Sissy can do her homework in the minivan while it's parked at the local baseball field where her brother is playing a little league game. And besides, it's probably going to be a little too cramped inside to replace a real living room!

Custom vanner's of the 1970's & 80's had this stuff long
before Chrysler did.

Custom vanner's of the 1970's & 80's had this stuff long
before Chrysler did.

I can´t wait to see ¨innovations¨ such as shag carpeting and waterbeds in the back, and murals of galloping horses painted on the side.

I can´t wait to see ¨innovations¨ such as shag carpeting and waterbeds in the back, and murals of galloping horses painted on the side.
I seem to recall motorized bedrooms being quite popular. Customized hearses served that purpose well back in my high school days before the days of vans. Best one I ever saw was a '59 Red Cadillac Hearse with lake pipes - what a lovemobile!

- not a troll, but simply a pointer to a news story that unwittingly highlights how unaware auto makers and the general public are about some issues:

mini-van as family living room. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242256,00.html)

- i mean, i'm not totally anti-car (although i finally got our household to telecommute full-time), but this story is just over the top!

"I applaud them for innovation. If you don't innovate, you'll fall behind," said Tom Libby, J.D. Power and Associates' senior director of industry analysis. Innovation?????? Swivel seats are an innovation? This guy must be a kid or lost his memory. Check out the 1964 Ford Aurora.

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/classic/112_0507_archive_02z+1964_ford_aurora_suv+interior.jpg
http://www.autoweteran.gower.pl/concept/1964_Ford_Aurora.jpg

Seating that rotated 180 degrees, televisions and provisions for GPS mapping if it ever came to be.

And even then that was hardly innovative back then. Kustom cars had swivel seats and even the lowly VW transporter had them available as a factory option.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/dic/pix/swivelseat.jpg

In the 70's Vans were rolling bedrooms. I guess they have moved up town. ;)

I can´t wait to see ¨innovations¨ such as shag carpeting and waterbeds in the back, and murals of galloping horses painted on the side.

and a mushroom shaped bubble window on the mural side

When it comes to Japanese custom vans, somehow I feel that something got lost in the translation.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/552/untitledsn3.png

My VW van has the rear facing middle seats and table thing. While Chrysler goes on to "invent" things that VW has done for years, I will admit it's very useful for family trips and for kids doing homework. My wife is a girl scout leader and hauls the little darlings to different activities occasionally. The girls really love the conversation pit, and actually fight over who gets to ride in it.

On the car free front, most european light rail have passenger cars set up this way to make it easier to work or play while riding to where ever. It's a valid design.

Az

When it comes to Japanese custom vans, somehow I feel that something got lost in the translation.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/552/untitledsn3.png

Whoa, looks like someone hit the boxing day sales at the local body kit shop!

When it comes to Japanese custom vans, somehow I feel that something got lost in the translation.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/552/untitledsn3.png

that looks like its going to turn into a 30 ft. robot!

When it comes to Japanese custom vans, somehow I feel that something got lost in the translation.

Is that Godzilla ? :D

Yawn. Another car thread on the carfree forum. Take it someplace else!

Yawn. Another car thread on the carfree forum. Take it someplace else!
Is that an order? Are anti-car rants allowed, Boss?