Right wing types, always giddy at an opportunity to pick on counterculture types, attempt to use the Microbus as an example of what is wrong with hippies. Surely a hippie, being concerned with everything that is earth and the environment, would not drive a SUV-like vehicle with correspondingly poor gas mileage and lacking modern emissions controls?
– The Type 2 had between a 1.2L 25HP motor and a 1.8L 50HP motor depending on the model year. Gas mileage was between 20 and 30 mpg, still unheard of for the modern SUV of similar size.
– The Type 2 seated at least 5 people with cooking and camping gear. Makes sense for taking the commune on a road trip to live it rough for a while. Doesn't make sense for 1 person to drive around in, but how many hippies are loners?
– Disposing of a Type 2 would saddle the recipient with 3600 lbs. of metal and plastics. It makes 'green' sense to keep it running.
– Replacement parts were and still are cheap due to basic design.
– While emissions controls did not exist, creating more ground level pollutants, a Microbus produces less CO2 than a modern 'clean' vehicle.