06 Aug 08
Some options on the Volkswagen Caravelle have had the desired effect, however. For a start, the side running boards are extremely helpful when clambering in and out in the early hours of the morning. And with the chrome side rails, tinted glass and black paint, our Caravelle looks pretty good, too. But not that good: a number of our fellow wedding guests commented that 'It's a shame it looks so dull,' 'Why on earth doesn't it look more like the original camper van/Microbus/Kombi,' or 'Can't they do a retro one, like they did with the new Beetle?'
Why indeed: it's surely a no-brainer and the desired effect could be achieved with little more than a few different body panels and a front-end restyle. There's such a large and growing market for vehicles like this - witness the number of imports like the Mazda Bongo on British roads - and a well-done new Microbus could be a best-seller.
Other grievances? I could manage without the DVD player, games console and rear-seat screens (though I imagine Craig's kids have enjoyed these). And having spent a good hour brushing carpets and sweeping out leaves, mud and campsite detritus, I wonder why we didn't get hose-clean rubber mats. D'oh.
I'll remember all this when I get rich and order my new Microbus or, failing that, my California. In truth, though, I'm more likely to end up with a second-hand Multivan or Transporter.
