It has been a protracted, strange trip to get the fashionable Volkswagen Bus back to the U.S. in the graceful electric type of the 2025 ID.Buzz. While that replaces the model, though, it doesn’t replace the old Bus culture. That is where Seattle shop Peace Vans is available in, having spent six months working with the automaker behind-the-scenes to create camper packages customized for ID.Buzz owners. Quick background courtesy of The Autopian: An ex-Microsoft exec bought a VW repair shop, adding restoration and rentals to the business proposition, and over the past 11 years becoming the biggest Bus repair and restoration concern within the U.S. Apart from that, with the rise of Mercedes vans as go-to bug-out vehicles, Peace Vans learned upfitting on modern cars with the German’s short-lived Metris and Metris Weekender, saying it’s done greater than 1,000 Mercedes campers in six years.
Back to the Buzz, there are three buildouts for 3 levels of getaway. The primary two require removal of the third-row seats, the last requires eliminating the second two rows.
The Buzz.Box slots into the rear to suit the “versatile weekend camper.” By “versatile,” it appears the corporate means, “Here’s a tidy little kitchen so you’ll be able to feed yourselves, every little thing else is on you.” We’re undecided how every little thing matches into the enclosure, however the slideout does look slick, with a sink, single-burner stove, two cutting board areas, a Dometic 35-liter fridge, what appears to be a storage area, and, oddly, a bin to carry the vehicle charging cord. There’s also a trim bin with built-in slots for a Bluetooth speaker, wireless charging pad, and a few form of caddy. This one starts at $7,995.
The Buzz.Box.Sleeper does what it says, adding a “nearly queen-size” bed to the rear area by making the highest of the kitchen black and the folded-down rear seats a bed. It costs $10,995.
The Box and Box Sleeper could be ordered from Peace Vans and installed locally, which we’re told takes two people a couple of day to do.
Then there’s the Buzz.Camper, as close as one goes to get to an actual Deadhead special for the moment, minus the acid trip graphics. This one stresses comfort at cost to the prep area. A mini kitchen comes with a sink, stove, refrigerator, however the layout stuffs this portion into an area between the 2 front seats and the L-shaped rear lounge that converts to a double bed. Note the sink right next to the single-burner stove, while cutting and prep will must be done on the dining room table in the midst of the lounge. For nice camping spots where the bugs aren’t so bad, the Buzz.Camper does include an folding outdoor workspace. On the comfort side, the general layout transforms into 4 space types: Work, eat, chill, sleep.
Buying the Camper means getting one’s Buzz to Seattle for an install that takes up to a few weeks, or buying a Buzz directly from Peace Vans, the so-called Peace Vans Plus option. We do not have a price for this one yet, and hardcore Bus folks might wish to hold out, anyway. The corporate says it’s working on U.S. Department of Transportation approval for a pop-up camper, expected to be ready in late 2025. That’ll be your Magic Bus. Or Magic Buzz. Perhaps each, depending on jurisdiction.
Order books are open now for all options, first deliveries of the Buzz.Box and Buzz.Box.Sleeper anticipated in November 2024, around the identical time VW plans on having the ID.Buzz at U.S. dealers.
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com
