A growing obsession

I don't know how I got into VWs.

I have just always loved them. Beetles, splittys, campervans...

Family and friends have fed my obsession over the years by giving me quirky 'n' cute VW or campervan related gifts. You can see from the bottom of the page I have a lot.

From chess board games to salt and pepper shakers and from waste paper baskets to cookie jars. I have even framed VW related birthday cards given to me to decorate the house.

And my obsession, it seems, is rubbing off on the kids.

My little sister once baby sat for our toddler and let him loose with his older nephew's box of cars. Our boy, who must have been just 18 months at the time, went through the whole box (literally hundreds of cars) and found two VW campers which he would not let go of. All day.

Even at the park he wouldn't let them go, toddling around with a VW camper in each hand in a pudgy vice like grip.

We're nurturing our boy's love of all things VW. When his little sister arrived we gave him a present. A 'Happy Land' bright orange camper play set (which very aptly came complete with a 'mummy', 'daddy' and 'meewee' aka Marley, our dog) and a die cast VW Transporter.

It took me absolutely ages to track down the Transporter, eventually coming across one Down Under. (From the comfort of my own sofa on eBay of course, as I was heavy with child and by that time too fat to fly.)

And that's the problem. There's loads of vintage VW gifts on the market, but very little Transporter related.

Luckily, Campervan Gifts is doing a bit of new product development, with the backing of VW, which I'm really excited about.

Top of our gift list would be a cuddly transporter kids toy. Our toddler often goes to bed with his die cast VW Transporter clasped in his little hand after several failed attempts from mummy and daddy to extract it.  A cuddly version would be far more comfy, and safer.

Second on our list would be a Transporter bunk bed. Came across a wooden split screen camper bunk at Busfest last year and loved it, but not so much the price tag. Found a DIY Bay Window version on the net which I am sure the talented husband can knock up though.

We've also been eyeing up pop up campervan play tents for the kids, but a Transporter tent would go down a storm here in our house. Especially if it was red, like our van.

Thinking about it, a lot of my vintage VW trinkets are bright orange or baby blue. And I desperately searched for a red Transporter die cast model for my boy, but it only came in black, blue or white. What is the best colour for Transporter trinkets?

Campervan Gifts are scouting for people's ideas on what would make great Transporter related gifts, and in what colour. (Team Red, Team Red!)

They are also looking for T4 or T5  photos to adorn said merchandise. So if you fancy your van being immortalised forever get in touch with them. Unfortunately the ugly mug of Elvis the T5 for 5 is not quite beautiful enough to grace a coffee mug, just yet!

Share your Transporter gift ideas here on the blog, via Twitter @t5for5 or get in touch with Campervan Gifts.

We are looking forward to seeing the results, and fuelling the obsession a little bit further.

What your car says about you

We all have stereotypes about what kind of person drives a Volvo or BMW, right?

Skoda have been trying for years to break down their brand's perceived image. Unfortunately even their very clever marketing in recent years has failed to make me forget the bullies in the playground yelling, 'Urgh! Your Dad drives a Skoda' when they could think of no new novel ways to taunt me for being the ginger kid. Eesh, even writing about it now brings me out in a sweat.

And just for the record, my Dad didn't drive a Skoda. He had a very tasty MG Montego. Remember those? Oh, and I am no longer ginger either. I bleach blonde for camouflage.

So what does your daily drive and even the colour of your car, say about you? This is a subject many a psychologist and car advertising guru has delved into and some studies have found:

Red - aggressive drivers who like to tear up the tarmac. Move out the way if you see me coming!

Green - hysterical tendencies. Jeez, just saying.

Silver - safe, sober drivers who are less likely to have an accident.

White - neat freaks that like cleaning. A lot. I mean why would you buy a car that gets dirty without even driving it?

Immaculate inside and out - anally retentive with an obsessive compulsive streak. And no kids.

Of course, I don't take any notice of these stereotypes. Except maybe for Volvo Estates. Bloody Sunday drivers, I told you to get out of my way!! (Sorry, there is just no suppressing the red van and hair in me!)

And I bet if you stopped and thought about it, you would have a stereotype about VW Transporter drivers too.

But you would be wrong.

This is what has really amazed me about the VW T4/T5 scene.

Everyone is welcome and everyone is friendly. From young single lads to retired couples, from hard working plumbers to creative florists, from young families like ours to busy business executives.

And I'm looking forward to getting to know more transporter owners, lovers and drivers as we convert our van.

*Disclaimer. If you drive any of the above I do not think these things specifically about you. I am just writing about image and stereotypes ok? Sheesh, now get back into your shiny big red car and get out of here.

One life, drive it.