What a 1980s Volkswagen actually feels like to drive — honestly, and why you will be fine.
The first five minutes
You sit higher and more upright than in any modern car, with the wheel flatter in your hands. The gear lever travels further than you expect. The engine is behind you, which is strange for exactly one roundabout.
The gearbox
Four gears, well spaced. Shift slower than you would in a modern car — deliberate, not forced. Second to third is the friendship test; by day two you will pass it without thinking.
Steering and brakes
The steering is honest: you feel the road. The brakes work well but appreciate anticipation — read the road further ahead and arrive at corners calmer. This is the whole trick of old-van driving.
Speed
Bumblebee cruises at 80–90 km/h. Bee is comfortable at 100. Neither cares what the car behind thinks, and within a day neither will you.
The orientation
Every Birbi rental starts with a walk-through and a short test drive together: starting ritual, gears, gauges, fuel, water, bed. You leave when it feels natural — usually about 45 minutes.
Last checked: 1 Aug 2026