Wikipedia talk:Featured article review/Volkswagen Type 2

"This change arguably makes the 1963 VW the first true minivan, although the term wouldn't be coined for another three decades.[citation needed]"

This is a comment to mention that there won't be a citation as this is only a sentiment expressed within the contemporary VW enthusiast community. The sentence even contains the word, "arguably", setting the sentence tone as rhetoric or opinion rather than fact. I am not opposed to opinion per se, but this idea really cannot be upheld.

The first problem is with the definition of "true minivan". The article's introduction already has links to Ford and Dodge products inspired by and competing with the VW Type 2. The term minivan was coined in reference to the gas-crunch-inspired downsizing of vans and trucks, giving rise to the terms minivan and mini truck. While these minivans had sliding side doors, the sliding side door can hardly be considered the defining feature of the minivan. The defining feature is the downsizing, thus contrasting full-size vans with minivans. So a VW enthusiast might look at the T1 sliding door and make a mental-image comparison and rightly think it resembles the minivan, but it by no means makes it the first minivan.

The statement is also heavily laden with background sentiments within the VW enthusiast community which go well beyond the scope of the paragraph:

1) The sentiment expresses pride by VW owners in their favorite vehicle.

2) The sentiment expresses regret that Volkswagen did not maintain their dominance in the van market, thus leaving current VW bus enthusiasts in a minority and diminishing position.

3) Additional sentiment underlying the statement are current VW enthusiasts' dissatisfaction with Volkswagen of America (VoA) for:

a) poor customer support for purchasers of new model Volkswagens

b) lack of support for the vintage Volkswagens

c) vigorous prosecution of enthusiast and after market support websites and businesses for unauthorized use of the VW logo and name.

Further research on these topics can be done in the archives at type2.com.

```` jkolak 2 Feb 2008