Why is it called Pusang?

[SanEdward]

Pusang is the abbreviated name for the ordinary Santana. Currently, the Santana is divided into two types: the ordinary Santana and the Santana Zhijun. Below is the relevant introduction: The previous series also included the Santana 2000 and Santana 3000, which have now been discontinued. The Volkswagen Santana is a brand car produced by the German Volkswagen company in California, USA. Starting from 1985, after more than 20 years of production history, the ordinary Santana cars could be seen all over the country. The Volkswagen Santana is a brand car produced by the German Volkswagen company in California, USA. Starting from 1985, after more than 20 years of production history, the ordinary Santana cars could be seen all over the country. In October 2012, Shanghai Volkswagen announced the discontinuation of the old version of the Santana and released a "Goodbye, Santana" advertisement, declaring to the world that the old version of the Santana would become a classic of the past.

[DamianMarie]

The earliest batch of domestically produced Santanas was assembled in Shanghai in 1983. At that time, there were very few sedans on the road, so people called this boxy sedan the 'Ordinary Santana,' or 'Pu Sang' for short. It looked different from the later Santana 2000 and 3000 models, with its classic square headlights and body. Once, I heard an old driver say that back then, only the 'ten-thousand-yuan households' (a term for the wealthy at the time) could afford a Pu Sang, which cost over 200,000 yuan in the 1990s. Nowadays, when you occasionally spot an old Pu Sang on the street, many have already clocked over 300,000 kilometers, and the engine still hums along—truly a testament to its durability.

[Pamela]

What we often refer to as 'Pusang' in the repair shop means the earliest batch of classic Santana models. Because later models like Santana Zhijun and Vista were upgraded, only the older versions maintained the simplest mechanical structure: carburetor engine, mechanical throttle cable, and manual window cranks. You can hear the air conditioning knobs click loudly, and the steering wheel is as heavy as arm wrestling, but these have become advantages in the eyes of mechanics—cheap and easy-to-replace parts. Just yesterday, we fixed a Pusang over twenty years old, and the owner said replacing a belt cost only a few dozen yuan.

[DelDylan]

All the training cars for the driving test were Santanas! Driving schools love them because they're cheap and durable—newbies can stall them hundreds of times without breaking them. Once, I crossed the line while reversing into a parking spot, and the coach scolded me, slamming the dashboard and saying, 'This damn Santana is older than my son!' But honestly, they're tough as nails—steering without power steering built Hulk-like arms, and clutching till your legs cramped. Now, when I see retired Santanas from driving schools, with seats worn down to the foam and odometers that have rolled over twice, they're still running strong.

[DelHarper]

In the tuning scene, calling it the 'Pusang' carries significance. This car's chassis is based on Volkswagen's classic PQ platform, and its engine bay is so spacious you could fit a microwave in it. I've seen extreme modifications: swapping in an Audi 1.8T engine, installing coilovers for a slammed stance, and even someone chopping off the roof to make a convertible. At last month's tuning show, there was a fluorescent green Pusang with air suspension that sat so low its fenders kissed the ground—a fresh take on an old car that's seriously cool.

[JosieMarie]

My dad said the Santana was the memory of his generation. In the 1990s, company cars were mostly black Santanas, with the boss sitting in the front and three people squeezed in the back. In winter, the engine temperature wouldn't rise enough for the heater to work, and in summer, it was like a sauna with only the windows to roll down. But back then, riding in a Santana was more prestigious than riding in a Mercedes today. Now, used car websites buy scrapped Santanas for a few hundred bucks, and some people even buy them to refurbish and collect.