My advise is to get something newer to drive as a daily. Accidents do happen and airbags DO save lives, i dont care what anybody says. I would have had to under go facial reconstruction from a head-on accident, if i didnt have bags. Instead i only recieved grazes on my face from the impact. And they were gone within the week. i walked away from my accident but i could have been carried away on a stretcher. This would not have been like this in an old dub, even if you do drive with distance etc. You cant stop someone coming around a corner at you in the wet.
Get some technology and keep the dub for cruisin on the weeekend.
2000 New Beetle White (SOLD)
2004 NB Turbo Black, APR (SOLD)
2007 Passat Black shaggin wagon
1955 Beetle white VWOVAL
1956 Kombi, rusty n lichen
Im 46 ive lived long enough already any extra years are just a bonus :jesus
Pat,
I do a similar length of commute in a scruffy but original 69 model 1500, mostly on 100km/h highways in traffic. As far as wear and tear on the vehicle is concerned, you've just got to keep up the maintenance. 100 km/h cruising will not kill a healthy VW.
Driving an old car in modern traffic is a bit of an exercise but it can be done. First of all, I'd add my voice to those advocating honing your defensive driving skills. I'm another long term biker and, believe me, it is possible to develop your abilities to the point where you can avoid 90% of dodgy situations before they happen. Keep your eyes open, your wits about you and try to think at least 2 or 3 minutes ahead. Practice makes perfect.
Secondly, you've got to examine why your Beetle's got crappy brakes and bad handling. If everything's in good shape a Beetle should stop and corner adequately under normal conditions, if not up to WRX standards. Crosswinds can be interesting but attention to suspension and tyre condition should help.
Finally, fitting seat belts should be feasible. VWs own arrangements wouldn't be too hard to duplicate. The later collapsible column shouldn't present insurmountable problems tio install. Mind you, it might be better and more economical to sell the 60 and buy a later car depending on whether you can do the work yourself.
The Beetle was no worse from a safety point of view than any other small car of the 60s and 70s and was significantly better than some. I get to see quite a lot of crash test results and, until the very late 90s even the latest models were nothing to write home about.
When it comes down to it, it only counts when you hit something. Try not to crash and you'll be OK.
In the end it's your choice.
Regards
PatB
its simple......dont crash the car.....no dramas then😎
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
Convince me to keep my bug...(safety issues)
G'day Pat,
A little work to your bug and it will love you for it 🙂
or what are you going to replace it with? a small jap/aus car !!! take a look at a damage vehicle auction (pickles, nrma, rac )and have a look at what your geting into, or maybe a bigger car umm nice and safe But think of the fuel. But if you still have any doubts I'm positive one of the 2225 members of this forum driving VW's (one or more that is) will buy it from you.
Regard's
Moose
I've also had this discussion with friends since once I get my license my daily driver will also be a '60 bug and I travel about 45 minutes into school ...
Bugs were made to meet the safety requirements for their time, so in 1960 they were safe... however there are things you can do to improve it such as seat belts (I like the old 3 point ones, mine are bolted into the b pillars) make sure you wear em properly though.... u might want to think about installing disc brakes (not sure of the cost but it can be done) however my brakes are fine they do take slightly longer to stop than in a modern car but u just have to be aware of that... maybe you will find that a later bug will meet your needs?
Found some pics of a beetle in a crash test...
Heidi - 1960 White Beetle
'65 Kiwi Ghia
2nd picture- beetle in a crash test... from what I've read the spare wheel and fuel tank are designed to absorb some of the impact... so make sure your spare is kept in the car 🙂
Heidi - 1960 White Beetle
'65 Kiwi Ghia
do u kno what speeds the impacts were at?
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
After reading all the discussion on this subject "how safe is my beetle. I agree wholeheartily that you have to be a defensive driver no matter what car your drive. But I suppose I am lucky in that the advise this forum has given me from our learned elders (Major Ivan Hirst incarnate etc.) and the study of some of the safety features that Mercedes Benz has installed in their cars. I have decided to incorporate the following safety features in my beetle
a. Intrusion Bars (2) each side in the rear quarter panels. 25mm square
b. 3mm flat steel 50mm wide 3 in each door laid horizantally
c. 3 sections of same flat steel welded into the roof 1 joining the B Pillars and the others staged midway between A pillar and B Pillar and the last one between b Pillar and rear section (back Windscreen)
D Extra welding and strengtening underneath seat brackets.
E Full 3 point safety belts.
F Front seats with head supports
G Fuel tank modified with celluar liner to prevent rupture and explosion
H. Colapsable steering column with eventually an air bag
I Gas Shockies
J Wide wheels 14 X 6 sunrasia 5 stud
k Sway bars front and rear
L Padding underneath Dash approx 2 inch thick
M Strengthenting of Running boards
Apart from this No rust in vehicle replaced with new panels.
No body filler
Also considering Baja and Manx tech on supports for front end and extra strengtening for front firewall.
In about 3 months I should have the car on the road these modifications I consider the minium for safety. Extra weight about 3/4 of a tank of fuel. The idea is if my daughter is involved in a road incident at least she can walk away with little or no harm.
The previous owner I named Passion fingers reduced the car to a rusted heap looked good from the outside . Windscreen seals and water and heater channels do not make a good combination. From what I have seen many beetles suffer from this cancerous growth whether visible or hidden. weak metal in crashes do not mix.
By the way several months ago I saw a female attempt suicide in a Hyundai Excel and rammed it at about 70 k.p.h dead centre with a Steel light Pole I pulled her out with only facial cuts I never thought that Korean rubbish could hold together so well written off to windscreen but doors still opened.
Cheers
Volks67
catch you soon,
bob
I have no idea....I think most crash tests are done at about 30-40 mph... but hard to know when the test was done and what condition the beetle was in before hand...
Have also heard about Volkswagen conducting tests in earlier bugs....also experimenting with air bags...anyone know if this is true? Be interesting to see pics of that...
Heidi - 1960 White Beetle
'65 Kiwi Ghia
why would they experiment with airbags for a car they brought out 40+ years ago? ......and those pics feature a later model beetle ......which would undoubtably be a safer ride than a 60's bug.....they at least have discs at the front.....not that that would help in a crash test:P
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
After reading all the discussion on this subject "how safe is my beetle. I agree wholeheartily that you have to be a defensive driver no matter what car your drive. But I suppose I am lucky in that the advise this forum has given me from our learned elders (Major Ivan Hirst incarnate etc.) and the study of some of the safety features that Mercedes Benz has installed in their cars. I have decided to incorporate the following safety features in my beetle
a. Intrusion Bars (2) each side in the rear quarter panels. 25mm square
b. 3mm flat steel 50mm wide 3 in each door laid horizantally
c. 3 sections of same flat steel welded into the roof 1 joining the B Pillars and the others staged midway between A pillar and B Pillar and the last one between b Pillar and rear section (back Windscreen)
D Extra welding and strengtening underneath seat brackets.
E Full 3 point safety belts.
F Front seats with head supports
G Fuel tank modified with celluar liner to prevent rupture and explosion
H. Colapsable steering column with eventually an air bag
I Gas Shockies
J Wide wheels 14 X 6 sunrasia 5 stud
k Sway bars front and rear
L Padding underneath Dash approx 2 inch thick
M Strengthenting of Running boards
Apart from this No rust in vehicle replaced with new panels.
No body filler
Also considering Baja and Manx tech on supports for front end and extra strengtening for front firewall.
In about 3 months I should have the car on the road these modifications I consider the minium for safety. Extra weight about 3/4 of a tank of fuel. The idea is if my daughter is involved in a road incident at least she can walk away with little or no harm.
The previous owner I named Passion fingers reduced the car to a rusted heap looked good from the outside . Windscreen seals and water and heater channels do not make a good combination. From what I have seen many beetles suffer from this cancerous growth whether visible or hidden. weak metal in crashes do not mix.
By the way several months ago I saw a female attempt suicide in a Hyundai Excel and rammed it at about 70 k.p.h dead centre with a Steel light Pole I pulled her out with only facial cuts I never thought that Korean rubbish could hold together so well written off to windscreen but doors still opened.
Cheers
Volks67
catch you soon,
bob
yeah I meant apparently they tested airbags in beetles like 40 years ago...I agree late bugs are probably slightly safer than older ones... though I doubt it would make much difference in that test... poor squished bug...
Though really.... in certain circumstances there's no such thing as a safe car.... recently saw pics of a Audi A6 totally ripped appart... all depends on the accident... so all u can do is be a defensive driver and don't drive at crazy high speeds...
Heidi - 1960 White Beetle
'65 Kiwi Ghia
thats interesting about the airbags......i wonder why they didnt put them in......maybe they thought it was a waste at the time......cut back on costs....
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
what you need to know is how strong the chassis is really, if its made of steel then it is less likely to deform under load, than say compared to carbon fibre like in some light weight sports cars. Newer cars have designed crumple zones which render the car useless, as these crumple zones simply disperse the force over a longer time period, this means the force is still the same, but the impact is slowed down. It doesnt really matter too much about the plastic rubbish that is out the front if there is solid metal behind. The smartest design i think is being done by toyota at the moment where if the car gets hit front on the engine slides under the passenger compartment.... bugs should be pretty solid as opposed to some new small cars wouldnt touch hyundais, but depends what your hit by or what you hit...airbags are good but even they can choke you or not even inflate. So in reality you have to be defensive and drive safely instead no matter what car you drive.
<hr>"I choose to Cruze VW Golf Mk1 Style!!!"
'.....when airbags feels threatened, often they will inflate to more than twenty times their usual size, and if that doesn't deter the assailant they have been known to use choke holds and will even batter the target's nose and face..'
sometimes i wonder if bunching them up in the steering wheel is a good idea.. :P
let sleeping dubs lie
Yeah im wondering whether they can design something a bit better. Cause the marks on your face after are like bed sheet marks, that is until the scabs start to form. The gases inside are very choking too. And the canister that makes the bag explode, produces flames up your arms if your still holding on to the wheel. To be blunt they f$$%en hurt.
😠😠
2000 New Beetle White (SOLD)
2004 NB Turbo Black, APR (SOLD)
2007 Passat Black shaggin wagon
1955 Beetle white VWOVAL
1956 Kombi, rusty n lichen
really i had no idea they were that bad:o
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
If you drive like you are naked on a motor bike you will not have any problems. Drive like you expect some fool to try and kill you constantly. No wonder that fool crashed that orange vdub the steering wheel was on the wrong side!😉
old cars are a consumer choice, you can go and put ya bucks down on a new mass produced ecobox or chose a car of your choice and style. like all choices there are compromoises to be consided. ya drive dubs cause ya love em not cause ya gunna die in them! chose life! not negatives, no one lives forever.
Hmmm, definately all food for thought....
But I'm pretty sure I've made up my mind, especially after having to drive home on the eastern freeway in that horrible storm last friday night. That was scary.
I wish I could afford two cars, but unfortunately I can't, even if I could I wouldn't have space for two, living in a terrace. So my bug will be up for sale soon, I'll post in the classifieds here first, so I know it'll go to a good home.
:cry
I feel like i'm dumping someone, I've never become emotionally attached to a car before, it's quite a strange feeling.
Ooh, suits you sir!
vw's have long memories you know...if you absolutely have to let it go, best not to dump the dub over the phone, do it face to face and don't lie about anything, they can tell. :alien
let sleeping dubs lie
Pat
I just had a nosy in the "Dog and Lemon guide". They gave the late (ie 70's) bugs a better frontal impact rating than almost anything in the 80's!!!!
But I can understand your concern if your driving in bad weather.
My piece of advice would be to thoroughly check the safety etc of anything you intend on buying to replace it. If it's going to be boring at least it will be safe and reliable!!!
The "Dog and Lemon guide" is an excellent resource for that.
Cheers
Jeremy
......random gibberish for today.......
