So hopefully picking up my 67 Beetle this weekend, and more than likely selling my daily drive (VW VR6) to put some money into the beetle, whether that be rust or mechanical upgrades, and making it my daily drive.
My normal commute to work is about 100kms return. Sooo who else here runs there air cooled beetle as a daily drive, is this possible with regular servicing / tunes, I still have a thought in my head that I shouldn't be putting my faith into a 45 year old car!
1965 VW Beetle
would be prudent to hang on to the VR6 as long as you can while you sort out the drive-ability and reliability issues of the 67.
Disc brakes up front would be high on your list.
Set yourself up so its easy to do regular oil changes and valve adjustments.
My daily driver is my sanity restorer at the end of the day, but an important part of that is that it drives nicely, stops well, and isnt too loud. I dont have a working stereo system in the car, I dont need it while I have a CSP Python to listen to..
But I dont drive 50 ks each way either.
I can't afford to have both registered, and bought the beetle because that's my thing, I want to drive it while restoring it. If I could afford to run both I probably would.....
I do also have my motorbike, and girlfriends car if needed so won't be the ONLY form of transport...
1965 VW Beetle
I drive mine almost 5-600km a week.
Still an aircooled engine, I wouldn't have it any other way.
The most important thing it to keep up regular maintenance when you are doing so many kms.
Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
Yeah have already spoken with CVD @ Stafford about regular engine servicing...I can look after the rest I hope.
1965 VW Beetle
Mate come to the Ettamogah pub on the 17th of june and you'll see some daily drivers 🙂
"Obey your Dreams"!
62 Std beetle.
65 11 wnd Split "The Cross".
6? coming very soon!!!!
Weeds wrote:I want to drive it while restoring it.
and there in lies your problem
I did it for 20 years. A 1974/75 L bug was my company car and I had a daily driver/restorer/hottie
The problem comes when you NEED your car the next day and the rear torsion grommet has gone and your out on the street at 10.00pm trying to get the bolt to line up.
Its doable - but you need to have a plan B when the bug fails to go
I gave up this year after a promotion and turning up to meetings with grease on my hands was no longer an option
🥲Futue te ipsum!!!
Yeah i understand that, but an a shift worker with some good weekends off, so will try and manage that as best as possible.
I know my kombi i just sold was unregistered etc, and didn't get any work done on it as i couldn't get it anywhere for big work.
On regular servicing, any recommendations for Leons? Will be living on the southside, so looking for a good air cooled mechanic.....
1965 VW Beetle
I would recommend that you do it yourself.
All you need is a few basic tools and a little know how. Grab a manual and jump to it!
Especially with the kms that you say that you will be driving. You will save yourself a lot of money over a year not having to take it in and have it serviced every 6 weeks.
Smiley 🙂
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
My wife has a 1970 Beetle as the daily driver, and has done for 6 years. Premium breakdown cover helps, and only used it recently because it spat a spark plug. The regular servicing is important. Plan B is the Helbus.
Good fuel and regular servicing will always be high on my list
1965 VW Beetle
I've done it for a few years. Currently daily driving an old Holden ute just because I felt like it, but my Beetle was really a better daily driver. Much easier to park!
my notch is my daily and i have had issues in the past, keep on top of it and you will be fine
volkaholics.net come check us out
Weeds wrote:Good fuel and regular servicing will always be high on my list
personal knowledge gets you out of trouble when a loose spade connector causes a wire to come loose on the coil
Whatever - driving a dub will always be cheaper that paying for a new car.
Go for it
👍Futue te ipsum!!!
I drive my beetle as a daily - currently do about 80km per week - about 500 on the highway, and 300 around town towing a trailer. I have been working at other jobs where I was doing 1400km every weekend to come home, and I am about to start one which will be about 800km each weekend.
As others have said, regular maintenance, a good manual, and get to know your car so you can pick up on that funny sound or something that stops working all of a sudden. I have done a lot of roadside repairs over the years - very rarely can't get it going fairly quickly.
From your ole' mate Jeff
Well it drive home fine, was fun to drive, looked like it was leaking oil from the valve covers when i got home, but has been sitting in a garage for quite a while, so to be expected.
Will start a build thread soon 😁
1965 VW Beetle
Mine is daily driven too. I rack up between 400-600k's as I'm always out and about.
I've had to replace a lot of bits and pieces on mine though. Some for peace of mind, and some just due to age.
Just make sure you go over everything thoroughly.
Custom doesn't come in a Box
I figure, the more you replace with the good stuff, the better it gets :-)
1965 VW Beetle
