Semi Auto\'s are sweet aren\'t they

64vwmark · 20 Jul 2006, 12:27 am

My wife had the day off work today so I took her Semi auto bug to work. I haven't driven it for a while, gee it was sweet to drive in the traffic. I'm used to driving my buggy which is real cold this time of year and doesn't run the best in the cold (no heat risers on the intake manifold).

The Beetle was real nice though, the gear ratios are perfect for battling the traffic and the heater works a treat also:thumb

shaihulud · 20 Jul 2006, 7:40 am

Mark Mark. Fit a piece of corrugated paper heater tubing from behind your engine down at the back in the hot air stream and direct it into the carburettor intake. Alternatively, direct the hot air straight at the carburettor to keep it warm. Your buggy will run as sweetly as it does in summer. Richard.

bajachris88 · 20 Jul 2006, 9:09 am

i been trying to experience this semi auto 'greatness' for quiet some time... still waiting 🙁

But ay... more motivation to GET THE BUGGER WORKIN! 😀

64vwmark · 20 Jul 2006, 10:12 am

shaihulud wrote:Mark Mark. Fit a piece of corrugated paper heater tubing from behind your engine down at the back in the hot air stream and direct it into the carburettor intake. Alternatively, direct the hot air straight at the carburettor to keep it warm. Your buggy will run as sweetly as it does in summer. Richard.

I know what you are saying Richard. I'll have to have a look at it soon, it's starting to get to the annoying stage now.

PrettyBlueBug · 20 Jul 2006, 6:51 pm

Yep, stickshift auto's definitely are good stuff! :P

pod · 20 Jul 2006, 7:31 pm

bajachris88 wrote:i been trying to experience this semi auto 'greatness' for quiet some time... still waiting 🙁

But ay... more motivation to GET THE BUGGER WORKIN! 😀

I know how you feel Chris,my daughters goes but need to finish body work,then get it regoed:cry

68AutoBug · 20 Jul 2006, 9:20 pm

You can use the 3 forward gears....
Low - drive 1 and drive 2...
for great acceleration...
I was told they had problems in the US when autosticks first appeared as the owners were told to use drive 2 all the time....
as most VW manuals say not to use Low except when driving up a steep driveway etc....
but they accelerate quite nippy in low gear....

and You need to in todays traffic....

Lee

pod · 20 Jul 2006, 9:27 pm

68AutoBug wrote:but they accelerate quite nippy in low gear....
Lee

found that out myself ,flying up and down my driveway:P

mscabrio · 20 Jul 2006, 9:30 pm

My first bug was a semi auto and I am not quite sure if sweet would be the word I would have used to describe it?????????? I think that tempremental would have suited this little fella much better ......

bajachris88 · 20 Jul 2006, 9:36 pm

pod wrote:
bajachris88 wrote:i been trying to experience this semi auto 'greatness' for quiet some time... still waiting 🙁

But ay... more motivation to GET THE BUGGER WORKIN! 😀
I know how you feel Chris,my daughters goes but need to finish body work,then get it regoed:cry

YES!! Its irritating 🙁. Ur daughter do any work on it? lol

68AutoBug · 20 Jul 2006, 9:41 pm

mscabrio wrote:My first bug was a semi auto and I am not quite sure if sweet would be the word I would have used to describe it?????????? I think that tempremental would have suited this little fella much better ......

There are many things that can go wrong with the semi auto... which was designed by Porsche and used in the 911 or the 912 for a couple of years....

When everything is well adjusted they go very well....
its amazing they have lasted this long....
Many of the parts are now getting hard to find....
although they sold shiploads of them in the US..
even the Karmann Ghias had them....

All the vacuum hoses need to be in good condition all the time.... one leak and You have problems....

anyway.... I still like them.,....

Lee

64vwmark · 20 Jul 2006, 9:43 pm

I find drive 1 ok for taking off in most situations. I only use low if the car is fully loaded and I'm taking off up a hill.

HerbieBoy82 · 20 Jul 2006, 10:07 pm

I've had 2 of them. I think thry were a great idea & when kept in good condition they work pretty well. However, they do tend to sap the little performance bugs have (compared to a newer car anyway) & mine tended to use a fair bit of fuel aswell. However if driven reasonably 'lightly' a very useful city car. I'd have another one.
:thumb
Brendan.

mscabrio · 21 Jul 2006, 11:06 am

68AutoBug wrote:
mscabrio wrote:My first bug was a semi auto and I am not quite sure if sweet would be the word I would have used to describe it?????????? I think that tempremental would have suited this little fella much better ......
There are many things that can go wrong with the semi auto... which was designed by Porsche and used in the 911 or the 912 for a couple of years....

When everything is well adjusted they go very well....
its amazing they have lasted this long....
Many of the parts are now getting hard to find....
although they sold shiploads of them in the US..
even the Karmann Ghias had them....

All the vacuum hoses need to be in good condition all the time.... one leak and You have problems....

anyway.... I still like them.,....

Lee

I loved mine, I thought it was great although it did have a nasty habit of failing to perform in times of crisis ie: on my way to uni exams etc etc. Unfortunatly though when I had mine I had no idea about the VW scene and no idea where to take it. Noone seemed to work on it and it was all just too hard. In the end I sold it to a wrecker (yes I know I should be hung for that!!!) and bought a Laser (double hung). I still have the VW Automatic badge and the radio cover .........

Spook · 21 Jul 2006, 5:07 pm

68AutoBug wrote:
mscabrio wrote:My first bug was a semi auto and I am not quite sure if sweet would be the word I would have used to describe it?????????? I think that tempremental would have suited this little fella much better ......
There are many things that can go wrong with the semi auto... which was designed by Porsche and used in the 911 or the 912 for a couple of years....

When everything is well adjusted they go very well....
its amazing they have lasted this long....
Many of the parts are now getting hard to find....
although they sold shiploads of them in the US..
even the Karmann Ghias had them....

All the vacuum hoses need to be in good condition all the time.... one leak and You have problems....

anyway.... I still like them.,....

Lee

Keep talking Lee.
I'm thinking about getting one for my daughter, but I've never had anything to do with the auto/semi auto.
Anything I should listen for or clunks I shouldn't feel??

Euro_67 · 22 Jul 2006, 12:18 am

My wife has had one for a few years as her daily driver. Hasnt been used regularly for months as we replaced it with an airconditioned car for our new baby. It still starts first crank, and is a ball to drive. It is still for sale if any one is keen to own a Semi Auto. If anyone has an issue with my link, speak up and I will remove it, it does seem relevant to the thread though.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=51552&pa

Wayne.