Most have probably seen my car over the long build period on here and I have to say I enjoyed the build and love my car and the VW world.

But I must say I am not enjoying the driving experience as I thought I would. Not in relation to the handling, steering or brakes but the short gear shifts required every time I take off at lights etc.

Seems like I only go about 10 feet and then have to change to 2nd and feels like I don't really get going until I'm in 3rd gear. I know these cars were designed for a standard 1200, 1300 etc but I thought with a decent motor in there it would be better.

I have to say, I am even thinking that a WRX motor and 5 speed looks very enticing at the moment. Maybe I am just use to driving modern cars and the way that they drive.

Please tell me your thoughts or am I just not use to my car. Have only done about 1000kms in it in 6 months as I seem to only get it out every few weeks for a drive.

Cheers, Kevin

Your getting old. Time for a '70s auto Jetta i'm afraid

What gear box are you running now?

kevin kevin kevin kevin just give it to me I would love to drive it

Should try driving a truck with 18 speeds in 10 metres you would be in atleast 3rd gear
Maybe try a differnt diff ratio in the box
Treat the vw as a toy it is never gonna feel like a modern car.
I enjoyed reading the build thread car looks good.

Maybe you're expecting too much from the Beetle, Kev.......after all, it's basically a 50-year-old car. Having traveled many miles in vintage [1920s] cars, some with 2-wheel brakes, I've learned to 'program' the old brain - please, no 'what brain?' comments - to look at every car as a different animal.

Enjoy the Beetle for what it is, and gradually improve it over the years....but don't ask it to be a modern car. There are people who would happily give a very important part of their anatomy for that car, Kev.

this is like dayshavoo to me I hear this all the time. Some people have never driven a beetle before and spend heaps of money on them and than it doesn't drive like they imagined it would drive like.
The funny thing is a lot of them that ask about performance are trike people.
Just get out and drive it, maybe try and get out of town abit away from all the traffic lights and 60K zones.

Have you done much highway cruising in it yet?

most people not real familar with VWs feel like they are ringing it's neck soon as they try to cruise over 90km/h.
They think it will self destruct soon as they exceed 3000rpm when really they cruise all day happily at flat bicky (well a stocker not flat bicky on a hot motor )

I was almost struggling to keep up to my mate in his stock 1500 which has almost 200,000miles on it coming back from Valla.
I clocked him at 85mph on the GPS several times when he was overtaking
lucky it was a quiet sunday arvo

I have to admit that recently I have been thinking a 5 speed would be a nice change and make my bug a bit nicer to drive, but then it wouldn't be the same.

Most of my driving is in the 60km areas to and from work and pootling around the coast and the standard ratios are fine for this. There is also something nice about blasting around and making a heap of noise at low speeds, over taking ricers and deafening them in the process. It makes it more of an occasion to drive it, even if i'm just popping down to the shops. I get out, half deaf but buzzing. James May goes on about it how a car at its' limits is more fun that a car going faster without breaking a sweat and I agree.

My Magna is quicker, quieter and sits nicer on the road, but it is pretty dull.

I reckon a long drive down a country or coast road is what you need. Just a long stretch to open it up an let it sing. Meet up with a convoy and make a day of it. I'd suggest the ridge way on the Central coast - it's a favourite of mine with narrow winding roads, a hair pin or two, mountainous drops and lush greenery and serenity to disturb.

A few of us coasties went on a trip from the Gosford off ramp on the F3 up to Patonga last year and it was pretty cool.

Any other suggestions for great country driving roads?

nice country drive
from Somersby is Peats Ridge Road and goes into George Downs Dr up to the Vinyards at the Hunter Valley and there's a nice place to stop for lunch on the way heaps of motor bikes stop there.

I hate driving my bug in Sydney no fun at all.

depending on your engine you could concider raising the gearing, i have a 2276 in my ghia and i will be putting a 3.88 diff with close ratio 3rd and 4th, this will raise 1st and 2nd and bring 3rd and 4th closer but still have a good fan speed at highway speeds, my car could use the higher 1st and 2nd but the way it is at the moment it is very quick of the line.

I love driving my bug, but I have country roads and see a decent amount of 80 and 100 zones. It runs a 3.88 cw/p and .89 top with 650mm tall tyres. Certainly the gear ratios and tyre choice make a huge difference when talking drivability with a bigger than stock engine.

If your driving a modern car most of the time and you get in your bug there will be a big difference. I have a falcon work car with all the mod consand drive it 5-6 days a week and when i jump in my dubs have to tell myself not to compare

Give me my vw's over any modern car, just had it bought home with a corrola hire car. driving my old cars is a experence, not wraped up inside a airconditioned cabin with no feel or a good engine noises, i do not have a problem keeping up with anybody, particually a standard 1500

Drive a standard one for a day, and then you will find out how quick yours is!

Kev,

We should get together soon and you can drive rosie which is pretty stock and see if there is a big difference. Remember though you are running 18 inch wheels when it was designed for 13 or 14 inch wheels??????

Your the mechanic not me so maybe im talking crap lol

Hi all,

thanks for the replies and I laughed at many of them. As I said, I love driving the car and it sits nice and flat around corners. I think someone said about it would be good for racing, but it seems slow to me until I get into 3rd and use the torque of the stroker to pull away.

It is a torquey (spelling) motor and pulls nicely in 3rd or 4th without any problems, if not to low in the rev range. But getting up to 3rd is where I feel the problem is.

Although I have 18" wheels, they are the same rolling diameter as the original factory tyres or very close too for legality reasons. Issue could be my final diff ratio as it is 4.125 crown wheel and pinion, 3.7778 first gear, 2.0588 second, a closer ratio coarse tooth 1.3182 third and 0.889 fourth gear.

Maybe I am just getting old, but yes I agree about jumping out of a modern car would play a big part in me think the way I do about the VW.

Yes Joel, been out on the freeway and it is a good cruiser sitting on about 3000rpm at 100kmph. And I love just squeezing the pedal and passing others.

Tuffnut, when I mentioned a 5 speed I was meaning a Subaru 5 speed for the modern drive feel.

I also wonder if it was efi turbo, it would be quieter and smoother to drive ??? But I guess that doesn't change ratios. But if I build a turbo motor I think it would be smaller and a higher revving engine

Cheers, Kev

what can i say lol

As you know i have a Golf R and love it but i do love driving my beetle as well just gotta get some confidence to drive it again after my recent breakdown

With the white furry hat Paul

A turbo motor would require a total rethink of the gear ratio's,, a big engine with a turbo, geared nice and high in the lower gears so there is no lag.

Quote:

Originally posted by AUSSIE_MICK With the white furry hat Paul

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulc1964au Quote: Originally posted by AUSSIE_MICK With the white furry hat Paul Nah probably my blue cap

WTF is it with that hat!

lol ets not focus on my hat lets focus on kev's issues and we know he has lots

I drive an EVO X.......but I still enjoy driving all my beetles

just rev it more you old pussy

but isn't that why we all drive and love da vw because they are different