HI,

I am about to go and check out a few beetles and i know the first thing i should be looking for is rust - i have read that you can tell whether there is rust by uising a magnet - I feel really dumb asking this but how does that work - i hold the magnet to the car and then what??

Thanks !
DEB

get some that knows VW to go with you .Or say your single here and the boys will come from every where to help you look .:thumb

Make sure you cover the magnet with a cloth, otherwise you risj scratching the paintwork!!

Here's a good guide as to what to look for when buying...

http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqbyng.htm 

As seagull said..its a good idea to take someone who knows about VW's with you.... but if you read that guide you'll get a fair idea of what to look for...

Hi Deb,
I think that is an old wives tale...
I have never heard of anyone actually doing it, as it would take some time to go over a whole car.... and it doesn't show up Rust, just where its been bogged over with putty.. which is NOT magnetic... the putty may sit there for 10 years or more if it was done properly.... You would need a magnet that wasn't too strong or it would grab onto the metal every time it was put close to the car... and could even mark the paintwork if a cloth was used.... Most magnets are too strong... BUT I just had a though " use a fridge magnet" Now that WOULD work.. but still take a lot of time... and still NOT find rust....
It is best to take someone who knows VWs , even then its NOT foolproof... its easy to buy a car that is being eaten by rust on the other side of the paint... but looks great....
A Bubble under the paint IS a BAD SIGN....
cheers
Lee

Thanks for all the advice guys ! I really appreciate it ! I rang up and left a msg about a beetle that was in the trading post - $7500 apparently rebuilt and restored..will go and take a look and report back
Once again thanks for the tips !!!

DEB

hey Deb!
good luck with buying the beetle.....but is it just me or is 7 grand a fair bit to be paying for a bug....??? sheesh....it would want to be nice!!!!!!!
i agree about the magnet --- its a nice idea in theory...dunno if it would actually be practical though...
and yeah, it would only find the bog......which you can do by tapping the body with your knuckle anyway......."knock knock" and its metal....."thud thud" (duller kind of sound) and its probably bog.
but as someone said ------ take along a buddy who knows about beetles.......
there are "typical" places for vws to rust......and its a matter of checking for the "likely suspects" and the rest is kinda down to luck i guess.
dont be afraid to tear the car apart looking for rust ---- if you are going to give them a whole bunch of money you need to be ruthless ----- pull up the matting on the floor --- look near the pedals, look on the floorpan behind the seats......stick your hand under the mud guards.........whatever it takes!
if you are part of a club, ask someone for advice ---- better yet buy a vw from an enthusiast --- they are likely to know the faults of their car, its true worth, and hopefully be honest about it.

the only other bit of advice i would have: recently a friend of mine found a nice looking beetle for $2500 --- he took it to his favourite VW mechanic ---- and for $40 they looked at it for him, inside and out, and gave him a qoute/inventory of what was wrong with it and what it would take to get it roadworthy etc.....(kinda like an RACQ inspection but by someone who knows about VWs)........ it was quite a little list........totaling a few hundred dollars worth of work.
he took the list back to the car yard, negoiated with them, and drove away his new beetle for $2000....fully confident he knows what the go is with it mechanically and body wise.

anyway ---- there is my 2 cents for what its worth!!!! don't be afraid to be critical about the car, take along a friend and get a VW savvy mechanic to give you a professional opinion before handing over the cash!!!!!!!!

and from one dub-loving girl to another, dont be gipped just cause you're a girl, if you have to take a bloke with you to give you "cred" so be it........just dont let them pull the wool over your eyes.............

good luck!!!!!! thorun

Very well said lil dub!

Thanks for your advice Lildub - I have taken it all in I know what you mean about 7 grand being a bit much but i am willing to pay that if it's "the" vw i've been looking for Hopefully i will get lucky soon !
Thanks again for your advice !!
DEB

FRIDGE MAGNET..................works a treat, use one all the time when looking at cars.
Easy,quick and it will always tell you where body filler has been used. ( Not always rusted)
Just go straight to the usual spots e.g. next to the back window, lower half of the doors as well the quarter panels, sides of the bonnet etc.

At least you will get an idea if it has been bogged !!!

YES I agree with LIL Dub take it or go with them to your mechanic if they do not want you to the that a giveaway that something is wrong

marc

the magnet trick wont work if your looking at buggies:thumb

nIck

lol the knocking thud thud idea will though, be different tune, cars are musical you know!! he he

take it to a panel beater on the way back from the mechanics, they hav tools to check for alot fo stuff including the thickness of the paint. cant hurt...