Hi All,
Here is the situation - I'm thinking of getting a new car and would love members opinions please.

I have just started in a sales role that sees me driving around Sydneys Upper North Shore,.... daily.

I am a collector, and like things in original looking condition (I am not interested in driving a rat,... apologies to all the rat fiends out there).

I am in my early 40's with 2 young kids in booster seats (wife has a new car to take them around - but I need to drop them off to school and daycare every day - both within 1km).

My first car was a 1972 Mustard colored 1600 Bug - I'm currently driving a 2006 Passat.

I am thinking of buying another Beetle but am concerned about reliability, electrics, handling and looks. And by looks I mean that the car must be a head turner due to it's outstanding old school looks (not a chop shop special).

Whilst I have a love for the oval looks and lots of Crome and factory accessories, the reliability, 6volt system, handling etc are a concern.

I suppose what I'd like is 1970's specs on an earlier shape that looks original.
Unrealistic?
If so, what would you suggest as a compromise.
If you had around $7-8K to play with, what year model would you buy?

I personally would get the best bug you can for that money of whatever year that still has the early bonnet and engine lid as the shape is much nicer that the later beetles.
You can dress up with chrome bumpers and mirrors cheaply if it doesn not have them, so long as it the pretty much rust free and running well.

The 1500 bugs were the best,
Old school looka, metal dash, decent preformance, discs, collapsable steering colum ect

Ditto above, 68, 69, 70. 1500 my choice

just get an early one with 12v conversion done ,way kool looking and some nice ones out there

ok - i say go as late as possible

If you are in sales and driving every day you want something reliable AND safe
Yes early bugs look cool (to some ) but later bugs have as standard
high back seats
collapasable steering
indicators you can see
brake lights you can see
dual circuit brakes
cheap parts
disc brakes
alternators
1600 dp motors

Get yourself a 1976 standard or an L bug (1973 - 1975, preferably a 1975 with rack and pinion)

Keep it stock and enjoy

Something with power steering and air con. Mitchell

Ditto what Bizarre said.

Early beetles have "the look" but if you're driving your kids around in city traffic full of drivers not paying attention in modern cars that can stop on a dime later beetles are much safer.

Early bugs have woeful brakes, terrible seatbelts (where actually fitted) and shoddy electrics.

But to most people they are only used as toys so that doesn't matter but think about safety aspects over looks if you're regularly driving in city traffic.

also consider if you are in sales if you have to take clients anywhere

Not everyone likes getting in an unairconditioned car on a 40C day - especially if you have to put some one in the back


Keep the passat and buy a weekend car to tinker with

I have done 15 years in a management position driving L bugs.
It is hard work.
Turning up to meetings late or smelling like petrol
Yep - people got use to me, but you have to be dedicated to the cause.
I was fixing / hotting mine up as I went

I have finally given in and bought a Polo GT1 for Monday to Thursday
The bug gets driven fridays and weekends

Thanks Everyone,

All have made very good points.
I suppose I'm after the impossible when thinking of an old world concourse head turner for a daily driver, yet wanting 12v, reliability and safety.

Whilst I appreciate Vmans choice of ride, it's not exactly something that a +40 year old guy in real estate would want to be driving around Sydneys North Shore.

Then there the issue of taking a true collectable out in the rain and using it daily,...Hmmmmm.

Maybe a '67 that has been spec'ed up?
What are your thoughts?

What sort of dollars should I spend?

Any suggestions of where to look and what to look out for when buying one?

Thanks heaps guys (& girls)

Mate I would stick with the passat, I drive my 60 beetle weekends but had to take it out in peak hour traffic the other day in 33 degree heat. It was a most unpleasant experience and by the time I got home I felt sorry for those who did that every day back in those years. I was well and truly stuffed by the time I got home. If I had to do that every day I'd catch the bus.

Agreed, you are asking a 40-year old car to start doing daily work, in Sydney's shite traffic, in all weathers, carrying stuff and presenting for you and your business. Surely, 40-year old Volkswagens have earned their comfortable retirements and deserve some time out in the garage to be pampered. $7-$8k would find you a reasonable one but then who knows what work might need doing to it? Plus ongoing maintenance - air-cooled Beetles need servicing every 5,000 km, a lot more often than your Passat. Daily grind stuff is for newer cars.

Why not get a New Beetle? They still have the 'olde' look for 99% of the population who don't know about cars, and they are based on a relatively modern Golf 4. Several companies already use them in promotion fleets - I can think of Pink Hygene, Westpac, Red Bull and Puma sport off the top of my head. New Beetles are no longer available new, but with models sold here from 2000-on, you can probably find a good one for $7-$8K. Getting one painted up for your business will cost a bit more.

Have a look on some of the car sales sites - CarsGuide, Drive and CarSales.

I am turning our 68 beetle and 72 beetle cabrio in to daily drivers with the mileage shared between them and 2 other cars we have.

As I am in sales as well, I will be fitting air conditioning and a bigger motor (type 4 in my case but a 1916cc type 1 would also be nice). I agree though that the later would be better with the disc brakes and better steering/wipers/blinkers etc. It is also more convenient just opening a fuel flap to fill up instead of having to lift the bonnet.

My mileage will probably be less than yours but I expect, with regular maintenance, that they will be reliable enough to take the load. Just make sure the mechanicals are all in good nick and with a new motor, should be all OK.

There are a couple of people on here that drive their beetles pretty big distances daily and one of them even tows a trailer.

Yogie

In a sales role, can you afford to drive a car without air conditioning? I would imagine that turning up to a meeting with a client wearing a sweat-soaked shirt would be less than ideal.

If you can cope without air conditioning, then go for it! Beetles were reliable enough to be daily drivers 40 years ago and they can still do it now, as long as they are well maintained.

By 'new' I meant NEW. New Beetle production ended in July 2010.

http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2010/small-passenger/volkswagen/new-beetle/vo...

Some dealers may have some old stock, but even if they do they won't be $7-$8K, the budget of this poster. Who is supposed to be updating the VWGA website?

VW Mexico is now producting the new New Beetle (now just called the 'Volkswagen Beetle') and it is already avilable for sale on the US market.

http://www.vw.com/en/models/beetle/gallery.html 

I drive mine about 45km round trip everyday in all weather. Granted it's not the most comfortable drive and the wipers are a bit iffy but it seems reliable enough. In fact that is the reason I went for a later bug, to drive it everyday even though I wanted an early one. I didn't have to upgrade brakes, already has 12v and the 1600 is a good starting point for a well powered, reliable powerplant.

I'm pretty happy with it. Of course it does need a fair bit of routine maintenance.

Where are the faithful????

I drive my '69 Single Cab Kombi every day of the week, run my own building business and deal with clients doing high end renovations.
If the car is tidy and well presented, it becomes a point of interest and the worst you come off as is a bit eccentric.
I am planning on Air con for next Summer though. Air con in a beetle would make for a sweet ride too.
Drive a lovely old VW and you will turn up with a smile on your face to your prospective clients.
My 2.5c

I am a builder, and I drive my beetle every day - towing a tool trailer.



A number of years ago, my eldest daughter (who is a carpenter) had a very similar L bug, and a lot of people thought it was the same car - reckoned they saw it everywhere - sometimes I was driving, sometimes my daughter was driving. lol

Then we would turn up at a site in the 2 bugs.

I even use it on my letterheads etc. A lot of people in town know that the bloke in the bug does building work - helps a lot of people identify who I am.

Buy a Type 3!

I drove my 66 type 3 wagon everyday for 4 years until the door fell off from rust. (It did only cost me $300.)
It was reliable. (I had the engine rebuilt stock when I bought it.)
Just get the air conditioning upgrade.

As for these newer cars not needing oil changed until 15000klms in some cases,... well I think that is a mistake,.. New engines are complicated,.. oil changes are cheap. There have been many cases of new engines failing when serviced at 15000 klms. My 2c worth.

I think being a builder and driving to a worksite at sparrows in the morning and missing the traffic and not having to wear business clothes is a world away from a sales role. I am not saying the beetle cannot handle it, all I am saying the one day i did it in my business clothes and tie on a hot day was the one and only. Ill be taking the Commodore next time.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95811&page=1#pid891657 

good call craig!

R32 Golf would be a good city car also. Obviously it is new and costs a lot more, but I want one...

69 type 3 wagon