| [ Total Views: 1354 | Total Replies: 14 | Thread Id: 8557 ] |
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 Bug_Crazed Grl
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 03:18 PM |
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Minimum spec for a daily driven bug ?
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum and enjoy it thoroughly !
I'm currently bugless..in search of a bug I can drive daily. I am not too mechanically minded so I'd love some basic tips on what I should
look for in a bug that is to be driven regularly..engine type etc.
Thank you very much!
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 Bizarre
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 03:36 PM |
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Welcome
That is a hard question to answer and depends on many things
The FIRST area to cover is how much you want to spend
SECOND is how reliable
THIRD is how fast
OLD cliche but pick two of the above.
Now select what sort of bug. I wil make it easier
1) Pre 1971 Standard torsion bar bug
2) 1972 - 1975 Super beetle Mac Pherson bug
The standards are
dearer and more sort after
older
dont handle as well
more robust
more pointed in shape
The Supers are
cheaper and not as popular (with some)
not as old (still 30yrs old!)
handle better when set up
rounded in shape
My choice for a cheap good car is a 1971-72 super with a 1600 dual port motor.
This is a later model car with a good motor that can be made to handle well. Even standard they handle GREAT - just need to make sure everything is
top condition.
For a first tomer - stay away fron 1950's ovals and Karman Ghias.
WAY too expensive for parts
What ever you choose the main area to look for is RUST!!!
Beware the shiny paint cheap beetle. A quick spray job can hide lts of things
Enjoy the world of VW's :bounce
Futue te ipsum!!!
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Bug_Crazed Grl
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 03:50 PM |
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Thank you for that quick reply ! I'm impressed 
I am willing to spend up to $6000 on something that won't need constant visits to the mechanic - I had my eye on a very nice 57 oval but the
thought of actually driving it stressed me out..I'd rather have it parked in my lounge room where i can sit and look at it all day
Adivce has been taken on board - Thanks again!
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ByronBug
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 03:58 PM |
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Hi
:sandrine
Hi, & welcome
Sounds like your on your way.
Yes ovals are nice but too expensive now.
So I guess its either a 60's or 70's depending what you prefer.
But always check for rust, we don't want to have no "little surprises" when we take it home.
Both are great cars in different ways.
Whatever you choose...let us know.
But may you have many happy years of driving it.
Judy (o\|/o)
59 Microbus Kombi (MERCY)
64 Microbus Kombi (CHANNON)
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type82e
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 04:13 PM |
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I'd reccommend you join club veedub sydney and get some of the people there to help you find a nice bug for $6000 you should be able to pick up a
very nice example.
marcel
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Bizarre
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 04:24 PM |
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Good budget.
Look at spending $4,500 - $5,000 on the car and another $1,000 repairing and setting it up once you have it.
Just realize a good spray job is worth $4,000 - people will argue here.
What i am saying is a car for sale for $3,000 with a new spray job = BEWARE.
$6000 for an oval is cheap-ish.
You will not pick up a solid registered oval for $2000.
You will pick up a super for that money
Think carefully and choose what you want.
Best Advice -
Pay the extra so as you are happy.
Futue te ipsum!!!
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Baja Wes
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 05:34 PM |
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I recommend making it to the VW Valla show. Heaps of people to suck info from, and usually quite a few cars for sale.
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vw_mistress
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 05:50 PM |
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Hi,
i recently bought my 1960 beetle for $3600. It had been restored to original condition inside and out and has a reco'd engine and gear box.
I highly recommend the earlier model beetles - it took a little bit of getting used to as they handle so differently to newer models, but it's
comfortable, reliable, stylish and easy to maintain.
good luck on your beetle mission!
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Grey 57
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 07:27 PM |
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Bug Crazed Girl - I'm a bit biased on the side of ovals, but as a daily driver I'm not sure. Some parts are hard to get. But theres really
no difference to the later (early 60's) ones except they are a little harder to see out the back of. A well cared for and maintained daily driver
would be a good investment.
I like the idea of parking it in the louge room and looking at it. Just need to cut a hole in the wall so I can drive it in.
vw mistress, I agree, the early VW has so much more style than your common garden Honda or Hyandia (sp)
[Edited on 18-7-2003 by Grey 57]
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1303Steve
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| posted on July 18th, 2003 at 10:53 PM |
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Hi & welcome
I have just uploaded new 4 sales to the Club VeeDub site http://www.clubvw.org.au/ check
them out, club members get to see them earlier than the general public, another good reason to join Club VeeDub Sydney.
There is a VW picnic, swap meet (with cars 4 sale) in Sydney at Deepwater Motor boat club on the 28th September.
The early Beetles are great, but if your doing any sort of commuting the drum brakes & 6 volts on the pre 68s can be a bit of a bother. As long as
you select your car carefully and you should be able to recoup most of the money you spend if you are silly enough to want to sell it.
1302Steve
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lugnuts
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 03:32 AM |
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Hello Bug_Crazed Grl,i was in exactly the same spot 3yrs ago,now this is a long story(WARNING).I started doing the rounds of the vw workshops and the
trading post ads $3000-$4000 buys a whole lot of nuthing but trouble for the inexperianced like i was then and yes i almost bought the early bug with
the great paint trick,but i got an NRMA inspection done and god what a shock i got,must have been an old bloke who did the inspection he was
ruthless.Anyway after about 6 mths i finally fluked it ad on the wall at VVDS no picture and at Bowral $6000 67 Deluxe beetle 118000 original
logbooked 1 owner miles,absolutely perfect body off respray in off white,i new it was the one when i stuck my head under to check the pan,i was in
love.Spend whatever you have to get a great beetle its cost effective to let someone else overcapitalise on the restoration.And in conclusion and ive
said this before EARLY BEETLES are the best looking and LATE BEETLES look but ugly,but for practicality not love go with a late beetle,fully
independant rear instead of pogo stick and disc brakes,hope this UNBIASED completely neutral opinion helps |
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Bug_Crazed Grl
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 12:24 PM |
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Wow - Thanks for all that info fellow veedubbers !! I am getting all excited just thinking about it ! I don't want to rush into it ..just hope
to find that "perfect" VW..i definately like the earlier models !! My first mission now is to become a member of Club Veedub Sydney !
Thanks again !
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Starbug
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 01:15 PM |
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Im now going to spit out almost everything my dad told me about buying a car, especially a classic car. It took me quite a few months and lots of
looking to find mine but i learnt alot in the process.
Definitely check on the state of the rust, on top, inside and underneath! if you go over the car with a magnet wrapped in some thin cloth you will get
a pretty good idea, if the seller wont let you do this, then assume they have something to hide! if the body is in good condition but the paint is
crap, check to see that there isnt any places where you can tell its going to rust soon. as others on the forum have mentioned, you can hide a crap
body with shiny paint so beware!
You can pick up a good bug for under 5k if you just keep looking and do your homework! If you arent mechanically minded, dont see yourself tinkering
and working on your beetle in the near future, and pretty much just want a mechanic to take care of the greasy side for you, then dont get anything
with any major modifications! some mods are really time consuming to remove when you take it to the mechanic and so they will charge extra labour
because it took so long to remove something to get to something else.
Get familliar with the general layout of beetles and make sure nothing is missing when you look them over (i once looked at a '63 bug going for
6k that didnt have a handbrake, no mirrors and was a tad rusty!)
drive it. even drive it a few times. drive a few of them a few times. get someone to sit with you when you drive them a few times. if something doesnt
sound right then something is probably not right and look elsewhere. if you find a few you like, get a mechanic you know to look them over and base
your descision upon that.
If you have friends in the know, or join a vw club, then im sure finding one will be much easier!! Good luck and make sure to post some pics when you
get it! |
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Bizarre
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 02:03 PM |
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2 things to consider that a post 71 beetle has
disc brakes
independent rear suspension - IRS
These were only available on Supers and 1976 standards.
IF you like the look of early beetles over a super maybe consider a 1976. These are standards and look like a 1968-1970 except for the elephants foot
lights (and a few other things)
IRS and disc brakes are a BIG safety imporvement
Futue te ipsum!!!
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OvalGlen
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 09:34 PM |
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also , go along to some of the events or runs and chat to owners.
They can show you where to look for rust and how to sus out the poor ones.
-
another consideration is the type of travelling you need to do.
An early Beetle might not be the best if you need to travel at 110 KM/h for three hours per day over mountain ranges.
( the 1100 cc might slow down to 80 KM/h on the Grades ).
Now I got the older ( early ) model and put in the Disk Brakes, Sway bars , 12 v ,
Big 1600 cc type engine , etc etc.
If you are lucky you might get an early that has been upgraded Well by some one.
But even more care is needed when checking out one of these.
Regards,Glenn>
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dakgrrl
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 09:58 PM |
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Welcome to the forum fellow sydney female bug lover!
I tend to agree with blue on the stronger points of a superbug but everyone has their preferences. Just take your time and make sure it is the
right one before forking over the dollars!
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1303Steve
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| posted on July 19th, 2003 at 11:26 PM |
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Hi
Another thing to look for is if the rain drip rails have been filled in with bog, they should be very thin and sharply defined, you may need someone
to point this out to you, as said before check the VW workshops in your area for customers selling thier cars.
1302Steve
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