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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Anyone own a bug? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1378491113 Message started by greenmonster on 09/06/13 at 11:11:52 |
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Title: Anyone own a bug? Post by greenmonster on 09/06/13 at 11:11:52 So I'm thinking of getting a old vw bug to drive through the rainy/snowy season. Anyone have experience with them? What should I be looking for? What should I look to avoid? |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Serowbot on 09/06/13 at 11:18:50 I think a little front wheel drive would be better... and you'd have a real heater... A bug heater is no better than a lukewarm coffee... |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by greenmonster on 09/06/13 at 11:22:10 I've always heard about the bug heaters being pathetic. Then I thought... "I ride a motorcycle at 70 with no windshield and only a couple degrees above freezing, in the rain." And suddenly even a pathetic heater sounded like a slice of heaven. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Serowbot on 09/06/13 at 11:22:49 It'll be a very tiny slice... ;D ;D ;D... See if you can find an old Geo Metro... (they were made in Canada)... 40mpg,... front wheel drive,... and a good heater... Best car I've ever owned... ;)... |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by ZAR on 09/06/13 at 11:27:50 4650475A42575A41350 wrote:
A buddy back in the 1970's had one I drove a lot. That "heater" was about like sitting on a block of ice. At least on the old Triumph I had your legs got some heat off the engine! |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by ZAR on 09/06/13 at 11:32:34 2335223F27323F24500 wrote:
"Best car I've ever owned"???? :o Dang Sero :-? ....I kinda feel a lettle sorry for ya bub! That'd be like saying Rosie O'Donnell was the best - - - - - you've ever had :-[ |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by babyhog on 09/06/13 at 11:34:53 Always wanted one, but never found "the" one for me. Either too expensive or more work than I wanna do. Mother-in-law's boyfriend has one (72 or 74 model, I think) that's in pretty good shape, but still needs some work, which he can no longer do, due to having a stroke. I'm waiting for him to offer to sell it to us cheap. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by old_rider on 09/06/13 at 11:42:43 I've had 2 in my life-time, one when I was a senior in high school and one while I was stationed at Hurlburt Field AFB. I remember driving my bug thru snow drifts that winter of high school, me and a couple of buds from the podunk town of Fish hook IL. I would have to get up speed and hit the drift (most were about 2ft.), bent my front fender a bit, but bug would jump up onto the drift and slide across it and drop off on the other side. LOL The one I had while at hurlburt was a 6V converted to a 12V system, always had trouble with that one, but it was the 1600 engine, a blast to drive. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by PerrydaSavage on 09/06/13 at 13:13:59 I had a '74 Bus (Camper version) once ... "Herb Tarlek" plaid seats too! |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Steve H on 09/06/13 at 13:32:21 I had one in my late teens/early twenties. My heat was great though. Warmed up real quick and got nice and warm. Just don't let it be raining. It fogged up terribly because of taking in outside air for the heat. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by oldNslow on 09/06/13 at 13:40:06 7C697E7E75767475686F7E691B0 wrote:
Sure, you can dress warm. But the defrosters on those things were even worse than the heaters. Being cold is one thing, not being able to see is another. I do know of a guy who stuck an aftermarket rear window defroster grid on his windshield though. It worked, but it looked a little weird. He never got a ticket that I know about, but in a lot of places pasting anything on the windshield that obstructs your view is a no no. The whole car tended to dissolve pretty rapidly if it was driven anywhere they used much salt on the roads. The first thing to fall off was usually the heater boxes - sheet metal gizmos surrounding part of the exhaust system that supplied the warm air for the heater. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by WD on 09/06/13 at 13:59:34 Have a Cal Look 72 Super Beetle in the barn. Empi rims, Berg shifter, modified transaxle... I like the Supers because they use 4 corners struts off of 914 Porsches, a bit better ride than a beam front and swing axle rear. Planning to swap the engine and gear box out for early Porsche 911 stuff. Car had a 2350cc racing engine, now has a 1600 in it for street use. Pathetic engine, and the sunroof is stuck closed. I REALLY want to make it a front engine, Supra LSD IRS sleeper... or swap in a turbo Celica All Trac engine/trans/related. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Yonuh Adisi FSO on 09/06/13 at 14:58:13 I love VW Bugs. My first car was a 1970 Beetle with a stock 1600cc dual port engine, but it had a bent valve and I didn't know it untill my number three spark plug literally melted and shot out of the head. Then I had a 1974 Super Beetle. It also had the 1600 CC dual port engine but by the time I got done with it it had a displacement closer to 2000cc. It was the fasted four cylinder in three cities. They are very easy to work on and maintain. I really miss my 74. I had named it Bug Attack. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/06/13 at 16:49:42 Never owned one,, kinda want one, but the shiufter is like a broom stick in a barrel,, Id rather have some little front wheel drive thing if its for bad driving conditions, |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Paladin. on 09/06/13 at 18:00:28 Sis had a '57 Ghia in '66, bought a new Beetle circa `68. I had a '61 in Athens in '67 that I sold in Georgia in '69. Now have a '66 (http://www.project66bug.com/) in the garage that we have been neglecting. Regarding driving in the snow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABcckOTVqao |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Boofer on 09/06/13 at 18:07:04 I remember VWs passing in the snow because they had the weight on the rear wheels. Since there were not any FWD then the comparison is slightly off by 50 years. I do know that old VeeDubs are expensive since they brought them back, but from what I've observed there are several reliability issues with the new ones. :-/ |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by gizzo on 09/06/13 at 18:40:56 I've had a split window, oval window, a 57 (first year of big window) and a couple 60's ones chopped into Bajas (can get the engine out of those in 12 min :D). Really cool fun but like the others say, lame heater. They do run in any weather, from sub zero to 40deg c +, and if they overheat they just stop for a while til they cool down. I think bugs are more of a lifestyle choice than a practical way of getting around but super fun. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by ToesNose on 09/07/13 at 04:58:21 HAHAHa that commercial is the first thing that popped into my head once they brought up snow and the beetle for me too Paladin :D |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Midnightrider on 09/08/13 at 20:45:05 I've owned 2. If you like to wrench they're OK. If you live in cold weather forget it unless you like wiping snow off the windshield going down the road. I'd like to have a new one, I've always loved the look. I'm building an RC racing model of a Porshe 914 now, it was almost the same car, just a different body. If you get one have backup transportation. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Serowbot on 09/08/13 at 23:59:48 My first car... a 63' VW convertible... It was an antique when I got it... I was fixin' it 1 out of every 3 rides... I'd ride it off a cliff, or bash it into a post,... and doughnut myself silly,... but I spent a lot of time working on that thing... Half of what I know mechanically came from that one car... Good for teenager that wants to learn... At my age ... I'd rather walk... ;D ;D ;D... |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by greenmonster on 09/10/13 at 10:22:58 Well, I went and bought a '74 super beetle. Runs like a champ. Heater works like a hot dang. It has a key feature that wasn't listed. I can see the road through the floor! I've already started gutting the interior as there is mold and mildew throughout. Purchased new pans since there isn't enough of the old ones left to weld to. (The battery didn't fall out on the way home because of a sheet of plywood.) It had a new motor put in in 2008 and I paid less for the car than a motor would cost me so I think I'm coming out alright on this one. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Charon - FSO on 09/10/13 at 16:28:19 The regular Beetles didn't have a heater blower motor. They depended on the engine cooling fan for air circulation inside the car, so the heater only really worked when the engine was wound up. The Super Beetle stole a leaf from the Corvair and installed an electric blower motor. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/11/13 at 04:18:02 466D64776A6B050 wrote:
& THAT was what made it Super? Buddy O Mine loaned me his VW wagon in 73.. That thing ran awwrite,I had a blast in it, |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by WD on 09/12/13 at 08:14:21 736C6A6D70774676467E6C602B190 wrote:
& THAT was what made it Super? Buddy O Mine loaned me his VW wagon in 73.. That thing ran awwrite,I had a blast in it,[/quote] Longer, wider and a much better suspension than regular Bugs. I'll have to drag mine out of the barn and get it back on the road. Plate on it expired in 2006, father in law towed it to the coast behind the motorhome after Katrina wrecked the house in Bay St Louis MS. He stayed in the rv and drove the Bug around. Been back in the barn getting dusty since then, The 1600 he had swapped in place of the 2300+ he got conned out of probably was a major influence in "park it and let it rot"... |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by Rix on 09/12/13 at 08:16:21 I always wanted a bug. Until I drove a couple. That cured that desire right away. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/12/13 at 08:21:52 I was in the Air Force, wife had surgery, was laid up in hospital,,Hermom,who really didnt care forme, came down to see about her. Mycar was messed up & a guy loaned me a dune buggy. Did I mention it was winter? I drove like a mad man, always did. That old woman sat there gritting her teeth, not saying a word,., I LOved it, Open cockpit, no heateratall,, HA! She froze herfat A55 off.. |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by kimchris1 on 09/14/13 at 18:18:38 I was an owner of 2 VW Bugs. One of which was a convertible.. I loved them both.. Drove them all over. We even took 2 trips to Ca in the one. Unfortunately it was not the convertible as we got that one a couple years later. No a/c and as others mentioned the heater was almost non existent. I sold both as kids were small and the thought of getting rear ended overtook me and so got rid of both of them. Have given thought of getting another one. Great gas mileage and put chains on them in the snow, you can go anywhere.. :) kim |
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Title: Re: Anyone own a bug? Post by WD on 09/14/13 at 19:03:53 I'm changing my answer to unfortunately, I have a bug in the barn. Looks like it will be staying there until I'm sick of looking at it, it is stuck in neutral with the parking brake completely frozen. Father in law must have put it up damp from the coast... >:( And the sunroof gear is stripped out, it won't open. And all 4 less than a thousand miles on them tires are flat. The dirt dauber nest in the engine compartment was an unpleasant surprise as well. |
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