the headroom look silly too imo

Old beetles are damn cool, a 67 cabrio even more so

they're not about how good they handle or how fast (slow) they are to me, i couldnt give a shiz if they had a lever that smacked you in the ball sack every 100 miles, id still rock one *dreams*

Same here. Six volts wouldn't deter me,though a post-'68 isnt gonna be such an event.

the beetles what can be made to handle have front torsion bars not struts check out remelle or german look.com they wont touch macpherson strut cars and they build the best german lookers in the world

The thing is bulliporker, you're mentioning ones that outhandle Porsches and run 10 second quarters. That's not a normal classic Beetle.

You're right though, some of these Beetles are unbelievably fast over the quarter, holding a wheelie through first and into second gear needs to be seen! These type are built for this purpose only though and don't out handle Porsches. Others are built for circuit racing/track days and certainly can be made to handle, though I doubt they'd be anywhere as dynamically good as the "best" Porsche.

At the end of the day, these are not Beetles as we know them, rather specials that are custom built retaining the Beetle look. They cost a fortune to build so you can't compare one of these very fast and heavily modified ones with a normal new type standard Beetle.

Oh and I have had a drive in a classic Beetle, many times. It's got to be 20 years ago now when my mate got his '74 orange 1300 twin port. It was in superb condition and completely standard, not some clapped out old shitter. I still remember how slow it was though, oh and noisy, and it had an awful black plastic dash and interior with horridly uncomfortable nylon trimmed seats. The drum brakes allround were piss poor in feel and performance, only the relatively smooth ride surprised me. And TBH, with the windows up it was actually much quieter inside than I'd imagined.

Personally, I really can't see what it is that people like about them. I could NEVER buy a car on looks or "scene points" alone, it'd have to have some redeaming features. In standard form I can't see or find any? What it must be like to drive an early 1200 single port one with swing arm suspension I'd hate to imagine!

I would definately agree though that some of the modified ones are seriously cool and very quick though.

Oh and BTW, it's breadman - not breadvan! :biggrin:

Merry Christmas,

Richard.

Edited 24 December, 200817 yr by breadman

i couldnt give a shiz if they had a lever that smacked you in the ball sack every 100 miles,

Well it was the brainchild of hitler!

I'm not sure about the ballsack lever but if the exhaust leaks excessively and you have the heater on it will pump carbon monoxide into the inside of the car, thus parylizing you until you choke to death!

As for wanting one, I dont really want one at all. To me their only redeeming feature is that they are good in the snow. But I still have 3 of them! They are just too cheap when they are rotton. Canr resist.

Happy motoring.

i have 2 beetles and 2 polos a mk3 and a mk 4 plus 3 other vws if i had to downsize my vw fleet the polos would have to go first before my beetles,

The thing is bulliporker, you're mentioning ones that outhandle Porsches and run 10 second quarters. That's not a normal classic Beetle.

You're right though, some of these Beetles are unbelievably fast over the quarter, holding a wheelie through first and into second gear needs to be seen! These type are built for this purpose only though and don't out handle Porsches. Others are built for circuit racing/track days and certainly can be made to handle, though I doubt they'd be anywhere as dynamically good as the "best" Porsche.

At the end of the day, these are not Beetles as we know them, rather specials that are custom built retaining the Beetle look. They cost a fortune to build so you can't compare one of these very fast and heavily modified ones with a normal new type standard Beetle.

Oh and I have had a drive in a classic Beetle, many times. It's got to be 20 years ago now when my mate got his '74 orange 1300 twin port. It was in superb condition and completely standard, not some clapped out old shitter. I still remember how slow it was though, oh and noisy, and it had an awful black plastic dash and interior with horridly uncomfortable nylon trimmed seats. The drum brakes allround were piss poor in feel and performance, only the relatively smooth ride surprised me. And TBH, with the windows up it was actually much quieter inside than I'd imagined.

Personally, I really can't see what it is that people like about them. I could NEVER buy a car on looks or "scene points" alone, it'd have to have some redeaming features. In standard form I can't see or find any? What it must be like to drive an early 1200 single port one with swing arm suspension I'd hate to imagine!

I would definately agree though that some of the modified ones are seriously cool and very quick though.

Oh and BTW, it's breadman - not breadvan! :biggrin:

Merry Christmas,

Richard.

I have a 1973 camper which is standard in every way. It corners like shit, it handles like shit, and it drives like shit, but when I'm driving it, it gives me a smile on my face like nothing else, and attracts positive comments wherever I go. I can (and do) also go on holiday in it.

I have a 1973 camper which is standard in every way. It corners like shit, it handles like shit, and it drives like shit, but when I'm driving it, it gives me a smile on my face like nothing else, and attracts positive comments wherever I go. I can (and do) also go on holiday in it.

Yeah, that's good - I'm glad you're happy with it Ewan. Maybe you can help me get my head round this Ewan?

They are slow, which is fine. But they're also thirsty, which would be ok if they weren't so slow. They don't handle very well and aren't very comfortable. Brakes are not up to much. The interior is deviod of any real creature comforts even the heater is virtually useless for clearing windows and or warming the interior. Interior and luggage space is fairly limited given the size of the vehicle. The list goes on.

So what exactly are their redeaming features? Is it just the fact that people like the look of them and think they're cute or something? If so, is that any reason to buy any type of vehicle, on its looks alone?

I'm talking about standard Beetles and Campers here Ewan, so do tell - I'm not taking the piss here.

Its like with all emotions, you cant help or force a certain feeling, psycology proves this

So just like love, hate, joy or suprise (other emotions are available) aircooled hits you, and theres no stopping it baby

Some humans dont come equipped with this emotion

I understand where you're coming from Craig, but why is the air cooled "scene" so popular give the base car is so crap?

Virtually every other old car I can think of does have at least one or two redeaming features whether it be good economy, performance, interior space, comfort or handling etc.

Even the car I probably dislike more than any other, the (IMO) hideously ugly Citroen 2CV is very economical, has a decent ride quality with more roadholding ability than the massive amounts of bodyroll would ever suggest.

it hard to explain breadman if you have never had an aircooled vw, i think its that they have character and you never see 2 alike they are also so reliable, they can be repaired whatever state they are in as everything is available to repair them , they are also like part of the family , not just a tin box to get you from a to b , and above all alot of people think like you do , they dont like them , there noisy slow , but thats part of it for me being individual as every journey is an adventure and the real fun is upsetting bmw and subaru drivers who think they car is quick and the dogs b -----cks

it hard to explain breadman if you have never had an aircooled vw, i think its that they have character and you never see 2 alike they are also so reliable, they can be repaired whatever state they are in as everything is available to repair them , they are also like part of the family , not just a tin box to get you from a to b , and above all alot of people think like you do , they dont like them , there noisy slow , but thats part of it for me being individual as every journey is an adventure and the real fun is upsetting bmw and subaru drivers who think they car is quick and the dogs b -----cks

Character, yeah I suppose you could say they have that - but so do a lot of old cars. I don't know where you get "never seeing two alike" from though? Orange bay windows with creamy coloured roof, hub caps and spare wheel cover seem to be common enough around here.

As for being reliable, I suppose with them being so very basic mechanically they should be. And as you say, you can repair them as everything is available.

Your quoting of them being "like part of the family" and "not just a tin box to get you from A to B" and "every journey being an adventure" is really just the way in which everyone who drives an old type car thinks. Ask anyone from the Morris Minor owners club etc etc.

Totally agree with upsetting BMW and Subaru drivers though, that's fun in any old sleeper. Obviously you're not doing that in a standard Beetle though!

As I previously stated, I really do love some of the mechanically modified ones. I just couldn't entertain a standard one.

Edited 27 December, 200817 yr by breadman

its the camper i can upset the bmw and subaru drivers in, as its scary fast , the polos are just my everyday cars,