[muscle750]

Had a play with one at work, fairplay id rather eat the money than pay some stealer £40 grand plus, turbo diesel could do with another cylinder and bigger turbo Seems my lawnmower would be quicker off the mark. Auto box wants throwing in the hedge. Build quality quite good for a gerry can Sat Nav thinks its in scotland and the thing takes a good 5 secs to think about moving after u put it in gear. Dont think u will see it used as a getaway car much ud be better of on a pushbike!

[Angela]

You weren't too impressed then!?

[muscle750]

Errrr No ...Wimbledon me ex SE19 now with sheep for neighbours quite miss the shootings etc!

[Dave]

& then the diesel only does low 20's to the gallon

Now the V10 Diesel might be better

[Lone Buggin]

I love my VW. Her name is Jezebel, and she earned it. Jezebel is a 1966, metalic cherry red, 1300cc (first year made) 40hp monster with 30" tires wrapped around wide-5 centerlines. She'll go places 4x4's are afraid to go, and she'll get there faster.

All my coworkers would laugh, and tell me I needed to get a new car, one with a heater. Then the Cold came, and with it the snow. They weren't laughing when my 41 year old baby was jumpstarting their new Subbies and Toyotas and yes, even the Land Rover. They were almost in tears one morning when we got off work. You see, a storm had rolled through; over 1 meter of snow had drifted up around the cars, and nobody had a shovel. Jezebel came to the rescue, and even though they snubbed their noses and laughed at her, she let me hook up the tow chain so we could those personality-void beasts they called cars.

Then my coworkers followed in Jezebel's tracks as we left the base, letting my baby break the trail for them, all the way to a road that had been plowed. They never laughed again.

[silkstone]

Fortunately the local roads were recently tarmacked at the same time as they provided electricity, mains water and sewerage. I do miss the half-hour trek to the well but it is no longer necessary to have a tractor.

[Lone Buggin]

Tractor? Jezebel is a beetle.

[Markulous]

I passed my test in a LHD beetle, so have a particular affinity to them!

If you're prepared to put up with the lack of heating and the ever-so-tail-heavy handling (and I use handling in the broadest sense!). We 'modded' ours by putting two sacks of sand under the bonnet which at least kept the front wheels on the road!

But I did like the characterful nature! It's life (think it was about 10 years old when we got it) came to an untimely end when my brother did what all siblings do when you enjoy something: spoil the fun. In this case by writing it off!

[Lone Buggin]

You'll have to explain "writing it off" to me.

Yes, my car's handling changes based on how full my tank is. And the "R" on the fuel gauge doesn't stand for "reserve," oh no.. it stands for "really really empty."

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by Lone Buggin

You'll have to explain "writing it off" to me.

Yes, my car's handling changes based on how full my tank is. And the "R" on the fuel gauge doesn't stand for "reserve," oh no.. it stands for "really really empty."

"Write off" is an insurance term - written off the accounting books as it's value is zero! So, destroyed!

IIRC, the previous beetle we had (my mother ran out of oil - engine seized!) had an actual valve you turned to switch to the reserve tank which had about a gallon!

[Lone Buggin]

I understand that it's an insurance term, but doesn't that only apply if the vehicle has been wrecked?
Mine doesn't have the reserve switch, I put in a 16 gallon tank shortly after I bought it.

Originally Posted by Markulous

my mother ran out of oil - engine seized!

It didn't have a dummy light? Mine has one for oil pressure, and one for the charging system. Among other things, I've also added a set of gauges that give oil pressure and oil temp. My personal favorite is the 82-pass oil cooler.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by Lone Buggin

I understand that it's an insurance term, but doesn't that only apply if the vehicle has been wrecked?

It didn't have a dummy light? Mine has one for oil pressure, and one for the charging system. Among other things, I've also added a set of gauges that give oil pressure and oil temp. My personal favorite is the 82-pass oil cooler.

Getting T-boned didn't improve the paint finish!

Yeah, light came on but "I was only a couple of hundred yards from a garage". She made it but the engine never turned over again!

[Lone Buggin]

I T-boned a Ford Explorer w/ Jezebel. Wasn't my fault though. Anyway, the Ford had to leave the scene on a flatbed, while I drove away.

[muscle750]

Nice u cant beat a good T boning, Early beetles basically complete and utter junk. My sister had a 1972 one finished in a snot green, infact ive got more power in my lawnmower.
The new Beetle sad to say aint much better just try getting the spare wheel out of a convertable one near impossible!!
I just put a back end on one basically pile of overated crap.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by muscle750

...... basically pile of overated crap.

I wouldn't say the new look VW is even that good! I sat in one and wondered what you could do with the acres of dashboard (due to the curved roof/windscreen). Concluded that you could grow enough vegetables there to keep a small army going!

[muscle750]

Have seen one with a VR6 engine in it, seemed to go somewhat although its still and always will be a Hippy wagon!
Growing veg on the dash i thought the cup holders were for the "grass" listening to california dreamin etc........................................God i need a holiday!