Love Bug (VW Beetle (Original))

Member Name: sadcrab

Product:	VW Beetle (Original)
Date:	11/03/01 (1167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Character, Cost of ownership

Disadvantages: old design, old technology (circa1935)

The Volkswagen type 1 better known as the Beetle. A two door four seater car with the engine in the boot! The engine came in several sizes, the range included the 1200 1300 1500 and 1600. The most common engine was the 1300 which came in two versions depending on year of manufacture.

I’ve had three VW Beetles all of them 1300 versions (I did put a 1500 engine into the first Beetle I had). I fell in love with the shape of the car and I suppose that is why I perservered with them because looking back the cars were not particularly reliable(proably due to their age). Any major work on the engine was far easier with the engine removed from the car which, fortunately was a relatively simple task to do (the engine is fitted with four 17mm nuts to the gearbox).

The car is quite small inside, with two adults sat in the front your shoulders are almost touching. The first thing I noticed sat in the driving position was the fact that all the pedals are hinged at the floor which can be awkward for some people to use, secondly the floor pan at the front is curved similar to the bows of a boat so the foot position can be difficult to master. Next to the hand brake which is floor mounted in the centre are two levers which control the heater (don’t ask me which one does what because in all my beetles the cables had corroded through-no heat!) The instrument panel consists of a speedo and fuel gauge.

Once the car is on the move it is not a bad drive, the brakes by todays standard are non existent (no servo) All of the cars I had had brake drums all round. I changed the front brakes to disc at the front which vastly improved the braking but is still not up to the same standard as todays cars. The turning circle of the car is not very good I remember driving in Wales and I had to reverse up to get arround a bend.

All in all this is not a car I would recommend to anyone unless they are a true enthusiast. The car needs regular servicing
(oil change every 3000miles) and is certainly not as easy to drive as the new small cars that are about. For all their faults I loved my Beetles and I would have another (but not as everyday transport).

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