Can i come play?

[Harty]

Hello all,

My name is chris, i am 20 years old and im new round here!

I have been driving a little ford fiesta since i started driving and have decided that i would like somthing new (or old). Just browsing through everything in my price range and a '71 converted cabriolet caught my eye and now all the newer cars i was looking at seem boring.

I decided to look for a forum and swot up on the old bugs before taking the plunge and this seemed to be the only useful UK forums i could find.

I was hoping i could ask around here and find some advice on places to look for a beetle and any perticular major/common issues i should avoid.

Any help, websites or other forums would be appreciated, i have approx £3500, a bit of time and a very basic knowledge to help me along!


Thanks...
Harty

[Dub-Diva]

Hi there and welcome to Evvo.

As for bug shopping, it depends on which you would prefer - a classic or a newbee? There's plenty of us around that can give you advice on both.

[Shamrockez]

£3500 should get you a nice tidy Bug :)

Things to watch out for, is rust! Check everywhere especially the floors (underneath and under the carpets), the heater channels - basically the 'sills' which run along the outer edge of the floor, the framehead and bulkhead and the inner wings.

Bolt on panels aren't such a problem as they're not too expensive to buy either new or rust free 2nd hand. Same with mechanics - they're not expensive and can easily be replaced.

[charlie @ evvo.co.uk]

lucy is an oracle on this sort of thing so im sure she along with many of our other knowledgeable members can help you out in your search for your bug :ghug:

[1958 Harry]

And don't be scared to prod/poke/push/pull everything to check for rust! TBH if I had a choice between a car that was 100% rust free but the engine/gearbox was nackered, or an OK bug with a good engine/box the one with the good body and nackered engine would win it everytime for me.

If you are buying an aircooled I would highly recommend you take someone with you who knows what they are looking at otherwise its very easy to buy a wrong-un!

[sharkbait]

Hello Chris, welcome!
As has already been said, lots of very knowledgeable people on here, but if you need advice on a classic beetle cabriolet, you can ask me. I got one last summer ( a 1971 model) and have learnt loads more about them since owning mine. Your budget should be able to get you a good one, but I'd steer well clear (no pun intended!) of the after market cabrio conversions.

[Luigi Farkelharzen]

Get a decent early new beetle for 3.5k

[Harty]

Cheers for all the comments guys (and gals)!

I would relly like to have a beetle (aircooled) just a couple of things that could make it an unrealistic idea perhaps u can help me out with some answers....

I would prefer a RHD and seem to only find lefty karmann convertibles, the "wizard" convertibles look like my kind of thing are these aftermarket or factory convertibles? Also are there any other variants of cabriolets?

I would require the car to get me to work everyday, a 40mile round trip half of which on the motorway, would this be a silly thing to ask a 1970's car to do? If a reconditioned engine would help how much does something like that cost?

Is a 3.5k budget enough to get an aircooled that would satisfy the above or am i being silly?

Just to clarify i deff would want an aircooled, the new beetle just wouldn't look quite right with me, as i said above its the character of a cabrio aircooled that im attracted to

cheers again

Harty

[Shamrockez]

£3.5k probably would get you a cab if you looked in the right places, were prepared to have a leftie and didn't mind doing some welding etc for the next MOT - I would say that most 'sorted' cabs start at the £5k mark and go upwards. Obviously there is the exceptions - some people get a lucky buy.

Wizards are an aftermarket thing - personally I wouldn't touch one because I'd be worried about lack of strengthening added in when removing the roof - same goes for the Paris Beetles and home made cabs. Plus the roof tends to leak.

A Beetle should be able to cope easily with a 40mile round trip a day. They're quite happy at sitting at 60ish on the motorway - they will go faster, but it's not advisable for a length of time. They need servicing every 3000 miles though, so make sure you are able to keep up with that. Keep it waxoyled to keep the rust away too.

[Vee.Dubster]

£3.5k probably would get you a cab if you looked in the right places, were prepared to have a leftie and didn't mind doing some welding etc for the next MOT - I would say that most 'sorted' cabs start at the £5k mark and go upwards. Obviously there is the exceptions - some people get a lucky buy.

Wizards are an aftermarket thing - personally I wouldn't touch one because I'd be worried about lack of strengthening added in when removing the roof - same goes for the Paris Beetles and home made cabs. Plus the roof tends to leak.

A Beetle should be able to cope easily with a 40mile round trip a day. They're quite happy at sitting at 60ish on the motorway - they will go faster, but it's not advisable for a length of time. They need servicing every 3000 miles though, so make sure you are able to keep up with that. Keep it waxoyled to keep the rust away too.

Very wise words here, but just to labour the point regarding air-cooled Wizards and other home-brew conversions - steer well clear! Most kits are badly fitted and the cars are swines to sell on afterwards as most people in the know (quite rightly) want a genuine Karmann Cab. If it isn't factory built convertible - don't even bother going to look at it, never mind how cheap it appears to be!

Obviously your budget won't stretch to a soft-top New Beetle, but if working on an old car scares you, I would recommend going for a hard-top New Beetle.

good luck,

Richard

PS. If you end up looking at any cars nearer the Pennine border, I would be happy to come along and give a second opinion.
PPS. This is a nice car which I fancy myself, but the existing fleet is large enough! http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/showthread.php?t=450949

[Harty]

Very wise words here, but just to labour the point regarding air-cooled Wizards and other home-brew conversions - steer well clear! Most kits are badly fitted and the cars are swines to sell on afterwards as most people in the know (quite rightly) want a genuine Karmann Cab. If it isn't factory built convertible - don't even bother going to look at it, never mind how cheap it appears to be!

Obviously your budget won't stretch to a soft-top New Beetle, but if working on an old car scares you, I would recommend going for a hard-top New Beetle.

good luck,

Richard

PS. If you end up looking at any cars nearer the Pennine border, I would be happy to come along and give a second opinion.


Awesome, cheers fella. Im on the lookout but if you do spot anything suitable gimmie a shout on here and i'll be very greateful!

[Dub-Diva]

I used to have a 1959 beetle as my daily driver, and my husband used his 1964 splitscreen van as his daily driver until recently. Take someone with you that knows about "oldies" as there are plenty of places the dreaded rust can set in and cause havoc.

Your budget would get you something that's in fairly good condition, depending on what you want - you could always go for a "rag top" - but as Lucy says beware of paris or aftermarket sunroof kits - the factory fitted rag-top is called "golde".

Don't be afraid to ask questions - no matter how "stupid" they might sound, lol - most of us have been in your shoes before and between us we can help you out.

[Shamrockez]

Here's a quick guide to finding out if a cab is an official Karmann one or not:
http://www.evvo.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12467&highlight=karmann

:)

[1958 Harry]

Don't forget £3.5K will get you a tidy Beetle but it wont be perfect, later 70's bugs tend to be cheaper but they are more prone to rust than 50's/60's Beetles as the steel used in them isn't as good a quality.

Unless you have £5-6k to spend I'd aim for a tin top bug, not a Karmann Cab as £3.5K will get you something needing work, unless as Lucy said you are very lucky.

Personally if I was doing 40miles per day and I wanted a classic bug I'd spend £500 on a cheap modernish watercooled banger (Trust me I've done this ;) ) and the other £3k on a tidy Aircooled bug you can cherish.

But I doubt you'd wanna do that, the main thing if you are driving an aircooled daily is keep it Waxoyled regularly to keep the rust off. Remember though driving an Aircooled is a labour of love, I adore my '58 bug and love driving it, but I wouldn't want to drive it everyday, partly because it would eventually wreck it and partly because in modern rush hour traffic a slow Beetle isn't ideal :)

[Kowalski]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-VW-MEXICAN-BEETLE-METALLIC-GREEN_W0QQitemZ180239678775QQihZ008QQcategoryZ9873QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

I would be tempted at something like this - but I am biased as I would rather pay the road tax than deal with rust. More than adaquate to keep up with modern traffic.

[1958 Harry]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-VW-MEXICAN-BEETLE-METALLIC-GREEN_W0QQitemZ180239678775QQihZ008QQcategoryZ9873QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

I would be tempted at something like this - but I am biased as I would rather pay the road tax than deal with rust. More than adaquate to keep up with modern traffic.

I agree -for modern driving that would be ideal - altho it isn't technically a 2006 car, the last Aircooled bugs were made in 2003 so that car has been sat somewhere for 3 years before it was registered. Also they aren't protected all that well so like an older bug it'll need regular waxoyling :) but I have to say if I was buying my own new car now I would be seriously tempted by that! :lol:

[Shamrockez]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-VW-MEXICAN-BEETLE-METALLIC-GREEN_W0QQitemZ180239678775QQihZ008QQcategoryZ9873QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

I would be tempted at something like this - but I am biased as I would rather pay the road tax than deal with rust. More than adaquate to keep up with modern traffic.
Wow there's a handbrake warning button! :D How fancy!!! :D