Thursday, March 26, 2009

VW Beetle - is it a suitable car if you have a 2 1/2 year old child?

VW Beetle - is it a suitable car if you have a 2 1/2 year old child?

I really really really want a VW Beetle but my fiance is telling me it is unsuitable. Is there anyone that maybe has this car with a child and do they find it hard work etc? I would really appreciate everyone's views.
Thanks

Asked by: Charlotte S @ 2009-03-25 01:46:05

Answers ::
They're fine if you want a 30 year old car, with an add on heater, the most dangerous rear suspension on any car-everyone else, almost, has stopped using it. And noisy. OK as the peoples car at the end of the war, the industry has come a long way since.
ianhad

VW is a bad car and pricey to fix.
U down

I'm thinking that they mean the New Beetle (98-present). I don't think anyone actively looks for the old aircooled bugs anymore besides enthusiasts.

If I'm right, then I would say a NB would be an okay car if you have a young kid. The backseat is cramped, but should be fine until they get around 4-4.5 feet tall. I haven't actually climbed into the backseat of one so I can't comment on accessiblity. My advice would be to go to a dealership and look at one there in person. Just try your best to convince the salesman that your not interested in buying that day.

Oh, and I would stay away from a '98 or '99 as they had more problems being they were still a very new design then. Newer ones are more reliable.
Karl

Well from my personal experiance I would avoid them like the plague. I was driving behind one on the road when we saw it swerve and nearly crash into the side barrier. The motor is under the back seat and it had caught fire which they have been known to do. Luckily we managed to rip the burning seat out before it got any worse. She had just bought it off the lot 2 days ago after an inspection too!! Very scary. Also in case of an accident I would like to have 4 or more doors to be able to get out of than just 2... Something else to bear in mind. Stay safe and good luck!
Bondgyrl

If you are talking about the old version, dont buy one.
brian t

The old version is no where near as safe as a modern vehicle and I would not want my kids in one. designed in WW2 as a utility vehicle!
The newer version is a VW Golf 2 door with a different body on it. May be awkward with a child due to poor boot space but as safe as a Golf would be. Not so popular as they were as seen as a bit twee.
if you want something a bit different and convenient look at Peugeot 1007 - a bit quirky and not many were sold as people were afraid of inovations on it.
My other half has one and loves it and it was ridiculously cheap for its miles and year. I also like driving it sometimes as well. It even has a flappy paddle gearbox.
TSCouriers

My wife and I bought a 1999 New Beetle that we put 100,000+ miles on. Great reliability! Due to the innovative way that the seats are designed we had easy access when putting our son in his child's seat. The seats fold forward and slide out of the way.
With 2 more additions to the family,we finally had to sell our beloved New Beetle. We bought a VW Jetta!
fenton

Sure, why not. Passenger seat fits an adult. And chances are that is where the kid is going, ain't it. Whether it be a new beetle or old. And they NEVER caught fire because of the engine. That is a tale of lunatics. Take a look. The battery is under the back seat. Chances are it is the wrong battery(too high with uncovered battery posts) and when positive and negative posts touch the seat springs you get a shorting happening(it glows red hot and the seat catches on fire(it is an electrical fire due to putting in a cheap chevy battery in there. I know, I did it in a VW rabbit. Wrong battery and bumpy road and it shorted out on the hood.
They are extremely well built cars using "strip" welding rather than spot "welding" methods. They do not fall apart. And the new ones have multiple air bag protection
The best answer is


What type of engine should I get in a Volkswagen?

I have been looking at a used Volkswagen Passat and I am not sure whether to get one with a 4 cylinder engine of 6 cylinder engine. I don't want to spend a ton of money, but I would like the car to be worth the money and not be in the shop all the time. What should I get?

Asked by: Jack A. @ 2009-03-24 19:35:22

Answers ::
the four cylinder is easier to get parts for and cheaper to get parts for. Easier on gas also
jbsbodyshop1

if it is 2006- present, the 4 cylinder 2.0T engine is purely brilliant. It is a award winning that is commended around the world for being both incredibly powerful, while also being reliable and fuel efficient. Its used across the Volkswagen in some Jetta's, all GTi's, most Eos's, most passat's, and even the Tiguan. Audi also uses it in their A3 and A4.

My 2007 GTi has it, and i couldnt be happier. The engine is so fast and peppy, yet i can easily get over 30mpg if i want. If i go the speed limit, especially on the highway, i get 35mpg.
Cody M

The four cylider...for the reasons previously mentioned...1.8t or newer 2.0t...the v6 is horrible and the VR6 wont give any respectable mileage
G W

I had a Jetta which the engine is the same as a passat. Def. go wit the 4 cylinder since its a lot easier to fix up if u r into that kinda stuff. Better on gas and if u want quicker acceleration get the 1.8l Turbo engine. I had a 1.8l 4 cylinder turbo for the jetta and i got it up to 300 hp wit a non-expensive budget, may it rest in peace :*(
nikita

I would stay AWAY from Passats. Unless you like repairing your car constantly. Valve cover gaskets, CV boots, Upper links, and Tie rod ends fail all the time. And they are more expensive to do maintainence on...To do the Timing belt - The whole front bumper has to come off the car and it has to be put in SERVICE position.

Jetta / GTI 2.0 - slow, realible
Jetta / GTI 1.8T - upgradable power, more problems than 2.0
Jetta / GTI VR6 - Fast bone stock, barely any problems if maintained.
Evil O

Kia
The best answer is

There are a lot of differences in the different years of Passats. I've owned mine since '95, so I'll pretend I'm an expert.

If you are talking '95 - '97 Passats, the only choice is a diesel 4-cylinder or a VR6. The gas 4-cylinder ones were pretty slow. My VR6 gets over 30mpg on the highway - up to about 33.

Evil O is frustrated by Passats because he has been working on '98 to '2004 Passats. They kinda suck. The handling is too soft, the car is too heavy, and the reliability was way off. Mine's not the poster child of reliability, but the '98's on up were pretty bad. In that car, the engines were much different. The 4-cylinder turbo 1.8t is a great engine. The 2.8L V6 (not a VR6) had problems with oil leaks and other stuff, and didn't make much more power than the 1.8t. No reason to get the 2.8V6. A gently modified 1.8t engine can walk all over it.

The new Passats are much nicer cars. They continue to get bigger a bit, but the suspension feel is much better than the previous cars. The engines continue to evolve. The 2.0T is even better than the 1.8T was, and makes for as fast a car as my V6. I haven't driven the new VR6, but I bet I'd cheer for it, too. The difference with the new cars is as much in trim levels as anyhing else. You can't get automatic windshield wipers and other nice stuff with the 2.0T, last I checked. The cars are more divided by features than by engines.

I understand Evil's frustration, but really, I can have the front of my car off in about 20 minutes. That's a lot if you do it every day, but hardly a reason to not buy the car, as an owner. Besides, no matter what car its in, I'll bet the bumper is the least of your worries when it is time to change the timing chain in a VR6 (not that you need that for a good 13 years or so (knock on wood)).
BH


Old volkswagan bettle , HELP!!!!!!!!?

hey , i have been looking for a bettle for a while now , and i have find one i think i like but when test drove it ,it was very bumping and everything raddled a lot . and when i was in 4th gear it was still raveing at lot ? is this normal or not ?.
Bettle owners!!!!!!!!! ,what are something to look out for when it come to looking to buy a 40 year old vw bettle

Asked by: roxy @ 2009-03-25 04:11:46

[Best Answer]No its not normal. Without the year though, I really cannot tell you what could be the problem. What I can tell you though is this:

When buying a beetle, follow what is listed on this website. Its a great mechanical website and also written so everyone can understand it. Good luck:

http://www.vw-resource.com/buying.html

Bumpy could be shocks though, as for the revving in 4th, it could be the clutch or throw-out bearing.
By : vwbuggin64 @ 1237993053

Answers ::
I cannot answer your questions, but the car is a Volkswagen Beetle.
DOUCHEaSAURUS

floor pans, make shure they are not rusted especially around the battery area. It is gonna be bumpy that is just they way they drive. They almost drive like a go cart because they are so compact and light.the rattling could be confusing you to the exhaust as they are loud...just a few
chris M

Parts are quite plentiful if you know where to look. Check out your nearest dune buggy shop. JC Whitney used to carry a bunch of VW parts, but I'm not sure if they still do. Join a VW owners online forum and many of them have parts and pieces for sale - some even give them away to congenial forum participants. You will meet folks from all over the world and possibly make some new friends, to boot..

The revving problem that you describe sounds like a slipping clutch that needs either adjustment or changeout.

Although I'm not a big VW fan, they are very simple and easy to repair. Most of them have TONS of miles on them and that lends itself to the rattles. You would be well served to do a frame off restoration to check all of the body to chassis locations and replace worn steering and suspension parts. It's less work than one might think.

When you're done, you'll not only have a solid, reliable ride, but a working knowledge of this piece of German engineering.
Cettoman

Firstly Beetle is spelt Beetle and secondly I think you meant rattled not raddled. As for the Beetle be prepared to spend a lot of money fixing it up over time - they are an old car and even though a lot of them look good done up and looking cute they are not worth more than $2000 - many are advertised for $4000 and more because they are painted up and people love them. Be smart and buy for mechanically sound cars not for cuteness.
Hope this helps.
Edward

The car might need a new clutch and new shock absorbers.
Bill M

No its not normal. Without the year though, I really cannot tell you what could be the problem. What I can tell you though is this:

When buying a beetle, follow what is listed on this website. Its a great mechanical website and also written so everyone can understand it. Good luck:

http://www.vw-resource.com/buying.html

Bumpy could be shocks though, as for the revving in 4th, it could be the clutch or throw-out bearing.
vwbuggin64

It sounds like that the clutch is slipping.If there is oil on the clutch then there is a problem.There is not a rear crankshaft seal on the Beetle relying on a scroll to throw the oil back and that could be a big expense for you.Handbrake cables seize.There is no heater worth talking about.Rust is a problem on a car that age, particulaly around the suspension mountings
arlanymor


VW Camper - Air cooled vs Water cooled?

Basically, is it worth converting a type 2 VW Camper's engine from an Air cooled to a water cooled engine? I know I'd have to add a radiator etc but I really don't want to break down and do the bus damage by over-heating in heavy traffic. Whats everyones views on this?

I don't care about it being original. Everyone seems to be really bothered about it having an original, old-school engine. I'm not even slightly bothered by that.

Thanks folks :D

Asked by: Lauren20 @ 2009-03-25 01:07:42

Answers ::
you will need a complete new engine block to do that unless the original block already has the water jacket in there plus you will need to manually mount the rad and calculate the space needed...again if the mount holes are already there then its ok.
theres a lot to think about!
a friend of mine, all he did was get 2 electric fans off a peugeot car and mount them on the inside of the engine bay so when he came to traffic, he just switched them on. you will be suprised how cool it keeps the engine.
broadcasting_solutions

if you have a water cooled engine, there's some more weight, and a few more components to check and care for. And, most importantly, keep that radiator free of bugs and debris because, after all, it's still an air cooled engine. But if you have the cash swap the engine for a Porsche engine, it will go like a bat out of hell :)
Leo

Well. iwouldn't bother changing my engine,think of it is it for heat if so, i would sort my heater-exchangers make they sure they were tight to the hose-pipes leading to the front of the motor, and i have had four of these campers van's one was a split screen e reg, i still love them, leave it the way it is ok.. houndog9@ya
houndog9@yahoo.co.uk

VW Bus's have been on every continent for 60 years or so. Properly tuned and maintained they are just as reliable as anything else. That's the sticky part. Not many people understand the details of these old engines anymore. They have crossed deserts and glaciers, and the beetle still races in the Baja 1000 race.
bill f

There was a fairly successful conversion to a 2400 pinto motor that was popular. Then the waterboxers had the big Suburu engine conversion that the guys who had the $$$$$$ for that sort of thing rave about.

Personally, rather than spend a ton on the one you have (as a camper in original condition it is worth some $$) I would look into some of the nice mini motor homes available for not much money and a bunch more HP.

The motor home market right now is in the dumper. It's a buyers market!!
gaston

If it was meant to be water cooled it would have water ways and a rad, so you cant change it!!
hot sausage

If you learn how to drive an air cool properly - the techniques are different than a water cooled engine(didn't know that did you?) you won't have any problems.
In other words, don't drive like a granny in an automatic. Drive more like Mario Andretti(which means shifting down and up). You overheat by lugging it. The fan which cools the engine is driven by the engine. The faster the motor turns the faster the fan goes(cooling the engine down).
For example going by what I remember. on 4 speeds. At 30 Mph you could shift from second to third (on the flats)most do that. But if you were climbing a hill in the road, I would shift at 38(or so) Fan is going faster in second because motor is going faster(so the motor is being cooled downward as the fan blows down from above. If you are really hauling "azz" you could shift at 45 into third. The engine will handle that better than if you lugged up the hill in third or fourth gear because there is no air being blown down through the cooling fins.
Third gear can be shifted to fourth at 30MPH if you were just coasting along on the flats, however, by the little red marks on the speedo the shift point is more like 45 MPH (yeah, that is what the marks are for). Third to fourth can also be done at 60(again you are hauling butt)

Much simpler than monkeying around trying to get a water cooled mickey mouse operation out of what you got.

Learn to drive. I am simply stating a fact.
It is... different. Very similar to motorcycles. (They do not last long if you lug them either.)
The best answer is


I need to hotwire my '71 Volkswagen type 3. Anyone able to help me find out how?

It is my car, I lost the only key though and have no money to replace it =/
i have a full tank, enough to get me to work and back until the next paycheck :-)

Any come on, don't you think, if I had stolen cars before, that this one would be comparatively easy, being so old?
I have the wiring diagram, but it groups all of the wires for the ignition, turn signals, horn, etc. together.

I honestly have no other option, I need to get to work every day, so I'm gonna go for it lol.

Asked by: David L @ 2009-03-24 19:17:21

Answers ::
you stole enough cars, you should know how it works :)
MusicMan '08

wel if you don thave money to buy a new switch you don thav ethe moiney to buy gas either since switches are really cheap and not so hard to replace
kelly_f_1999

Typically in older American cars, you need to locate the Ignition Start wire(possibly red...i think it's White on Chevys, but its ALWAYS different on different cars)
Then locate a Red Power wire(positive) that comes from your car Battery.

Then touch the two wires.

-----

WARNING! This is the BASIC IDEA behind it......likely your ignition wire WONT be red, you'll need a Haynes Manual or CD on your car.
Guessing which wire it is, is a BAAAD idea.
Hotwiring your car without ELECTRICAL PROTECTION is a BAD IDEA TOO!!!!!!

Im NOT familiar with foreign cars electical systems.....but i ONLY decribed the basic idea......you need to apply the rest to your individual scenario....

You CAN BE KILLED by hotwiring!!!!
DONT ATTEMPT IT!!!
(remember the Red Positive wire wire? That's DIRECT current and will fry you in a heartbeat)

You will need to get a ahold of a wiring diagram for your car.
Then look up starter switch(ignition) and look up starter harness.

Theres going to be a million wires under there....if you know what does what, you can easily hotwire it, since i doubt 71 volks have any sort of protection......


Just get your ignition fixed man, its NOT worth dying just to brag that you hotwired your car.
mike i

Kinda weird not to see its not like in the movies, you hotwirer!

If yo need to steal a car, find a van. Those are the most movie-like, i think.

Car thieves stole my car, so fuck you, dude.
J C

Geez, the answers on here are really lame. For normal driving, you need two switches to do the job: one "momentary on" and one "on-off" switch; both are available at a Radio Shack for next to nothing. This is what a standard ignition switch does for you.

Wire them both with hot leads from the positive terminal of the battery using 18 gauge wire. Connect the "on-off" to the ignition coil mounted on the engine. Turn this one on first when you want to start the car, turn it off when you want to shut it down. The "momentary on" switch goes to the hot side of the starter solenoid; you kick it when you want to activate the starter.
TaiwanTeacher

A Basic course on VW wiring.
Solid colors are supply wires
Solid with strip are switch controlled
Solid Red is Battery +, Red with White strip goes to the starter
Solid Black goes to the ignition coil
Brown are ground wires
Yellow and White are Headlights

to hot wire-- connect solid black to Solid Red, touch Red with White strip to Solid Red to crank engine
ruff_gary


what would happen if gearbox oil was to run out vw golf mk4?

would it make a noise or anything if there was hardly any gearbox oil left?

Asked by: biatchlfc @ 2009-03-26 06:24:39

Answers ::
well beside wearing of parts it would just stop working so when was last tiem you had it check or added gear oil to it
kelly_f_1999

you would blow your rear end or your gears
zwalshz75

It would eventualy seize up but it is surprising how long they can run with little oil in them
arlanymor

not as much noise as you would when a garage charges you £1,000 for a reconditioned 2nd hand one
kevin friend

The oil acts as a lubricant primarily, so you would find increased friction leads to higher wear on your gears and a greater chance of teeth breaking off the gears. The oil also helps to remove debris from the gearbox, so if you don't have any and a gear tooth breaks off the chances are that it'll fall straight into the gear interface and you'll get a nice catastrophic failure. Probably best to keep your oil topped up
ElRobo0905


T25 aircooled van, how many hours can i drive in 40C heat before my engine gives out?

am planning to drive at night mostly, but with 3000 miles to cover some day time driving is unavoidable, will an hour or two each day be ok?

Asked by: kt_sub2000 @ 2009-03-24 14:09:37

Answers ::
If the van is designed to work in that temperature then time would not matter.
If it is not then you would not want to drive it at all as it would cook the oil in a very short time.
I do not know the van but if it is sold in the part of the world where that temperature occurs it should be fine if maintained properly and the oil recommended for use in those conditions is used.
TSCouriers

I think, that all VW,T25s plus all other models are fitted with some kind of heat converter, therefor, if the oil is at the right level and viscosity, you should be able to drive until "you" run out of fuel, or your van does.
blundetr

this is a good good question with an easy answer. as long as you treat your air-cooled motor properly i.e. regular oil changes (every 3000 miles), don't run the motor cold (give it time to warm up every time you drive it), it will run around at 60mph all day in any temperature. these engines are designed to run rather hot. hotter than water cooled engines.

so treat the engine properly and you can make it there in one straight with no stopping, hypothetically of course!
Air-Cooled

Couple of things to point out here. Firstly, the VW air-cooled engines are pretty much indestructible if they're looked after, so before you go give it a full service and pay particular attention to the cooling fins on the cylinders, making sure they're clear of any cr@p or rust.
Secondly, while 40°C is hot for for you or I, to an engine it's stone cold. A typical water colled engine will operate normally at about 70-90°C, and won't get stressed until it's beyond 130°C, and air cooled units will take even higher temperatures briefly without harm.
Remember there are plenty of air cooled VWs in use in places like Mexico, Brazil, Australia & Africa, so they'll take it no probs.
EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

Considering that the engine in a water cooled car(by the thermostat you get for heating) are 160F degree units) what is 40 degrees? I am figuring the thermostat in an air cooled VW to be about the same for optimal performance.
So how long can you drive in 40C which is 110F or so? I did all day for a week, no problemo. 45-50C
If you are pulling a trailer gear it down occasionally so that the engine runs faster(and fans the engine harder) rather than lugging the engine up the hills pulling the trailer. It likes to "make noise" rather than run quietly. Better for the engine too.
Heat kills it. Stop and go traffic kills it rather than highway driving. Because there is no cooling breeze blowing over the motor.
Engine will never give out. just make sure there is adequate oil in it and that the cooling shrouds are all in place as they should be in the engine compartment.
And you can make a dozen trips.
The best answer is


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.