Would you find a big guy driving a classic volkswagen beetle funny?

Question 1
Would you find a big guy driving a classic volkswagen beetle funny?...  I want to get a classic beetle. I am a bigger guy (wide and tall) and want to know if you would find it funny to see a big guy drive a bug. It will be more of a manly car as it will have a Subaru STI engine. Thanks
im bi btw not gay

Answers
1)   no, those are a classic car, now if it was the newer ones then yes - billy

2)   No not funny at all - kaptainfelix

3)   If its a classic then yes but like if u were driving the newer ones then that would be g ay - ?

4)   The older ones are somewhat masculine, the new ones are girlish, IMO.

I think you should drive whatever you really want to drive and not worry what other people think :) - J G

5)   VW is an awesome car. If someone pulls up next to and starts giving you crap, rev the engine. Put it in first gear or low and blow their doors off. You will see who gets the last laugh. Drive safe. - JaCkIeOhMyGoSh

6)   Hell no!!!...im building a 64' 13 window VW bus with a EJ22...i've been talking about this over 10 years ago and back then friends use to laugh now there always asking me when it's going to be done..i think it's b/c you see more and more bus/bug toys being made you see them more on t.v....not to mention a splitscreen bus is rare to see on the roads so it's something to laugh about until they see a nice one on the road:) - Simon

7)   Subaru engine is no more manly. "Manly" is in your head. After all, after a snowfall how do you think those grader operators (those big dudes) get to their plows? The car is meant to get you from point A to B period. If you are a nerd, geek,wimp,dufus,twerp,hoser,loser, man's man, or females man....the car does not care. And when you are idling in standstill traffic, does not matter if you got 2000HP under the hood - you can't use it(besides it belongs to the car, not you).
You are just the fool that spent his money on that rather than on beer and a few good ladies. - the Horses Butt

8)   as long as it's not one of the newer ones. and especially not a convertible. - werewulf

9)   no, not at all man, everyone looks good in a old bug. and engine doesnt really matter.. the people who usually do engine swaps like that do it to their baja bugs . a big guy in a mini cooper and new beetle would look kinda funny. - Jack D

10)   I will put it to you "this" way. My late husband was 6 feet 5 inches tall,
and there was nothing "gay" or funny looking about him. All it means is that you are a big guy who happens to have good taste in cars. VW's are great cars, that's why they are still around. I happen to own 8 Volkswagen's, and no doubt will own "more" before it's all said and done. Good luck, and welcome to the world of Volkswagens. - Republican!!!


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Question 2
Why is Volkswagen considered unreliable by so many people in the US?...  I am originally from Europe. I currently live in the US and I'm looking for a used car to buy. In Europe, VW cars are considered one of the best and are very popular. But here, most VW reviews are bad and they say it is unreliable. People report a lot of problems about their VW cars too, like failing engines, other parts etc. My question is why is there such a big difference between VW cars in Europe and US (Say, a 2000 Passat). I understand spare parts are more expensive since it is an import, but what is the reason for the seemingly big difference in reliability and the big difference in the perception of the VW brand between Europe and US?

Answers
1)   We go by what we see and hear. VW owners have a lot of problems and spread the word to everyone they know. The word travels quickly.
A lot may have to do with the EPA requirements on these products in this country. That and comparing them to Toyota and Honda probably hurt them too. - rottendog93

2)   That's an interesting observation.. and it is my personal experience as well that the new Beetles seem to have a lot of issues.

Every last one of them has been electrical components though. First the brake switch (turns on the brake lights as the brakes are pressed) then the high beam switch and a few other little things.

Most of these things are used in other VW cars.

On a different note, mechanically unsavvy people will have what they think are mechanical problems but are only electrical preventing the engine from running right or at all.

I think the VW engines are tough though. - Robot

3)   I've worked with VW on and off (mostly on) for more than a quarter of century in the US; so I've seen good and bad on VW's over this time period. From personal observation, I think it has to do with the product quality issues and the influx of first time VW buyers during the period of 1999-2004. During this time period, VW had a rapid expansion of growth in the US with products that were an attempt to move the produt upscale from being a "budget German" car.

Starting with the NEW Beetle & the 99.5 New Golf & Jetta, the interiors were moved upscale from the hard but durable interior plastics, more safety features became standard (side air bags, ABS, skid & traction control (some models)) and on all but the base models, power door locks & windows (both standard by 2002?). These cars had an immediate appeal to new car buyers, most of whom had never bought a European designed car before. Most people didn't realize that they had to use special motor oil, power steering fluid and that the automatic transmission just couldn't be drained and refilled in the normal fashion, nor that it used a VW only supplied transmission fluid.
The special fluid situation alone caused a lot of problems for first time VW owners when the fluids became intermixed with the wrong fluids bought from auto parts mass merchandisers (Pep Boys, Kragen, Sears, AutoZone, Napa, etc...).

Also, a combination of engineering failures/quality control issues and failure of Americans to adhere strictly to the VW service schedule led to many vehicles having various issues. Recalls and engineering updates became legion; every week for a while we'd get some update on some issue (harsh automatic shift/delayed engagement.. cruise control, power window regulator failures, change in motor oil requirements, electronic engine control updates, etc..etc..etc..).

It didn't help that VW was so darn slow to respond to many of these issues; I've filled you many a engineering report on one fault or another... The power window regulator failures were a prime example of a situation that was handled all wrong!!! We had several updates to try and resolve the issue; for a while we replaced window regulator assemblies, then when parts ran out, we took broken window regulators to use parts off of them to repair other regulators (if possible), then putting sticks in the doors to hold the windows fully closed until parts became available, finally, replacing the plastic hasp with a metal one and replacing the cable as needed.. It was a major mess; we even took parts out of some new in stock cars to keep cars on the road until the new car department demanded we stop doing this.

The issues with the automatic transmission, engine sludge failures in turbo models and various electrical issues especially in the Touareg just added to the reputation that VW's were unreliable and dealership service sucked. I can tell you that at least at the dealership that I was at when all of this was going down, we tried very hard to make this work as well as possible for our service customers. VW dealership service department support was poor in all areas: service rep, parts availability, and engineering support.

By the time things on this generation of Golfs/Jetta and New Beetle had been ironed out (2004), it was too late to undue all the issues that had previously arisen. Actually, the 2004 models were pretty good; transmissions had improved, the use of synthenic oil for turbos had became widely accepted, the electrical issues had improved and they were pretty safe cars.

I can tell you that the quality of the VW product since 2004 has improved; (Touareg not withstanding), but dealer service support remains weak. The Rabbit (Golf)/Jetta are much more reliable than the previous generation and the Passat has had some improvement, the EOS had a rocky start, but finally seems to be ok. Automatic transmission generally are better (change of suppliers in many models to Aisin) and engines are ok (2.5 5 cylinder is a rough runner especially at idle).

So, I hope this helps explain this view that many people have about VW products in the USA. A car nut. - a car nut

4)   In Australia VW have a long and strong reputation for reliability
Your question maybe its the people not the car or the sample you quote is only a few not many - Barking_Dog

5)   Not by me. I've had one since '99 & I've been nothing but happy & problem free ever since. It may also depend on where there car was produced. Mine have all been from Germany. - Bob A. Booey

6)   You have to consider the spectrum of cars sold in each area. In the US, you can't buy FIAT and Renault. Any car looks good when competing against those, including VW. - Jay S


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Question 3
Would a subaru STI engine fit in a classic beetle?...  Would a Subaru STI engine fit in a classic bug?

What would I have to do to make it fit?

Answers
1)   You can makes a cummins fit with the right amount of effort.

You will almost 100% likely need to restructure the whole ass-end. - Robot

2)   absolutely i've seen them at car shows before.. did a quick search heres a good website

http://frost.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions - LS1

3)   All you need to start any vision is a notebook, a pen and a tape measure. I've seen a 350 Chevy in the front of a Bug and a Cummins Turbo Diesel straight 6(cylinder) out of a Dodge truck in a 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo! It fits perfect and he can run it on vegetable oil if he felt like it.

I look at it this way, It's just metal. A man made it and I'm a man too so I'm going to make it "this way" now. - Frankie Coletta

4)   Sure. Lots of frikkin work. As it would have to be the engine and transaxle from the Sub complete so why? Is it a punishment you must inflict upon yourself ? - the Horses Butt

5)   Yes it will.
Check out OUTBACK MOTORSPORTS. They make/sell all the needed adapters (oil pan and engine mods) to install a suby in an old VW.
Kennedy adapters makes the adapter plate. You can buy it as a kit with clutch and flywheel or just the adapter.
You will want a 002 trans minimum to handle the power. I would recommend a 091 6 rib if you want to do wheelies. transwerks in El Cajon, CA builds a great trans axle that can handle the power starting at $3500 or so.

The hardest part of the swap is deciding where to install the radiator. Super Beetles have a hash section under the front trunk that you could graft into your bug so you can mount the radiator up front and get air flow. Otherwise, I see a lot of bugs with the radiator in the rear with a "baja" style engine cage. I like the radiator up front, but you will also have to plumb it to the rear of the vehicle through the cab.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! - Rod Knocker


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Question 4
1971 vw beetle having problems?...  It will run with some starter fluid when i pull the breather but will not run without it. I checked the fuel line just past the filter to see if its still pumping and everything is good. What about the last 6 inches of line or carburetor might be keeping it from getting fuel. Suggestions would be nice from people who have had this problem. I suspect its a screen built into the carb thats clogged. Anything?

Answers
1)   You could be right about a screen being clogged as the muck will settle down in the pipe when not being pumped and when the pump starts the muck is pressed back onto a filter screen.Or one of the jets clogged up.
I would go for a carb removal and a full clean out. I bet it has not been touched since 1971.
I had a Beetle about that time and my big problem was the auto choke return valve becoming stuck. It either would not start or when started the choke remained "on" till the engine cut out from a too rich mixture. - ANF

2)   Replace the fuel pump,I think it is bad. - Red Eagle

3)   Is fuel getting into the carb ? Apparently not or it would fire up. I suggest the needle valve above the float in the carb bowl is stuck in the closed position. - L G

4)   Fuel pump. Change it. A bad or week pump will still pump fuel, but it will not pump it with enough pressure to run the car.
If you are running a stock carb, rebuild it (kit is $15) or replace it with a Webber 32/36 progressive carb (they work great and give you more power without messing with mileage). You can buy one new for $300 on ebay or thesamba.com or look on craigslist or samba for a used one. - Rod Knocker

5)   Check your "rubber" fuel lines. If they are stock they have an inner lining that collapse after they get old. They may look good on the outside but when the inside collapses there is no fuel getting to the carb. They are famous for this. One of those head scratchers that if this is the problem it is an easy fix. - twhoodoo


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Question 5
which has more horsepower/ which is quicker?...  A 99' oldsmobile intrigue with a v6 3.8l, or an 05' chevy malibu with a v6 3.5l.. both automatic

Answers
1)   3.8 205hp 230lb
3.5 200hp 220lb

My guess would be the malibu on the straight but it would be close
as far as corners yeah there both dogs. - 5ive

2)   depends on the condition of the olds but I would assume high 15s if in GREAT condition. The malibu is about a 15.8. So they are about the same, would be cool to see these two go head to head stock - SouthSider 40's TowN

3)   I would say the Malibu weighs a little less so it might be prettyclose to call right now...but no matter i'd roll the Olds everyday! the 3.8L is rated @ 195hp@5200rpm/220lb@4000rpm

check on this, according to GM, the Malibu has [3] different 3.5 engines so check the VIN # for the detail engine it has...

i like the olds better anyhow - "/ J()€

4)   whats the diff/if they race i wont go/and i dont care who wins - ken k


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