Why do so many VW New Beetle owners keep flowers in their cup holder?

Question 1
Why do so many VW New Beetle owners keep flowers in their cup holder?...  I've seen a trend with these cars. About 1 out of 4 VW new Beetle cars has a flower in the cup holder. What does this mean? I never see flowers in cup holders on any other type of car.

Answers
1)   Flower power was a slogan of the 60s and 70s hippies and the VW decorated with a flower motif was a popular car in their culture. The new VW has a vase and flowers as a dealer installed option perhaps trying to recreate that nostalgic era. - Howard L

2)   They are trying to recreate an era gone by "Flower power" VW vans were in high use amongst the hippie generation as they were a vehicle that was reliable for the hippies (did not see garages half as often as domestics and basically Ford and Chev did not have a van/campmobile during those days. VW always had one which was decked out like a mini motorhome. And cheap to buy and run. The hippies were the start to the environmental movement in the 60's. VW corporation caught on to the idea/theme with a flower power bug paint job on their 1971 Beetle, I think? Or it may have been the '73 SuperBeetle, in which they placed a vase inside instead of an ashtray.
Although, you had to supply your own weed. - the Horses Butt

3)   It's not a cup holder, they installed a little vase made specifically for a flower on the dash by the steering wheel. The Beetle was a trademark of the 60's Flower Power Hippie era and a lot of beetles are remembered by that so to ad the vase and the flower is kinda like and link and representation of the past and what the Beetle is known for. - rwoodford01

4)   Because they are old hippies and hippies drove old bugs. Old bugs had vases that were mounted to the dash (option). The vase held flowers. The scent of the flower helped cover up the odor from the stinky hippie. Hippies do not like to shower or wear deodorant so they stink and then try to cover their stench with patchouli oil and flowers. It kinda works. Are you sure the flower is in the cuo holder and not a vase attached to the dash?
Flowers sure look better than a pine tree hanging from the mirror. - Rod Knocker

5)   The New Beetle comes standard with a flower vase attached next to the steering wheel. While some people might put a flag in there, it is really designed for flowers. Nothing else will really fit.

I don't believe that there are any other cars that come standard with a installed flower vase. - Ladybird

6)   I find it hard to figure the people that seem to think that " hippies " had something to do with this.
Truth of the matter is this, cars of all makes used to have these vases. They added some fresh color to the inside of the older cars. The yrs that used these vases where in the early yrs from the buggy days up until the late 40s.
They had nothing to do with smell from hippies, besides as a person who grew up in the San Fran counter-culture of the 60s we never had these vases nor did anyone add them, many days spent riding in VWs is proff enough. - DR DEAL


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Question 2
Difference between KIA and Volkswagen Cars?...  I haven't been able to find any info so if anybody could let me use their experience...

I want to know the difference between their costs,
Which one uses heavy power engine,
which is better in fuel consumption,
which is better in speed, and
which one is better in providing good safety measures....

I will be very grateful

Answers
1)   here's a biggie = KIA is made in Korea and VW's are made in Germany
KIA's are just complete sht. Even my korean friends at school admit it. And VW's are great cars all around. - melikestirfry

2)   There is really no comparison. Get a VW, when it comes to cars, the Germans know what they are doing. Better MPG, quicker, safer, more power, more reliable. Not much more expensive.

KIA is starting to produce a decent car, and better in some respects than some brands. But nowhere near the level of VW or Toyota yet. If I were going to buy myself an import today it would be a Volkswagen. - HotRodGuy

3)   In one word "QUALITY"
If you want a cheap run around that will depreciate faster than a bullet buy a Kia or A good car go a VW - Barking_Dog

4)   You have to compare specific models from each manufacturer.

However in GENERAL

KIA IS LESS EXPENSIVE TO OWN AND OPERATE

The cost of maintenance at the dealer is lower for KIA.

Neither uses a powerful engine. Unless you move up the model line then Volkswagen wins.
With turbo power, turbo diesels, and even a W configuration.

Volkswagen wins the fuel consumption contest again because diesels beat gas.
Gas v Gas its a near tie with KIA a bit better, depending on model.

Neither is particularly fast when compared to say a Ford Mustang or V6 Nissan Altima.
Either will get you a ticket in any state, city or county.

All cars sold in the US have to meet minimum safety standards set by the Federal government.
Including side impact, front and rear impact, passenger compartment integrity.
Check the "Institute for Highway Safety" website for specific model comparison. - Vmaximus


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Question 3
What year is my vw engine?...  Can you help-- I have a 1974 vw bug,air cooled, with a Solex carburetor(30pict-2) but I'm not sure what year the engine is, it has a serial number (stamped by the alt.) AD889760 I' m sure the engine has been replaced,Thanks,

Answers
1)   The engine prefix, 'AD' is identified here, http://www.vwoc.euromarques.com/serial_numbers/engine_codes.htm as being made before, August, 1979, 50hp 1600 cc installed in either a Type 1, car, or Type 2, bus, van or truck. There's a contact at the bottom of the page that may help.

This site contains numerical information but no AD prefix. http://www.lightner.net/ybdb/serno.html and has a link to submit questions.

There's a chance the engine.short block is original. The cylinder heads are easy to change out and also carry an identifying number. You will enjoy your bug more if you tie up with a club in your area and I'm sure they'll have resources to answer all your questions.

Good Luck - Caretaker

2)   Can't tell you the year, but can tell you that it is a standard 1600cc engine of the 1974 era. You got what is suppose to be in there. Maybe the swap was for a carb version instead of fuel injection. Here is a little more info:
AD has 7.5:1 compression ratio
AE exhaust emission control fitted
AF 6.6:1
AH exhaust recirculation system
AS fitted with 1973 modifications - the Horses Butt

3)   The motor stated was produced some time after July 1973. So it is very possible that it is the original engine fitted to your car.

It is definitely a Type 1 motor.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/bugchassisdating.php - Replica


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Question 4
how do you change the headlight bulb in a 1997 volkswagen golf?...  I have a 1997 Volkswagen Golf and i know how to take the bulb out of the headlight case but i cannot disconnect the plastic base holding the bulb in place.

Answers
1)   fdsfsd - Jason

2)   there should be a type of clip contraption which means squeezing the base and the bulb can be pulled off. if not, try twisting the bulb to the left. - tom man

3)   remove those metal clips by pushing in then pushing the cips to the side and the bulb will slide out - mr VR6


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Question 5
vw passat catalytic converter?...  so i drive a passat 02 v6, n the check engine light came up, so i took it 2 auto zone to see the code of the light, i got the code p0431 or p0432 cant remember well, but the guy said the the catalytic converter was going bad.... what should i do ??? im broken since the last time i paid 1500 BUCKS just 2 get fixed a water leak on the sunroof drains, should i replace the catalytic converter or its ok if i drive the cAR like that???
i want to take it to the dealer but they charge 140 dollARS just to tell you whats wrong with the car....

Answers
1)   What you do is you completely remove the catalytic converter and don't put a new one on. or if your paranoid about pigs seeing it and giving you a ticket, take off your catalytic converter, open it, empty it out, and put it back on so it just looks like you have a catalytic converter. you could do that for free yourself.

Catalytic converters do nothing but murder fuel economy and horsepower by choking off the engine. the government forced them upon people in 1975. Excuse? "emission control", when in reality, they're only there so the oil companies can make even more money than they were allready by pretending there was a fuel shortage as an excuse to jack gas prices to astronomical prices.

And as a result of these filthy oil companies, car companies started downsizing cars and giving them weak little effeminate engines, and as a result, people were forced to drive crappy little econo boxes.

And it doesn't stop there; today they're trying to force the smart car upon us, when in reality, it's nothing but a glorified barbie car with a blow dryer motor for an engine. Just imagine what horrific shitboxes they'll force us to drive in 30 years. - Dude

2)   I would wait till the part inside the catalytic converter breaks off(then there is an obvious rattling in your exhaust system-esp. noticeable when going over rough ground, starting off, or speed bumps. At that point you can't say "I didn't know".
And why the dealer when it is "just" an exhaust pipe repair.? Midas or whatever muffler shop can do the job(as almost any garage that has a torch and wrenches). Now, I don't know the cost of cats- they are not cheap...BUT when it has the special VW stamping in the metal, it costs double(you are paying for the name) when a no-name brand cat will do just as good a job for just as long.
After all, they said it "WAS going bad". That is different than saying "it IS bad, or broken" - the Horses Butt

3)   I assume that you've had the code cleared from the system; has the light come back on? Cat converters can be "weak" and still function and pass smog. Often times, a "lazy" 02 sensors can cause the cat to have problems, this is especially true on high milage vehicles. Although a 02 sensor can throw a code also, often times the 02 sensor responds just fast enough to not throw a code. As a practical matter, if indeed the cat is bad, I'd replace all the 02 sensors as well.

Continue to drive the vehicle as is, its not unsafe, nor illegal. As I said earlier, a weak cat is still legal as long as the emissions are within levels. You can often drive a lot miles with a weak cat; my old Mazda Protege had a weak cat, yet still managed to pass the smog test with about 300,000 miles on the clock (yeah, I drive a lot) and the person who purchased it is still driving it with a weak cat a year later with an additional 10,000 miles on it. I would recommend that you take the vehicle in to a VW specialist (doesn't have to be a dealership, but someone who specializes in VW's) and have her/him take a look to confirm any issues. A scan and scope check are in order using the VAG tool or some aftermarket comparable tool.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut


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