Old VW Beetle as an everyday car?

Question 1
Old VW Beetle as an everyday car?...  So lets say you were looking for a first car and you came across a 78 VW beetle. In was in good condition and was about £1000. It's near to where you live, there's no rust on it, why not go for it?
See this is what I ask myself when i see a car like that. I would love an old beetle, but im worried that if i got one, the first winter it saw, it would rust out and die. Surely though, if i kept it in good running order (which if you knew me personally, you know i would.) And put a cover over it at night (on my driveway) it would be ok to use as an everyday car?
I can't stress enough, i am very proud of the cars that my family have owned over the years. The first sign of rust it would be straight to the body shop. .
Ok, if not a beetle, what about a Morris Minor 1000 or Ford Escort MK1 or MK2?

Answers
1)   I use a 76 camper as my daily runner. just keep the oil topped up.

For more info google VZI, biggest vw forums in europe. there's loads of tips on there. - M1

2)   They are under powered, poor braking and bad handling unsafe cars. The snow on top of the car will not cause the rust, it is the snow that gets packed under the car that will rust it. There is a reason there are not a lot of these cars left. I would suggest something else if you want a daily driver - jim s

3)   As an ex 3 time Beetle owner back in the days when they were current models i would not touch one with a bargepole today. Nostalgia is fine but common sense is better. By today's standards they are crude and basic in the extreme, the performance is woeful and the handling and braking the same. The only real safety measures are the seat belt. By today's standards they are not even economical. Even when they were being sold new they were an old design and they only sold the numbers they did as they were reputed to be the first real 100,000 mile car (when they came out the average car was getting distinctly 'tired' once it got past 65k.) but it was all a bit of a con really, they were only so long lasting and 'unburstable' because the engine was in such a low state of tune it was hard to abuse them. You would have to be a masochist to want one as a daily driver. - Fairdo4all

4)   Classics make great first cars. They're a bit cheaper to insure and much cooler than a boring Corsa.
Plenty of people still use old Bugs as everyday cars but do understand it's an old car so don't expect 2011 levels of performance, braking, cornering etc, and be prepared to get into car mechanics or it'll cost a fortune going into the garage every other week for some minor repair.

There's a lot of fun in owning a classic car, and a VW is a good choice. Google for VW owners clubs and internet forums for loads of good advice.
You'll never be alone with a Bug! - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

5)   classic cars means potential for rust. Just check the bodywork before you get it, and make sure you haven't bought one from an owner who lives near a beach - the salt air WILL cause issues in the longrun.
however, I used to have a VW beetle as my daily run around, and it was great. They do say that VWs are very very reliable. Just check the water and oil regularly
(Come to think of it, I can't remember if the VW beetle has water in it... aren't they usually air cooled :) :) ) - chris surridge

6)   The mk1 and mk2.....wait, ALL the escort's were rusting heaps of junk by any standards, so I'd skip them for sure. The Morris holds a little spot in my heart, but who wants a car that suffers from woodworm and wet rot? While the beetle has it's quirks, and no it's not a modern "super mini" or something, it's a good first car being easy to work on, easy to upgrade all round later, and will probably always be collectable so you won't lose money on it!

Learn how an engine works, get yourself a beginner tool kit if you don't already have one, and enjoy ;) - Neil B

7)   The Beetle is total rubbish and why any one would aspire to own one is beyond me. I foolishly have a 1981 Saab 99 Turbo and that is bad enough despite it being streets ahead of a Beetle. Spend a grand on a Polo or a Golf and do yourself one enormous favour. - L G

8)   First sign of rust is usually too late,as much as I like these most have terminal tin worm,I think that the only sheet metal on these that I never had to replace was the roof!
and as for winter I really laugh at that,they had for interior heaters a collector/flap doodad on the exhaust manifolds that was supposed to work,mostly it did not,cold car for winter.
There's nothing wrong with old cars,in theory,out of your picks the MK 2 would be safest bet,but you really have to know your stuff or all you'll buy is a mobile bag of rust,and a grand will only buy someone else's trouble,cars you're talking about would be 4k upwards for good,not perfect,but good. - Q


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Question 2
74 vw beetle alternator problems?...  I have a 74 beetle that I have put two new (re manufactured) alternators and a regulator on it. The alternator still is only putting out 12.50 volts and when I disconnect the battery terminal it dies. Do you think i got another bad alternator or is something else going on??

Answers
1)   Your alternators aren't pitting out any voltage. That's just the battery voltage you're measuring.
You're probably not getting 12 volts to the exciter lead on the alternator. I'm not sure about 74s, but some Beetles got that voltage from the idiot light circuit. If the light burnt out, the alternator didn't run. - Nomadd

2)   It's AMAZING Is this what you are looking for? http://styleasy.info/416839/battery-terminal - kozusko jans

3)   What about the regulator? It is what determines your output voltage. If it is the old-style mechanical , it will need to be adjusted.

Never disconnect either battery terminal when the engine is running. This will cause the alternator to turn full on, ruining the alternator and possibly blowing out light bulbs and electronic stuff. - Kirk

4)   Kirk is right.
Never take the battery terminal off a running car, or the alternator will quickly fry.
The only other thing I can think of worth mentioning is that if the dash light for the alternator is burned out, then the alternator will not work, because the alternator rotor gets its current to become magnetized, though this bulb. Generators have permanent magnets, but alternators don't, so need input current in order to produce output that is greater than the input.

Have the alternators and regulators tested outside the car. Most places like Autozone do this for free. Have the new one tested before installation if you are not sure. - Motorhead

5)   Check all connections to the battery. The grounds to the engine/chasis and all the power ones too.

Yours sounds like a bad main ground.


ASE Cert Auto Tech, since 1978, 2003 GLI

had to do both my A2 16v GTI's when i got the same thing happening - sci


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Question 3
why have i water and oil in my filter on my vw polo?...  i have found which looks like muddy water and oil in my air filter can anyone tell me what causes this
on a vw polo N reg
the car has been sitting for a while, there is no water in my oil. no leaks under car. the muddy water is in the small beather pipe which leads to the air filter. They is only oil in with the air filter its self. If any understands what am talking about can you please telling me what maybe causing this regards
also there is a very loud knock noise in block

Answers
1)   Sounds like 2 problems there. One, you possibly have water in your oil. That could be a blown head gasket. Two, you have the water/oil mixture on your air filter. This might be a problem with your PCV system.

Have a trustworthy local mechanic look at it. - rotus

2)   u have a blown head gasket r u losing antifreeze but c no puddles? - rodman

3)   ok, the oil and water mixture in the air cleaner box can be a combination of condensation and a faulty pcv system. the pcv ( positive crankcase ventilation) system is in place to suck excess pressure fron the inside of the rocker cover these normally come up through the pcv valve through a pipe and back into the air box, if the breather element is blocked or soaked with oil it will then drip into the air box, a faulty pcv system will also cause seals to start to leak or seep a bit over time. the condensation may be related if you only normally use the car for short journeys and it does not get hot enough to evaporate the water. the second issue of the loud knock could be anything from a main bearing gone bad all the way to a small end bearing on the bottom of the piston wearing. best bet there is to get it to a mechanic and get them to look it over. dont be suprised if they tell you its time for a new engine though. it is quite common on the older vw's - Ideal Engines

4)   The brown muddy stuff you describe (mayonnaise) is emulsified oil - oil which is trying to mix with water. My guess would be that you do a lot of short journeys in your vehicle as this is a classic cause of mayonnaise in the engine it is caused through condensation the engine never really gets hot enough. The loud noise in the block sounds a little more serious! I would guess big ends and possibly head gasket has gone which is causing the oil in water syndrome. Good luck but I think you got a basket case without some serious work. Cheers, Gizz. - Gizzard Puke

5)   Years ago I had an old VW Passat with the same problem. The breather pipe from the rocker cover was routed to the air intake before the air filter instead of being on the inlet manifold side of it. An obvious design fault in my humble opinion and different to other makes. This meant that oil and water (condensation) vapour got sucked straight into the air filter instead of being burnt off in the engine. The result was the symptoms you describe, a very mucky air filter. Might be the same with yours. I do not know of any easy legal way to improve it.
A loud knocking noise is a bad sign though. If there is oil in the sump and the oil pressure is adequate then get someone who knows what they are doing to pass an opinion on it to find out if it is worth repairing.
Best of luck with it, Bob. - Southpaw


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Question 4
Have Modern Volkswagen's Become Just As Unreliable As Any Other Car?...  At one time there were a few makes of car, such as VWs and Audis that could be relied upon to cover 150-200k miles+ without too much trouble (with regular servicing).

After talking to a mechanic and researching on the internet it seems that modern VWs have just as many inherent problems as any other car. Current VW models seem to be engineered to survive just to the end of the manufactures warranty but not much longer before major problems start to occur. Diesel models for example seem to prone to fuel pump and injector problems and dual mass flywheel failures.

The reason for the question is that I'm looking to by a Golf diesel which I intend to keep for as long as possible. I would like to know; should I buy as new as possible with as low mileage as possible or, would it be better, as some people are recommending, to go for a model from the mid 90's. ?

What are your opinions ? (thanks)

Answers
1)   I'm also a mechanic and I'll have to sadly say that it's not quite how bad you think it is, it might be worse. First a lot of cars are actually getting MORE reliable. Ford, for example, was just named the number 4 automaker by JD Power & Associates for the quality of their vehicles. The only cars in front of them are Porsche, Acura, Lexus, and Mercedes. That makes Ford the number ONE non-luxury brand in the world according to this list. And as a mechanic, I can vouch for that, repairs for Fords have been going drastically down the past few years. The only vehicles I still see a lot of problems with are 2010 and before Super Duty Diesels, and ironically that isn't Ford's fault, but Navistar (aka International Harvester) who made the Diesel engines for Fords until this year. This year's Eco-Boost 6.7L is engineered and built by Ford, finally, and had a defect-free launch, which is surprising for a whole new engine.

VW, on the other hand, has actually been going the other way. I haven't noticed a drastic increase in mechanical break-downs such as problems with engines or transmissions, but they have A LOT of electrical issues for some reason. That's why I would make sure to point that out to anyone interested in VW, that in the past 10 years or so they've been plagued with a lot of electrical issues. But good thing is their engines and transmissions still seem to hold up and those are the most important parts... - Kenneth

2)   the 90s to 05 would be a bad time to get a vw thats where most problems come from vw work out out in 2006 your better off getting a 2011 vw golf tdi and my sister has 2010 vw golf tdi and she put 50,000 miles on it and she has no problems and she gets 50 mpg. - James

3)   The Jetta is a very good car. - Jacque M

4)   Not sure where you're getting your data, but Audi and VW have been below average performers for decades. - Jay S


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Question 5
What are the sports car models of volkswagons?...  I dont know alot about them and i hear you can make them pretty quick, so whats the sport version of like the. Jetta, and hatchback. Thx for help. And which years the best for modding and how to improve it

Answers
1)   In the US, there are really only two worth mentioning. the Jetta GLI and the Golf GTI. Both have the same engine. Parts and modifications are readily available. A simple software flash can give you another 50HP in both cars. More extensive mods such as replacing turbos and such can give you up to 300HP and remain "streetable". There are MKV GTI's running into the 11's but they are HIGHLY modified. - Louis G

2)   What Loius said is completely true and spot on his facts. But he left out one sport car and that is the Bug turbo... Its pretty much a Sport Version of the bug with a turbo in it and it has a automatic spoiler that comes out when you are going over 60 mph. - Bart

3)   Some of the older models are wonderful as well, once you go A! chassis you never go back, I have owned 3 different A1 body cars.

A 79 golf, an 82 cabby, and an 83 rocco wolfie.
All of which are about as safe as a tin can strapped to a rocket, but good god they weigh about as much as one as well :D - Brandon

4)   Old Corrado, old and new scirrocco, new vw phaeton has some very quick models, and of course there's the Bugatti Veyron ;) - Neil B


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