Kinda like how the old top gear guys (aka the grand tour) consider alfas and lancias cool and humanlike, because they're flawed. At least the engineering in most italian cars were flawed in the same era of the bug
@@Hundert1 Easy. It was already an ancient design by the early 70s & as with many decades old cars, a lot less space for people & luggage, than modern cars (even 60s modern cars). An example would be VWs own type 3. All models are a better car than The Beetle, with the station wagon a quite versatile vehicle. & though the Supers are faster, quieter, ride & handle better than other Beetles, the type 3 does most of these better & none of them worse. How about economy? Once again small cars over the years, Beetle included, offer more go for the fuel used. Supers give you around the performance of an early 70s Japanize 1200-1300cc car (In Australia) but worse economy & usually a little less interior space. In modern or even 70s standards only the 1200cc Beetles give good economy.1200s have round about the performance of the tiny British 800cc cars they competed with, in the 1950s. The Beetle, already an old design, was highly compeditive with these tiddlers, till they (things like Morris Minor) went up to 1,000cc & higher gearing. That said I don't mind Beetles & prefer the splitties & ovals along with Supers, with the last of the 1302s being an interesting & reasonably successful development of what was by then almost an historic car.
Because Boomers are, if nothing else, stupid. It is no accident that the "peace-love" narcissistic arrogant while stupid generation chose the KDF 60 as their symbol. They literally chose the fascist car as their generation's symbol!!!
Bucket seats, dual exhaust and 4 on the floor, how could you possibly want more,magnificent car, great brakes, awesome traction and so much fun to drive.
The Beetle is definitely cool. 0-60 at sea level when new ideas 17-18 second la which is poor today but at the time was on par with its foreign competition. It’s features were too, and it was better than most of its completion in fuel economy and a super beetle like this was actually at the top of its completion in terms of handling. To compare a 45-50 year old economy car to anything modern is unfair. The beetle still did well in those categories in 71. And it was always rated tops in quality. Where it pales against its competition was in its limited space because of its 1930s body shape. You’ve got to take these in context to what else was as available at the time. Think about it- the fastest corvette at the time would get slaughtered in a quarter mile by a 4 cylinder Subaru wrx. That doesn’t mean the vette is slow. But technology improves things. The bug is still a really fun car that one can drive daily today.
I owned 4 vw's so far. 1 was a mustard yellow super beetle. My first bug was a 1965 beetle. Always loved them all had the unique smell inside. And the sound of the engi e was also pretty neat. Just loved the idea of the bugs
Ah, memories! I had a 72 standard beetle which was pretty peppy for an economy car at that time. It was bright red and sported a "Formula V" racing stripe and an aftermarket "zoom tube" muffler. It was actually pretty quick from 0 - 30 due to the gearing, despite it being only 60 hp. The only option (aside from the stripe) was an A.M. radio. The cloth seats were very comfortable, even in the heat without AC. It was a fun, fun car that I owned for 4 years until our first child was born, necessitating a larger car.
the car is WAY cool. If thats all the speed you have it sounds like the engine needs a rebuild. If the heater chanels and heater boxes are still intact and hooked up properly, the heat should all but roast you........mine does. As for features, you are comparing a car that is 46 years old to modern cars. Compare it to cars of its day for price and so forth. PS the Beetle is STILL the number one selling car of all time.
In a previous episode, they said that the original engine had been replaced with a low-compression unit from Brazil, if I recall correctly. There's nothing wrong with the engine's power -- it's just lower-powered than even the U.S. market's low-powered unit. That explains their lower-than-normal power. And I don't know how many VW Golfs there are out there, but I do know that the Toyota Corrolla is the highest-selling vehicle of all time -- it's rapidly approaching 45 million units, if it hasn't surpassed that already.
Ok, Corolla sold more than Beetle. But Corolla is made when the population of earth was much bigger. The Beetle hasn't got so many new things according to the years its produced. So if VW make newer, cooler, carosserie and by the time (I mean here after moving to Mexiko) bigger motor then it could be still manufactured. Golf has also changed a lot by the years. The newest Golf looks totally different like the first Golf series. Just look the evolving.
I purchased my 1971 Super Beetle in Germany while in the Army for a little over $1800. Drove it all over Europe for the next year and a half and had it shipped back to the USA at the end of my deployment. Had it for another 6 years. It never let me down and I wish I had one today!
Just remember that is a 1971 car that anyone could afford. Second, is not in mint condition and you have not completed the maintenance on it. If you finished the maintenance, the heat will work, your windshield wiper fluid will work. Also as to space, your are used to a truck, this is a 2000 lbs car. Maintenance is key on these cars, I had 14 of them so far. Great job on the show.
I've had 2 beetles and they were fun to drive around town and it was fun to put fancy paint jobs and the after market stuff you can do with this car and always get lots of thumbs up from other drivers.
Your going about this in the wrong way- A 1600 duel port engine was WAY cool after driving a 1200, the TWO speed wipers are GREAT after you spend a few years with the older one speed wipers and the added space under the bonnet of the super is best appreciated after fitting luggage around torsion bars!
I put 287,000 on my '71 SuperBeetle, trading it in after 14 years. It was comfortable, efficient, and cheap to maintain since I did the oil changes myself most of the time. It would cruise all day at 75 mph on Interstates, which was enough back then to go with the general flow. It had great traction in snow. When the heater did finally get warm, it was very effective. Something about the car's "feel" and handling was very appealing, and it was more like wearing the car rather than riding in the car. Even with its low power, it was just fun to drive. The little one speaker radio was not bad, considering the speaker size.
The heater can be replaced with a modern heater, which works quite well. Same with the windshield wiper nozzle and _'pump.'_ The stereo system (including speakers) can also be easily replaced. As for the engine, you can drop a 914 engine and transmission, which greatly improve performance.
A 47 year old car based on 80 year old technology. Some would call it patina. I owned a 62 convertible and a 65 sedan both new. At the time the VW was the counterculture way to make a statement against the 2 ton 14 mpg dinosaurs on the road at the time. When the Japanese came into the market with 4 doors, a heater that works, and enough horsepower to pass on the interstate the VW beetle faded away. The super beetle was an attempt to bolster sales until the VW rabbit could be pushed into the market. Happy Motoring in das kleine wunder.
Yet the Rabbit (now the Golf) is unremarkable. The Japanese small cars that the beetle couldn't compete with are also unremarkable. Nobody pays them any mind on the road. Driving a vintage VW makes everyone smile and ask questions. in the end, none of these could compete with the vintage beetle.
I had a 71 in 82. I loved that car. It was tough. I tented the windows, installed Camaro seats. Cassette stereo. Front and rear visors over the window. Trans am wheels. Dule headers. And painted black. It turned heads. Wish I still had it. And wide fenders. Love JC Whitney. Back in the day
I had a 73 back in 75-78 (traded it in on a new VW Scirocco). Good economy car, urban/suburban commuter. Passive heating system not good when it was really cold. Fun and OK in snow and ice- especially with winter tires. Easy to install a cassette player and add rear speakers to the rear deck for tunes. Always loved the vent Windows! Handbrake turns on ice were great fun on deserted parking lots for donuts. Dudes, get some touch up paint for those bare spots on your car!
I am the proud owner of a 79 Super Beetle Convertible. Absolutely a cool car! It's amazing how many people just love to see it on the road. Very reliable with minimal maintenance. Mine has the Bosch fuel injected engine. It is a primitive system but works quit well. Parts can be difficult to find though. I live in a beach city and there is nothing like driving down Pacific Coast Highway with the top down. It's more about going slow enough to enjoy the scenery. If I want to go fast I have a Mini for that.
Good job with the video and content. I have to say, if anyone out there is watching this video for educational information in trying to decide between purchasing a old VW Beetle or a newer economy car to use as a daily driver, I would encourage them to go for the the newer economy car for a reason not mentioned in the video ... safety. I am a huge air cooled VW fan and I agree that an old VW is a fun and affordable way to get involved in classic cars and I would encourage anyone looking for an antique car to use as a “Sunday driver” to take a hard look as old VWs because they are (largely) cheap to buy and easy to live with. As a daily driver, especially for a younger driver with less driving experience (not that it really matters) these cars lack air bags, antilock brakes, crumple zones, and roll over protection that we can take for granted on all cars made in the past decade. Whatever car you purchase, enjoy it and drive it responsibly.. As James Dean said, the life you save might be mine!
Your views mirror my own. I had a 1971 SuperBeetle Formula 1, and loved it, even though going over the mountains of New York slowed it way down going up the mountain,, It was great coming down.
I've built plenty of engines and improved their performance dramatically. But nothing improved with so little upgrades and exceeding 100% in the performance of the engine like a VW. As far as heat, most people never had heater hoses properly installed. When done properly you'd smell your shoes burning 😳 With a conservative build you can easily do a low 13 second 1/4 mile to possibly a high 12 second run. Some bugs do in the 9's. Top speed in my very conservative build was 133 mph. Not too shabby for a People's Car 😉 Oh, Yeah, how many were made again 🤔
I had 12 of them .my first was new 66.I purchased another1970 new,and several used ones .Drove from Toronto to Florida ,pedal to the metal all the way.Cool cars wish I still have one.
I have a 1965 type1 with a 2332 turbo fuel injected street car, 231rwhp, freaking thing is a hoot when I pull up next to mustangs, they just have to see what’s under my rear hood, I can drag the rear bumper if I want to, love it!
You said just because the motor is easy to work on and basic it shouldn't be slow look at big green it has a 350 that makes 400hp. Well that's not fair because that is a crate motor that has performance in mind. The original motor in big green was a 305 and slow. Which was rated I believe at 185hp back when it was new.
It's sure cooler than a tesla will be after almost a half century. This younger generation consumes so much, there won't be anything left to enjoy from their youth. I can't see anyone restoring a 2010 Ford taurus! Edit: oh God. I guess I found the answer down in the comments! Good luck with the "make your beetle a tesla" thing! Trying to make something into something it isn't.... Sounds about right for 2018!
My '71 Beetle is 100% Electric - powered by Tesla. It can be done easily without welding or drilling the original car. From the outside, nobody would know its secrets............ Now future-proofed for the next 50 years when governments clamp-down on ICE vehicles. I have had four years of turning the key with ultimate reliability, no fuel smells, no grimy hands. These days, I find myself making excuses - just to get behind the wheel and go somewhere, because it's that good.
interor utility is great if you choose the right passenger, my recommendation is a tiny dancer (m/f/d, to your taste). I had one of these (car + fitting passenger) from age 18 to 21, lots of fun.
I'm late commenting on this but i have to say, I live in Europe and most standard compact cars have similar storage space (like small hatchbacks that can fit two suitcases) and in terms of horsepower are not much better. You have to give them credit keeping in mind these were European cars with the mentality of efficiency at that time and they still managed to sell so well and are to this day well renowned.
My father bought a 1971 Super Beetle new as an extra family car and as the person who drove it the most, it eventually became mine. I really liked it but destroyed it in a freeway rollover crash in 1978.
I disagree with your "crap" rating for Utility. You have to take into account the car's size -- and for its size it scores very high in the Utility category. The frunk is huge in comparison to the trunk of any other car from 1971 that is that size -- most of your subcompact non-hatchbacks in the early '70s had maybe 9 cubic-feet of trunk space, at best. And you have that storage space behind the back seat, above the engine -- that adds easily another 2 or 3 cubic feet to the total storage space. For its tiny little sub-compact size, I think it has far more storage space than it should, and should therefore score "cool" in the Utility rating... Just my opinion, though.
The Beetle is cool not despite your crap designations but because of them. Also as a previous 72 Super Beetle owner, I wholeheartedly disagree with your utility designation. It is most certainly not crap. I used to fit so much stuff in that car when traveling or moving. There’s the storage area behind the back seat as well as the frunk and that back seat folds down to create more storage space. I’ve fit a whole sturdy mid century desk back there. I’ve had a few friends in there with me driving around and not all of them small. When I drove her cross country to move, I had my cat and all of her accoutrements, a friend and her luggage, all of my clothes (which was a lot), two guitars, a lamp, and some other miscellaneous items and we weren’t crowded. Meep meep! 🤍
Thank you for the very precise review of Volkswagen 1302 Superbettle! I have one here in the Philippines Cebu City. Right-now she is pretty amazing sedan car. It is serving its purpose! Awesome car because for me it is a car for all seasons and generations!
A couple of other good and bad characteristics. I owned this same car in college way back when in California. On the good side: car handled pretty good for vehicles of that vintage; though it has drum brakes all the way around they are huge and given the weight the car would stop fast; by dropping the back seat, and given the height of the interior, I had enough room to move all my personal stuff between home and school every year in one trip; and this car, because of its rear engine would travel farther in snow without chains than most other cars. On the bad side of the ledger: car doesn't have enough power to climb many freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd which is an issue in California; driving this car on the highway when it is windy is exhausting to the the least along with being buffeted by big rigs. Also heating and defrosting were pretty marginal, especially defrosting. I loved mine and it never left me stranded but sold it as soon as I could afford something with more power after graduation.
It’s cool! Well; look at it. You wouldn’t buy a car like this for the practicality or the fastness anyway... The motor. Pure crap by modern standards. But don’t forget that sound of a classic Beatle - it makes it all worth it😉 That goes for the other Beatles too, by the way✌️🎼🎸
i have been around VW's since the 60's i also use to work in a shop where they sold parts for them ,i had a 62 kombi for awhile i currently dont drive a VW but would love to own one again
No question that it is cool, not to be confused with safe, comfortable, or fast! Lol With that said I love my '72 with all it's quirks and short comings...
Handling: Dry roads - fair. Wet roads - depending on the condition of the tires, either oversteer or spinning 360's because it is balanced like a hammer when tossed because all of the engine is BEHIND the rear axle. Bridges with ice are fun. Windy days are fun. When bad weather (high winds, snow and more rain) comes you learn to put HEAVY STUFF in the frunk so you can steer. Been there, done that in the classic Beetle and the Corvair (both gens). That said, I LOVE THESE CARS. Once you learn their eccentricities, they can be a blast!
A true comment about the Beetle. However, I went electric, and this placed the Beetle as 50/50 balance. Battery Pack in the front has given +30kgs additional load. No twitch on the steering anymore at all. Mine is a '71 Super Beetle.
The spare tire was over pressurized. It had a cut off so that the tire would not deflate. Mom has a ‘55 that lasted over 25 years. Sold it to a friend and he took the engine, modified it and used it in a dune buggy for another 10+ years.
I am highly thinking about buying a super for a daily driver. What are you thoughts on this and what should I spend for something that is not perfect but in great shape?
I bought a '71 Super Beetle in 1972 with 2,000 miles on it. I put 100,000 miles on it. It was a good solid car especially compared to equivalent cars of the day. It was superb in the snow. If you took decent care of it, it took care of you. It was definitely not crap. It was a superb little car for its day.
Trade economy for performance/utility and get yourself a roof rack, dual carbs and a good distributor. Best of all worlds. If it wasn’t a super I’d say Baja it too but...
back in the day it had plenty of power and was very cool. Had a 1971 1302S and would say it was the best beetle i have owned. Had a couple of horses and had to travel 3k up a hilly and winding shingle road few times a week carrying saddles and feed and never let me down on performance or handling and actually got a speeding ticket on a motorway. Others i have owned like a 1961 beetle my first car and then couple of early split windows, 54, and 57.
You dont need a 10 min video to know that a vw beetle is a cool car... The mere fact that it is still being restored after 2k years is a living testament that this is a supercool creation. 🤨
VW advertised that the Beetle would definitely “float” but it won’t “float” indefinitely. I was able to test this out with my ‘73 that had a neck snapping 40 HP. One day after a massive rain I was motoring about and came upon a flooded low spot in the road. The water was flowing across the road. R 2 L. Here’s my chance to test the VW claim. As I drove into the water (deeper than I realized) the car actually began to float - not forward however but sideways. I floored it, the back end squatted down the tires got traction and repeating this a couple times more I soon was on the other side on higher ground. Realizing I only tested the definitely float but not indefinitely once, I turned around and went thru going the other way. Since most challenges are best 2 of 3, I decided to turn around and went thru a 3rd time. I was so proud I had proved my Beetle would definitely float but not indefinitely. It was a short lived victory, because after my 3rd trip thru the water, I discovered my feet were sitting in 2+ inches of water. It seems every time I accelerated thru the water, the heater boxes were scooping up water and it was forced out of the heat vents along the front drivers and passengers sides thus flooding the interior. Guess I was an early TFL tester in training.
Some things are greater than the sum of their parts...the Beetle is one of them. Any economy car that can drive down a street and cause people to stop what they're doing and smile at you can't help but be cool, especially in this day and age when things that make people smile seem in such short supply.
Been a ‘72 super beetle owner since 2000 and it will always be cool, as long as you don’t mind Air cooled AC and warming up the car 10 min before driving anywhere. My first car, and I’ll never sell her regardless 😉
It's pretty good for a car whose basic design dates from the 30s Kraft durch Freude Wagen. It should be noted that the British deserve credit for saving VW as it was in the British Zone of Occupation after the war.
I LOVE your videos guys! I've wanted a bug since I was a kid & will one day have one of my own. The Corolla was the best selling car of all times...I had 2 of them & loved them! The simpleness of the mechanics of the Beetle, makes it for a great car to learn on. I grew in the the 80's under the hood of many cars that my brothers had. Enjoy guys! I'm a little jealous LOL
You just made me recognize the value that i have possessing that car!( btw its the same exact pearl white color)! unfortunately i havent given much care to her for the past year, but the two videos i watched really got me emotional. thank you guys! CoolEST car!
good video. the beetle is a flip phone in a smart phone world. no one bought a beetle for options. it was a pure drivers car, no frills just substance. if you want performance by a mercedes.
When pointing out the cargo space, you neglected to mention the area behind the rear seat. Also, people back in the day were not as rotund as as they are today. However, the rear seat passengers had little room for the legs and feet. But the car was created for a family of too 1938-sized people, and two children. Even so, we could cram five teenagers in a Bug and everyone had a blast.
$4k you lucked out big time!! I have the same bug and have spent a fortune repairing everything, rebuilt engine, upholstery, interior coconut insulation replacement, door panels, rebuild fresh air fan(have to remove tank to get it out), fuel fill and vent lines, fuel lines, rubber steering boots, wheel cylinder...... can’t wait to drive the damn thing!!!!!!!! It gets a 10 for cool!!!
I have owned five VW Beetles, from 1968-1972. Four of them were regular Beetles, and they were wonderful. I would love to have another one. One of them was a 1972 Super Beetle, and I had nothing but trouble with it. The front suspension and steering on Super Beetles really is crap. It doesn't work well, mine had a shimmy in it, despite every part being replaced. It is very weak compared to the regular Beetle. The standard Beetle is a tank, the Super Beetle leaves a lot to be desired, all because of the front end. If you want to know what a real Beetle is like, try a standard one. The difference is night and day.
There are compromises with any car. Beetles were everywhere when I was a school kid in the 70s. We had three Beetles, two consecutively, when I was a kid. The Beetle is the coolest compact of them all.
Bought a new Super Beetle '72...the build quality was pretty abysmal. Interior fell apart within 2 years. But, modified it for better performance, and was fun, for its time. Thanks.
Old Vw cars where made to last,the old beetle is cute too... That s why they sold so many,A car with character,basic & not much to go wrong... Happy motoring 😘
So my great grandfather wants me to get this car he owns a red beetle, and I am wondering if it will be a good 1st car because I do not want to be driving the truck I already have now everywhere because it's just really crap on miles
A car that came out of the Porsche Stable cannot be bad. Take a look at how the Beetle can handle the bad weather. How many cars manufactured today - are resistant to hail damage? Probably none, because the gauge thickness of the metal on modern cars is only half that of a Beetle. Every Beetle made was under strict quality control, in the days - long before before Quality Control was widespread in Industry. It can be driven across a Desert, needs no water for engine cooling. No Timing Belt to break on you! Chop off the roof, the car won't mind! Try doing that with any modern car made today. A car with curves will always win over the majority of men too!! I bought my 1971 Superbug "as an impulse buy" from a car scrapyard - a burnt-out wreck. It was a labor of love to completely restore the Beetle. I am over 70, and the car has become part of the family for the last 17 years. Used daily, it has never let me down. Alpine white, and two-tone leather seats. Other than this, I've kept the car as 'original' as possible. There will always be people who say that these cars are crap. I cannot think of any other car that has such a large following.
In theory, using the air of the spare tire to power the windshield washer may not sound like high tech today. Back when I bought my first new car, a 1973 VW super beetle, it was quite innovative, leave to the Germans to come up with a way to put stale air to good use. In practice, over all the years I owned and drove my Beetle, never, ever did I have a situation where I lost either squirting power or a full spare.
You forgot to add for utility, the back seat back folds down for more storage. I have been driving my 74 Super Beetle for 30 years now. I think it is cool and so do other people. Never a derogatory comment although I hate people calling it "cute".
![This 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle Is A Time Capsule | REVIEW SERIES [4k]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c7i1a2GIjEQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The crap aspects add character to the car and therefore make it cool.
What's your opinion is crap about it?
Kinda like how the old top gear guys (aka the grand tour) consider alfas and lancias cool and humanlike, because they're flawed. At least the engineering in most italian cars were flawed in the same era of the bug
@@Hundert1 Easy. It was already an ancient design by the early 70s & as with many decades old cars, a lot less space for people & luggage, than modern cars (even 60s modern cars).
An example would be VWs own type 3. All models are a better car than The Beetle, with the station wagon a quite versatile vehicle. & though the Supers are faster, quieter, ride & handle better than other Beetles, the type 3 does most of these better & none of them worse.
How about economy?
Once again small cars over the years, Beetle included, offer more go for the fuel used. Supers give you around the performance of an early 70s Japanize 1200-1300cc car (In Australia) but worse economy & usually a little less interior space. In modern or even 70s standards only the 1200cc Beetles give good economy.1200s have round about the performance of the tiny British 800cc cars they competed with, in the 1950s. The Beetle, already an old design, was highly compeditive with these tiddlers, till they (things like Morris Minor) went up to 1,000cc & higher gearing.
That said I don't mind Beetles & prefer the splitties & ovals along with Supers, with the last of the 1302s being an interesting & reasonably successful development of what was by then almost an historic car.
I just bought a 1971 super beetle today!!
Maybe you bought my old car. Congrats.
I am super jealous of you
How's it going
You still enjoying it?
You're so lucky 😭 congrats!!
Can’t believe we’re having this discussion.......it’s a all time classic world wide!!!! OF COARSE ITS COOLLLLL😎
It's always going to be a cool car.
Because Boomers are, if nothing else, stupid. It is no accident that the "peace-love" narcissistic arrogant while stupid generation chose the KDF 60 as their symbol. They literally chose the fascist car as their generation's symbol!!!
Bucket seats, dual exhaust and 4 on the floor, how could you possibly want more,magnificent car, great brakes, awesome traction and so much fun to drive.
It's the only car I've owned that I'd like to own again.
Why don't you buy a Beetle then?
Same here... I had a ‘71 super back in the early 80’s, with the auto stick. Fun car to drive!
Same here. I dream of the day of when I can get one again!
The Beetle is definitely cool. 0-60 at sea level when new ideas 17-18 second la which is poor today but at the time was on par with its foreign competition. It’s features were too, and it was better than most of its completion in fuel economy and a super beetle like this was actually at the top of its completion in terms of handling. To compare a 45-50 year old economy car to anything modern is unfair. The beetle still did well in those categories in 71. And it was always rated tops in quality. Where it pales against its competition was in its limited space because of its 1930s body shape.
You’ve got to take these in context to what else was as available at the time. Think about it- the fastest corvette at the time would get slaughtered in a quarter mile by a 4 cylinder Subaru wrx. That doesn’t mean the vette is slow. But technology improves things.
The bug is still a really fun car that one can drive daily today.
Michael Converse what has better high ground clearance a 1971 beetle or a 1970 Porsche 911 t
I owned 4 vw's so far. 1 was a mustard yellow super beetle. My first bug was a 1965 beetle. Always loved them all had the unique smell inside. And the sound of the engi e was also pretty neat. Just loved the idea of the bugs
I remember the smell! The Super Beetle smelled differently from the pre-Super models.
My dad and I completely renovated a 1971 Super Beetle convertible in 1980. I drove the car through my college years.
Ah, memories! I had a 72 standard beetle which was pretty peppy for an economy car at that time. It was bright red and sported a "Formula V" racing stripe and an aftermarket "zoom tube" muffler. It was actually pretty quick from 0 - 30 due to the gearing, despite it being only 60 hp. The only option (aside from the stripe) was an A.M. radio. The cloth seats were very comfortable, even in the heat without AC. It was a fun, fun car that I owned for 4 years until our first child was born, necessitating a larger car.
the car is WAY cool. If thats all the speed you have it sounds like the engine needs a rebuild. If the heater chanels and heater boxes are still intact and hooked up properly, the heat should all but roast you........mine does. As for features, you are comparing a car that is 46 years old to modern cars. Compare it to cars of its day for price and so forth. PS the Beetle is STILL the number one selling car of all time.
Negative, Ghost Rider. Both the Golf and Corolla have sold more worldwide that the Beetle's 23.5 million units.
In a previous episode, they said that the original engine had been replaced with a low-compression unit from Brazil, if I recall correctly. There's nothing wrong with the engine's power -- it's just lower-powered than even the U.S. market's low-powered unit. That explains their lower-than-normal power.
And I don't know how many VW Golfs there are out there, but I do know that the Toyota Corrolla is the highest-selling vehicle of all time -- it's rapidly approaching 45 million units, if it hasn't surpassed that already.
Ok, Corolla sold more than Beetle. But Corolla is made when the population of earth was much bigger. The Beetle hasn't got so many new things according to the years its produced. So if VW make newer, cooler, carosserie and by the time (I mean here after moving to Mexiko) bigger motor then it could be still manufactured. Golf has also changed a lot by the years. The newest Golf looks totally different like the first Golf series. Just look the evolving.
If you adjust for population inflation, beetle sold over 300, 000, 000. !!!
Put that in your Japanese pipe and smoke it.
@@jamesbeaman6337 both the Golf and Corolla are several different versions with the same name so there's no real comparison.
I own a 1972 beetle and 1974 super beetle love them both never giving them up.
Awwwww. Felix is way cool. Heidi
Couldn't agree more!!! :¬D
How many people have named their bugs "Herbie"?
I purchased my 1971 Super Beetle in Germany while in the Army for a little over $1800. Drove it all over Europe for the next year and a half and had it shipped back to the USA at the end of my deployment. Had it for another 6 years. It never let me down and I wish I had one today!
Just remember that is a 1971 car that anyone could afford. Second, is not in mint condition and you have not completed the maintenance on it. If you finished the maintenance, the heat will work, your windshield wiper fluid will work. Also as to space, your are used to a truck, this is a 2000 lbs car. Maintenance is key on these cars, I had 14 of them so far. Great job on the show.
I had both and I love the super beetle the best it handles better and stops faster in a straight line.
This was my first car back in highschool, and now im thinking of getting another. I miss it!
I've had 2 beetles and they were fun to drive around town and it was fun to put fancy paint jobs and the after market stuff you can do with this car and always get lots of thumbs up from other drivers.
Your going about this in the wrong way- A 1600 duel port engine was WAY cool after driving a 1200, the
TWO speed wipers are GREAT after you spend a few years with the older one speed wipers and the added space under the bonnet of the super is best appreciated after fitting luggage around torsion bars!
I put 287,000 on my '71 SuperBeetle, trading it in after 14 years. It was comfortable, efficient, and cheap to maintain since I did the oil changes myself most of the time. It would cruise all day at 75 mph on Interstates, which was enough back then to go with the general flow. It had great traction in snow. When the heater did finally get warm, it was very effective. Something about the car's "feel" and handling was very appealing, and it was more like wearing the car rather than riding in the car. Even with its low power, it was just fun to drive. The little one speaker radio was not bad, considering the speaker size.
I loved my 1965 VW, learned how to drive a stick and drove at all through college.
The heater can be replaced with a modern heater, which works quite well. Same with the windshield wiper nozzle and _'pump.'_ The stereo system (including speakers) can also be easily replaced. As for the engine, you can drop a 914 engine and transmission, which greatly improve performance.
I vote for Cool all around, I owned 2 of these back in the day and nothing since has come even close to the fun factor.
Me too...a 71 and a 74
In 92, watched a friend pull a 73 out of the wreckers for 50 bucks. Sold it 6 months later for 10 k. Easiest car to restore
cool story bro. nobody was paying 10K for bugs in '92. cool story though.
A 47 year old car based on 80 year old technology. Some would call it patina. I owned a 62 convertible and a 65 sedan both new. At the time the VW was the counterculture way to make a statement against the 2 ton 14 mpg dinosaurs on the road at the time. When the Japanese came into the market with 4 doors, a heater that works, and enough horsepower to pass on the interstate the VW beetle faded away. The super beetle was an attempt to bolster sales until the VW rabbit could be pushed into the market. Happy Motoring in das kleine wunder.
Had 75 scirocco, sprinty car, and it did reverse doughnuts on 3 wheels 😀
Yet the Rabbit (now the Golf) is unremarkable. The Japanese small cars that the beetle couldn't compete with are also unremarkable. Nobody pays them any mind on the road. Driving a vintage VW makes everyone smile and ask questions. in the end, none of these could compete with the vintage beetle.
I had a 71 in 82. I loved that car. It was tough. I tented the windows, installed Camaro seats. Cassette stereo. Front and rear visors over the window. Trans am wheels. Dule headers. And painted black. It turned heads. Wish I still had it. And wide fenders. Love JC Whitney. Back in the day
In the performace category you picked a bad contender . With the stock 305 in Big Green, they par up.
I had a 73 back in 75-78 (traded it in on a new VW Scirocco). Good economy car, urban/suburban commuter. Passive heating system not good when it was really cold. Fun and OK in snow and ice- especially with winter tires. Easy to install a cassette player and add rear speakers to the rear deck for tunes. Always loved the vent Windows! Handbrake turns on ice were great fun on deserted parking lots for donuts.
Dudes, get some touch up paint for those bare spots on your car!
I am the proud owner of a 79 Super Beetle Convertible. Absolutely a cool car! It's amazing how many people just love to see it on the road.
Very reliable with minimal maintenance. Mine has the Bosch fuel injected engine. It is a primitive system but works quit well. Parts can be difficult to find though.
I live in a beach city and there is nothing like driving down Pacific Coast Highway with the top down.
It's more about going slow enough to enjoy the scenery.
If I want to go fast I have a Mini for that.
Good job with the video and content. I have to say, if anyone out there is watching this video for educational information in trying to decide between purchasing a old VW Beetle or a newer economy car to use as a daily driver, I would encourage them to go for the the newer economy car for a reason not mentioned in the video ... safety. I am a huge air cooled VW fan and I agree that an old VW is a fun and affordable way to get involved in classic cars and I would encourage anyone looking for an antique car to use as a “Sunday driver” to take a hard look as old VWs because they are (largely) cheap to buy and easy to live with. As a daily driver, especially for a younger driver with less driving experience (not that it really matters) these cars lack air bags, antilock brakes, crumple zones, and roll over protection that we can take for granted on all cars made in the past decade. Whatever car you purchase, enjoy it and drive it responsibly.. As James Dean said, the life you save might be mine!
My '75 Super goes zero to sixty... eventually. It's my 3 season daily and I LUV it! Definitely groovy. ✌💟🙂
Of course its cool...there is no other like it outhere. I had one VW1303 S-73 in the eighties...And I am gonna get one again...LOVE IT....
I have an original 1964 bug with the original heater channels and boxes, heats the car beautifully even in very cold weather.😊
My Dad had 67, I had a 68, my Brother had a 71 . Terrific transportation!
Your views mirror my own. I had a 1971 SuperBeetle Formula 1, and loved it, even though going over the mountains of New York slowed it way down going up the mountain,, It was great coming down.
I owned a 71 super beetle when I was stationed in Germany. It was a great little car. It was reliable and I went all over Europe in it.
I've built plenty of engines and improved their performance dramatically. But nothing improved with so little upgrades and exceeding 100% in the performance of the engine like a VW. As far as heat, most people never had heater hoses properly installed. When done properly you'd smell your shoes burning 😳 With a conservative build you can easily do a low 13 second 1/4 mile to possibly a high 12 second run. Some bugs do in the 9's. Top speed in my very conservative build was 133 mph. Not too shabby for a People's Car 😉 Oh, Yeah, how many were made again 🤔
Hope that you upgraded the Braking System to match the new turn of speed.
I had 12 of them .my first was new 66.I purchased another1970 new,and several used ones .Drove from Toronto to Florida ,pedal to the metal all the way.Cool cars wish I still have one.
Drove thre of these buggies during my years of college and university...they are definitely way cool!!
I have a 1965 type1 with a 2332 turbo fuel injected street car, 231rwhp, freaking thing is a hoot when I pull up next to mustangs, they just have to see what’s under my rear hood, I can drag the rear bumper if I want to, love it!
You said just because the motor is easy to work on and basic it shouldn't be slow look at big green it has a 350 that makes 400hp. Well that's not fair because that is a crate motor that has performance in mind. The original motor in big green was a 305 and slow. Which was rated I believe at 185hp back when it was new.
It's sure cooler than a tesla will be after almost a half century. This younger generation consumes so much, there won't be anything left to enjoy from their youth. I can't see anyone restoring a 2010 Ford taurus! Edit: oh God. I guess I found the answer down in the comments! Good luck with the "make your beetle a tesla" thing! Trying to make something into something it isn't.... Sounds about right for 2018!
My '71 Beetle is 100% Electric - powered by Tesla. It can be done easily without welding or drilling the original car. From the outside, nobody would know its secrets............ Now future-proofed for the next 50 years when governments clamp-down on ICE vehicles. I have had four years of turning the key with ultimate reliability, no fuel smells, no grimy hands. These days, I find myself making excuses - just to get behind the wheel and go somewhere, because it's that good.
interor utility is great if you choose the right passenger, my recommendation is a tiny dancer (m/f/d, to your taste). I had one of these (car + fitting passenger) from age 18 to 21, lots of fun.
I'm late commenting on this but i have to say, I live in Europe and most standard compact cars have similar storage space (like small hatchbacks that can fit two suitcases) and in terms of horsepower are not much better. You have to give them credit keeping in mind these were European cars with the mentality of efficiency at that time and they still managed to sell so well and are to this day well renowned.
My father bought a 1971 Super Beetle new as an extra family car and as the person who drove it the most, it eventually became mine. I really liked it but destroyed it in a freeway rollover crash in 1978.
I disagree with your "crap" rating for Utility. You have to take into account the car's size -- and for its size it scores very high in the Utility category. The frunk is huge in comparison to the trunk of any other car from 1971 that is that size -- most of your subcompact non-hatchbacks in the early '70s had maybe 9 cubic-feet of trunk space, at best. And you have that storage space behind the back seat, above the engine -- that adds easily another 2 or 3 cubic feet to the total storage space. For its tiny little sub-compact size, I think it has far more storage space than it should, and should therefore score "cool" in the Utility rating... Just my opinion, though.
I think potential should be a category. With the aftermarket for these cars, performance, style, features can all improve
The Beetle is cool not despite your crap designations but because of them. Also as a previous 72 Super Beetle owner, I wholeheartedly disagree with your utility designation. It is most certainly not crap. I used to fit so much stuff in that car when traveling or moving. There’s the storage area behind the back seat as well as the frunk and that back seat folds down to create more storage space. I’ve fit a whole sturdy mid century desk back there. I’ve had a few friends in there with me driving around and not all of them small. When I drove her cross country to move, I had my cat and all of her accoutrements, a friend and her luggage, all of my clothes (which was a lot), two guitars, a lamp, and some other miscellaneous items and we weren’t crowded. Meep meep! 🤍
Stying? And by the way, my '73 SB is very cool...
Thank you for the very precise review of Volkswagen 1302 Superbettle! I have one here in the Philippines Cebu City. Right-now she is pretty amazing sedan car.
It is serving its purpose! Awesome car because for me it is a car for all seasons and generations!
Can add racks to the roof and the trunk to add more Utility to it. You also omitted the rear parcel shelf. It’s cool either way you look at it.
Very cool my first car paid nine hundred in 1975 only had it five years
why show the rear suspension when talking about the front struts? 3:31
A couple of other good and bad characteristics. I owned this same car in college way back when in California. On the good side: car handled pretty good for vehicles of that vintage; though it has drum brakes all the way around they are huge and given the weight the car would stop fast; by dropping the back seat, and given the height of the interior, I had enough room to move all my personal stuff between home and school every year in one trip; and this car, because of its rear engine would travel farther in snow without chains than most other cars.
On the bad side of the ledger: car doesn't have enough power to climb many freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd which is an issue in California; driving this car on the highway when it is windy is exhausting to the the least along with being buffeted by big rigs. Also heating and defrosting were pretty marginal, especially defrosting.
I loved mine and it never left me stranded but sold it as soon as I could afford something with more power after graduation.
I’ve had my Superbug since 1983 and I’m still driving and loving it. So, I must be cool! And there is no doubt in my mid where the car sits.
It’s cool! Well; look at it. You wouldn’t buy a car like this for the practicality or the fastness anyway...
The motor. Pure crap by modern standards. But don’t forget that sound of a classic Beatle - it makes it all worth it😉
That goes for the other Beatles too, by the way✌️🎼🎸
i have been around VW's since the 60's i also use to work in a shop where they sold parts for them ,i had a 62 kombi for awhile i currently dont drive a VW but would love to own one again
No question that it is cool, not to be confused with safe, comfortable, or fast! Lol With that said I love my '72 with all it's quirks and short comings...
Handling: Dry roads - fair. Wet roads - depending on the condition of the tires, either oversteer or spinning 360's because it is balanced like a hammer when tossed because all of the engine is BEHIND the rear axle. Bridges with ice are fun. Windy days are fun. When bad weather (high winds, snow and more rain) comes you learn to put HEAVY STUFF in the frunk so you can steer.
Been there, done that in the classic Beetle and the Corvair (both gens).
That said, I LOVE THESE CARS. Once you learn their eccentricities, they can be a blast!
A true comment about the Beetle. However, I went electric, and this placed the Beetle as 50/50 balance. Battery Pack in the front has given +30kgs additional load. No twitch on the steering anymore at all. Mine is a '71 Super Beetle.
The spare tire was over pressurized. It had a cut off so that the tire would not deflate. Mom has a ‘55 that lasted over 25 years. Sold it to a friend and he took the engine, modified it and used it in a dune buggy for another 10+ years.
I am highly thinking about buying a super for a daily driver. What are you thoughts on this and what should I spend for something that is not perfect but in great shape?
I bought a '71 Super Beetle in 1972 with 2,000 miles on it. I put 100,000 miles on it. It was a good solid car especially compared to equivalent cars of the day. It was superb in the snow. If you took decent care of it, it took care of you. It was definitely not crap. It was a superb little car for its day.
Trade economy for performance/utility and get yourself a roof rack, dual carbs and a good distributor. Best of all worlds. If it wasn’t a super I’d say Baja it too but...
Nicholas Arceri definitely recommend the roof rack
back in the day it had plenty of power and was very cool. Had a 1971 1302S and would say it was the best beetle i have owned. Had a couple of horses and had to travel 3k up a hilly and winding shingle road few times a week carrying saddles and feed and never let me down on performance or handling and actually got a speeding ticket on a motorway. Others i have owned like a 1961 beetle my first car and then couple of early split windows, 54, and 57.
You dont need a 10 min video to know that a vw beetle is a cool car... The mere fact that it is still being restored after 2k years is a living testament that this is a supercool creation. 🤨
Probably one of the best cars in the snow it's a good surprise that I had
VW advertised that the Beetle would definitely “float” but it won’t “float” indefinitely. I was able to test this out with my ‘73 that had a neck snapping 40 HP. One day after a massive rain I was motoring about and came upon a flooded low spot in the road. The water was flowing across the road. R 2 L. Here’s my chance to test the VW claim. As I drove into the water (deeper than I realized) the car actually began to float - not forward however but sideways. I floored it, the back end squatted down the tires got traction and repeating this a couple times more I soon was on the other side on higher ground. Realizing I only tested the definitely float but not indefinitely once, I turned around and went thru going the other way. Since most challenges are best 2 of 3, I decided to turn around and went thru a 3rd time. I was so proud I had proved my Beetle would definitely float but not indefinitely.
It was a short lived victory, because after my 3rd trip thru the water, I discovered my feet were sitting in 2+ inches of water. It seems every time I accelerated thru the water, the heater boxes were scooping up water and it was forced out of the heat vents along the front drivers and passengers sides thus flooding the interior. Guess I was an early TFL tester in training.
Some things are greater than the sum of their parts...the Beetle is one of them. Any economy car that can drive down a street and cause people to stop what they're doing and smile at you can't help but be cool, especially in this day and age when things that make people smile seem in such short supply.
Chris Freemesser that’s why I love driving mine. Makes people look and smile
Been a ‘72 super beetle owner since 2000 and it will always be cool, as long as you don’t mind Air cooled AC and warming up the car 10 min before driving anywhere. My first car, and I’ll never sell her regardless 😉
It's pretty good for a car whose basic design dates from the 30s Kraft durch Freude Wagen. It should be noted that the British deserve credit for saving VW as it was in the British Zone of Occupation after the war.
My first car was a 1970 super beetle and learned how to drive a stick paid 100.00 for it
I LOVE your videos guys! I've wanted a bug since I was a kid & will one day have one of my own. The Corolla was the best selling car of all times...I had 2 of them & loved them! The simpleness of the mechanics of the Beetle, makes it for a great car to learn on. I grew in the the 80's under the hood of many cars that my brothers had. Enjoy guys! I'm a little jealous LOL
You just made me recognize the value that i have possessing that car!( btw its the same exact pearl white color)! unfortunately i havent given much care to her for the past year, but the two videos i watched really got me emotional. thank you guys! CoolEST car!
good video. the beetle is a flip phone in a smart phone world. no one bought a beetle for options. it was a pure drivers car, no frills just substance. if you want performance by a mercedes.
Very nice video! I own 4 beetles myself a 1962, 1970, 1973 an a 2001
When pointing out the cargo space, you neglected to mention the area behind the rear seat.
Also, people back in the day were not as rotund as as they are today. However, the rear seat passengers had little room for the legs and feet. But the car was created for a family of too 1938-sized people, and two children. Even so, we could cram five teenagers in a Bug and everyone had a blast.
$4k you lucked out big time!! I have the same bug and have spent a fortune repairing everything, rebuilt engine, upholstery, interior coconut insulation replacement, door panels, rebuild fresh air fan(have to remove tank to get it out), fuel fill and vent lines, fuel lines, rubber steering boots, wheel cylinder...... can’t wait to drive the damn thing!!!!!!!! It gets a 10 for cool!!!
It holds its value for resale❤
Cool.
Parts are available and affordable plus easy to maintain diy.
Actually the cool air cooled Volkswagen was the Type 3 which was available in Fastback and Wagon body styles. More storage space and better featured.
I have owned five VW Beetles, from 1968-1972. Four of them were regular Beetles, and they were wonderful. I would love to have another one. One of them was a 1972 Super Beetle, and I had nothing but trouble with it. The front suspension and steering on Super Beetles really is crap. It doesn't work well, mine had a shimmy in it, despite every part being replaced. It is very weak compared to the regular Beetle. The standard Beetle is a tank, the Super Beetle leaves a lot to be desired, all because of the front end. If you want to know what a real Beetle is like, try a standard one. The difference is night and day.
There are compromises with any car. Beetles were everywhere when I was a school kid in the 70s. We had three Beetles, two consecutively, when I was a kid. The Beetle is the coolest compact of them all.
It’s cool always.
I had many beetles in my life.A very cool car and very reliable vehicle.I raised my kids in a beetle.
Bought a new Super Beetle '72...the build quality was pretty abysmal. Interior fell apart within 2 years. But, modified it for better performance, and was fun, for its time. Thanks.
This video reminded me of Family Guy with all the cutaways. 😂
Old Vw cars where made to last,the old beetle is cute too...
That s why they sold so many,A car with character,basic & not much to go wrong...
Happy motoring 😘
My dad has a 1958 bug and bug are just amazing.
So my great grandfather wants me to get this car he owns a red beetle, and I am wondering if it will be a good 1st car because I do not want to be driving the truck I already have now everywhere because it's just really crap on miles
Cool in my book, of course my daily is a '69 beetle!
A car that came out of the Porsche Stable cannot be bad. Take a look at how the Beetle can handle the bad weather. How many cars manufactured today - are resistant to hail damage? Probably none, because the gauge thickness of the metal on modern cars is only half that of a Beetle. Every Beetle made was under strict quality control, in the days - long before before Quality Control was widespread in Industry. It can be driven across a Desert, needs no water for engine cooling. No Timing Belt to break on you! Chop off the roof, the car won't mind! Try doing that with any modern car made today. A car with curves will always win over the majority of men too!! I bought my 1971 Superbug "as an impulse buy" from a car scrapyard - a burnt-out wreck. It was a labor of love to completely restore the Beetle. I am over 70, and the car has become part of the family for the last 17 years. Used daily, it has never let me down. Alpine white, and two-tone leather seats. Other than this, I've kept the car as 'original' as possible. There will always be people who say that these cars are crap. I cannot think of any other car that has such a large following.
In theory, using the air of the spare tire to power the windshield washer may not sound like high tech today. Back when I bought my first new car, a 1973 VW super beetle, it was quite innovative, leave to the Germans to come up with a way to put stale air to good use. In practice, over all the years I owned and drove my Beetle, never, ever did I have a situation where I lost either squirting power or a full spare.
Cool. Every time you stop to fuel up people ask (1974 Beetle) all sorts of questions.
Cool... no question! :)
I had to have a friend step on the brakes when changing a flat....the wheel turned along with the wrench due to no weight up front.
I own a 2001 Volkswagen beetle and it's great...I payed 400$ and love driving it ...it's definitely a cool car ..
Anything more than fetching groceries and the grandparents would use the Chev sedan.
A cool car if you live in Alaska. In winter if the Beetle slides off the road, you just push it back on the road and off you go.
I laughed at the wiper technology so loud, I forgot I'm at work oops 🤭
The Super is pokey, but in the '70s most economy cars were pretty slow. Most of it's competitors were in the 20 second range.
You forgot to add for utility, the back seat back folds down for more storage. I have been driving my 74 Super Beetle for 30 years now. I think it is cool and so do other people. Never a derogatory comment although I hate people calling it "cute".