Is a vintage aircooled Volkswagen Beetle a good daily driver?

[@winstonvillaflor7050]

From Tacloban City, Leyte Island Philippines here. I'm a general surgeon. I have a 2004 VW 3.2 Vr6 Touareg and a restored 1971 super beetle. I daily my vw beetle to work. It has an aircon, petronix ignition and dual solex carbs. It is a reliable daily driver day in and day out. No electromics, computers and other gizmos. Just basic driving machine. Maintenance is very easy. I have been a vw enthusiast since the year 2000. Just sharing.

[@stevecooper7883]

You're a general surgeon with a unique taste in vintage automobiles!

[@ٴ-ق1ت]

my father is an anesthesiologist and has owned 2 bugs in his life he simetimes uses his current '63 bug to work

[@Haziq1992]

its 3.2cc . so much fuel consumption?

[@renealquizola4995]

winstonvilla 15:55 flor, any relatives from Cebu? My first bug was a 1200 model 1972, but sold it. Now, am restoring a 1972 Super 1302...but running, renewed or/cr

[@winstonvillaflor7050]

My paternal great grand father is from Cebu. They migrated to Leyte Island. I'm glad you have an interest in a vw 1302s. For me it is the best beetle ever made. It is bigger, better handling, has a more powerful engine and a sturdy suspension. Once properly restored and maintained. It is a reliable daily driver and will last a long time. Just sharing my experience.

[@histriamagna1014]

It is. I was a proud owner of a 1974 bug for 28 yrs. The best car ever.

[@fflynnful]

In the US northeast, rust would eat them. For me, three of them died of rust. If not for rust, I would still have my first 1967 beetle. :)

[@mdjones905]

I had a 62 VW bug, it had a 36 hp engine. Wonderful car.

[@clockworkdimetrodon1001]

I had a ‘74 I got in ‘90, and drove it in southwest New Mexico for 5 years, and never had a heating issue at all. It also did fine in the mountains in winter. Great car.

[@bigredmed]

Had a 72 SuperBeetle. Got frostbite driving from Central Omaha to Southwest Omaha.

[@d.j.a.c.870]

Did you need heat though?

[@clockworkdimetrodon1001]

@@d.j.a.c.870 a couple of times, and I had a space heater for it, but I was referring to engine overheating issues

[@yurigodoy93]

I know that the Corolla is technically the world's most sold car ever, with more than 50 millions units sold worldwide. But if you look at the top spots in the all time best selling cars ever, you'd see that above the Beetle, every car changed the looks and construction so much that you could argue it's a totally different car, just with the same name. To me that's what made the Beetle so special. Since it's inception in the early 30s, to the last unit sold in Mexico in 2003 (I'm ignoring the New Beetles variations), the car was basically the same. If you showed that last Beetle to a german from the 40s, he still would recognize. But if you show the modern day Corolla to a japanese from the 70s, he probably wouldn't know what car it was. That's why I think the Beetle stands out from other cars. That's why I love it so much. That and the fact that here in Brazil they were produced until the late 90s, I used to see them every time on the road, my neighbour had one... Yeah, I love this little car.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

Absolutely. The first Corolla was a pushrod longitudinally mounted 4 driving the rear wheels. Since then, they've evolved into all number of variations that have no resemblance to the original. The VW Beetle started life as it finished it, a refinement of a theme and nothing more.

[@bigears4014]

By name , not the same car

[@cintroberts6614]

I still drive mine daily except in the dead of the summer. 1967 beetle and it runs great. It costs very little to keep it going and I can rebuild the engine in a weekend. It gets almost 30 mpg and $11 a month for insurance. A tune up is less than $20 dollars and tires are really inexpensive. I have been driving since 1977 and I refuse to sell it. Keep a gel battery in it and you will not have rust issues. My battery tray still shines like new.

[@martinharris5017]

I use a stainless steel battery tray over the floorpan. No rust there either :)

[@thrivecraft52]

I have kept several Classic Beetles in different times but there is one which my father bought 30 years ago and I still have it. It was my fathers first car and now it is my daily. I can bet anyone, that I will take it were ever you say but it won't quit. I drove it in all weathers including heavy rain as well as crossed many flooded paths in it with almost upto 3 feet water and the car didnt even misfire. It is running on its original motor just refreshed it one and it rides like a dream. It was parked for 2 years because I was out of country and when I came back I just filled it up with petrol and it started right up. My opinion is that these cars are great and will never leave you stranded on a roadside.

[@davidgrisez]

I was born in 1951 and the Volkswagen Beetle was my father's favorite car. He owned both a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle. I learned to drive the 1965 Volkswagen Beetle.

[@SirDrifto]

Great car to learn on

[@AndyGrouch]

Our family had a Beetle when I was very young. That sound when you open the front hood brings so much memories.

[@ThriftMachine]

Putting a Brazilian seal on the front trunk is slightly thicker and seals far better. So going down the road you don't get cold air intrusion. Keeps it warmer inside Getting an oil filter relocation adapter kit helps get you an extra roughly 1 extra quart of oil. These simple to install and make it more comfortable and reliable

[@SirDrifto]

I need this fix currently being in the winter 😩

[@2cartalkers]

And you need that in the summer in Yucca Valley, Ca

[@scottgriffin2005]

Perfect!

[@dalemaloney5803]

😂 the Brazilian is thicker

[@bunning63]

And the Brazilian seal quite likely will fall apart after one year.

[@michaelconverse5127]

I’ve had quite a few of these and still have several. I had one as a true daily driver from 2002-2015. Year round. Street parked. It brought me from Chicago to Arizona when I lived there and back to Chicago when I moved back. I took it on off road trails In the desert and through the snow in the Midwest. It took me everywhere for 13 years and saw some extremely hard miles. I did have some repairs along the way but not once did it leave me stranded. I bought it with 35,000 miles on it and sold it with over 145,000 on the original engine. I bought it for $3200 and sold it for the same ! I added an Espar gas heater which I highly recommend if you daily these in the cold. Air cooled VWs are some of the best and most reliable cars you can buy if you buy them in good shape or put them in good shape. The issues come when cheap parts are utilized or the work isn’t done correctly.

[@SirDrifto]

Awesome!

[@BillySBC]

Safety is the big issue with this cars, safety and speed. Any kind of a real hit in a classic Beetle and your chances of walking away from it are not good. Trying to keep up with modern traffic going 75 to 80 mph isn't really possible without engine and transmission mods, they're slow right-line traffic cars, which is okay so long as you know that and don't mind people blowing horns at you.

[@hb-3462]

I drove a '68 bug for 12 years, bought it in 1973, the gas crisis year.

[@scrambaba]

My mom, single with 4 kids in the 70s, owned a 71 Super Beetle which was the crappiest lemon I ever saw. She worked for minimum wage and was mercilessly taken advantage of by the dealership which was a den of thieves. In 1976 she finally got rid of it and bought a Honda Civic which was pure gold. I would never recommend a Beetle for any purpose unless you were handy enough to do the work yourself.

[@michaelconverse5127]

@@BillySBC that’s true of virtually any vintage car. A late 60s onward Beetle should be perfectly capable of doing 70 easily though.

[@ABosch-lg2pr]

I purchased mine with 300,000 miles on it and drove it all over the United States and Canada. When I got back from the adventures I continued to drive it as my daily driver. I sold it for what I paid for it with 420,000 miles on it. The only issue it ever had was a sometimes stuck solenoid that you would have to whack gently with a hammer to get started. I still miss that car decades later.

[@guillermopalacios959]

Maravilloso carro, es un fiel compañero,tengo uno 1975,desde nuevo, y a los 48 años es el mejor auto de la familia,saludos desde .Mexico

[@southhillfarm2795]

I had a 1969 made in Mexico. High back front seats, black exterior, black interior. Had a gas heater since I lived in Winnipeg. Worked great.

[@AH-yg2dj]

Little history lesson, the last vw beetle ever produced was built in 2003 in the Volkswagen’s Puebla (Mexico) factory. Then it was shipped across the ocean to the Volkswagen museum at Wolfsburg, where it is kept until today.

[@SirDrifto]

Wow that's amazing

[@danielsellers8707]

20 years ago today!

[@jackprick9797]

I read that on wikipedia. The last one was nicknamed, El Rey, or the King and was serenaded by Mariachi as it came off the assembly line. VW made 21,5529,464 beetles.

[@Pamlicojdjdj1487]

You could legally import a Mexican made 2000’s Beetle (Vochos as they are affectionately called in Mexico) starting next year in 2025.

[@dennisvangemst8714]

I am using my 1983 mexico beetle as a daily driver, 1200 engine, for 6 years now. Is has very little comfort, but I am still happy with it, it gives people a smile on their face when I drive by. If you are handy, it's very cheap in maintenance.

[@SirDrifto]

Very cool!

[@AetHrium-pf4fn]

lol, thats not a real beetle just crap

[@deafbyhiphop]

@@AetHrium-pf4fndefine a ‘real’ beetle

[@AetHrium-pf4fn]

@@deafbyhiphop 65 or below oval or split window. all other are just golf tbh

[@msbigdog1460]

You're exactly right, people smile and point, honk their horns or give a 👍when I take mine for a drive. Kids get a real kick seeing it. 😂

[@ByronTexas]

The spare tire pressurizing the windshield washer fluid is worth buying one!

[@fflynnful]

That was a clever idea. I had that in my '67 beetle. Just keep an eye on the spare tire inflation and it's all good.

[@redsorgum]

Over 21 million sold, it answers itself. By the way, my 66 beetle is my daily driver/ work truck.😘✌️

[@SirDrifto]

Awesome.

[@georgschuster8895]

You are the first American i‘ve ever heard spelling Porsche the correct way. Greetings from Germany and thanks for the great content ❤

[@SirDrifto]

Thank you! though in my early years I use to stay porche 😆

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I'm American, and I always spell it correctly. How do some of my countrymen try to spell it?

[@georgschuster8895]

@@michaelbenardo5695 they say „Porsh“ without an „e“ at the end. The letters „sch“ in German together are spelled like „sh“ in English . If you want to become a pro spell the „V“ in Volkswagen like an English „F“ 😄 have a nice Weekend!

[@d.j.a.c.870]

Um, isn't Sir Drifto Canadian?

[@ApertureAppliedScience]

“North American” and pronounced correctly not “spelled” correctly. Lost in translation.

[@highwayman1218]

Had 68 and 69 Cal Bugs as a driving kid in the mid 80s. Still love AC VWs to this day. I love seeing them being kept and loved today Great job!

[@SirDrifto]

Very cool!

[@thecuss6817]

I bought my 1970 VW sedan in late 1972, and my 1971 VW Convertible in 1976, and still have both. Both run and are registered and insured.

[@gregcrabb3497]

I wanted one when I turned 16 and tried every way in the world to convince my parents and grandparents to find me one but the latter wouldn't hear if it (they were paying for half so they did have some say so). But when I turned 30, I bought myself a brand new New Beetle TDI. Yeah I know it isn't the same but I still love it 22 years and 330,000 miles later. It's the most reliable car I've ever owned and believe me I've owned many. I still want an old one or a Karmann Ghia though ( or an old Porsche 911).

[@ambienteterrazas]

I've had a few and i daily drove air cooled beetles thru high school and a few years afterwards, ive had on and off since then and even about a year and a half ago i bought a 2003 in really good shape but i had to sell it because of my back pain (i was just recovering so driving stick was a stupid idea) I definitely will buy another one for driving on weekends and short distance roadtrips. There is something so special about owning and driving an air cooled bug, the sense of freedom, the simplicty, the driving experience is just you and the wide open road. I know its silly but i really like them.

[@mrjoshua6979]

I had a 73 super beetle in late 90s and was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned to date. Definitely one of the cars I regret getting rid of

[@ronald8792]

I have the same bug (71' beetle) and it's been a love/hate relationship. I like it because I can run my errands in it and parking is pretty easy, It's also good on gas compared to my work truck. I hate it because it wont stay problem free for very long, my phone gets lost in it, I have to watch the cars behind me more than the cars in front of me and people always pull out in front of me.

[@SirDrifto]

I know the feeling 🤣

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Won't stay problem free for long? I'm not a VW freak, but they are VERY reliable.

[@Dj.Ray.Von.]

I'm not sure what I'm more jealous about... The bug and doggo.. or that beautiful backdrop!! Snow, big blue sky and mountains in the distance!!! 😍😍. I'm going with equal amounts of jealousy for now !

[@seanwashere]

my 1971 bus, 1600cc, has been my daily driver since 2016. Also just took it on a 10k roadtrip around the country!

[@davidgrason161]

I've driven these Type 1 VWs many years and even drag raced one back in the early 1980s.I love these cars. They just have so much personality that has been completely lost with all the new cars on the roads that look like angry fish. Also, I used to ride an old Shovelhead Harley and I feel that The VW has some things in common. The Shovel could be finicky at times and was behind the times being a 4 speed when all the metric bikes were 5 speeds. I used to say the exact same thing about my VWs and my Shovelhead. You LEARN TO LOVE THEM for what they are. I say enjoy the personality and don't look back. BTW, I think Nugget is good as gold. That is a really sweet dog.

[@vayabroder729]

Love your analogy of new cars to angry fish; you are absolutely right!!

[@patriot692]

I think Nugget wanted to drive! 🤤🙄🇺🇸

[@jadams3427]

'Good to have such a calm co-driver ! Nice video. Thanks !

[@miket3509]

Actually it is a dual port engine. You can see the rubber sleeves(boots) connecting the end castings to the center section. So you have 60 wild horses there. Very nice example of a Beetle.

[@justinanderson1727]

Yep dual port for sure. You win🎉

[@jeanborsoi662]

I used a 86 Sedan, swapped to a 1584cc turbo wirth Fueltech ecu, Daily with 150whp, for 3 years, what a happiness! Miss the a/ c and heater of modern cars, but the fast way it moves, makes worth!

[@SirDrifto]

That sounds fun!

[@vayabroder729]

‘86 Mexican?

[@michaelconverse5127]

You can add an Espar gas heater and a/c from companies like Gilmore or ICE.

[@jeanborsoi662]

@@vayabroder729 Brazilian model. Small rear window, big rounded tail lights, is called down here, Fusca 1300, 1500 and 1600. Not sure, from 1979 till 1986 (nick name “Fafá”) 1993 to 1996 as a 2nd edition (nick name “Itamar”

[@edwardcnnell2853]

I had one, I believe a 1974. Great reliable car that had it's quirks. Did not lend itself well to air conditioning. In summer open windows kept your kept you cool except from the waist down there was no air circulation so you had an odd sweat pattern of wet below the waist. In winter the heater vent on the floor heated the leather on your left shoe to really hot so you had to be careful where you put your foot. Great in snow and only failed to proceed one time when the snow was over the bumper. The windshield washer fluid had no pump and ran off sir pressure with a hose from the spare tie. If your windshield washer did not work refill the spare tire. If you got shaking from the front suspension then replace the horizontal shock absorber that kept the front end steady. Easy job. Greasing the front suspension was easy. Some zerk fittings were hard to reach but no problem. Under the spare tire were access plates so you could grease all the fittings without jacking up the car. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles was a must and when you did that you HAD to adjust the valves. If you do not keep them adjusted they tend to stay open too long and the exhaust valves can burn out. Valve adjustment is very easy. Slip under the rear of the car, no jack needed to raise the car. The valve covers are held on with spring clips and released by hand, no tools needed. Adjust the valves with just a box wrench and screw driver and feeler gauge. Takes maybe 10 minutes. To keep your old bug going find a copy to the classic beetle book “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive : A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Complete Idiot”.

[@luizstephan2528]

58hp? You may Consider yourself a muscle beetle.. mine is a 1.3l with 46 HP! Though its a 1976, its still in The Famíly and running very smooth. Yes, like a corolla, these Will run forever. Not telling my other Daily driver ('06 corolla). Congrats on the car!

[@johnorangers5820]

I believe your car is a 1970 and not 1971. The '71 was the first year for flow-through ventilation, which was visible by the crescent shaped vents behind the rear quarter windows. Also your engine decklid isn't correct for the 70-71 era. They only had two vents; 4 was only on the convertible in that period. the 4 vent deck lid started in '72. It appears the front seats have aftermarket seat covers on them. In 1970 there would have been two buttons in the headrests. Also, the 1970 engine was a single port. I cant tell from your camera angles but I think that's what's in it. But it has all the markings of a 70 model. I'd also recommend getting rid of the aftermarket air cleaner and replacing it with the stock oil bath cleaner. It will run quieter and it has a thermostat in it so it will run smoother as well. If you look down at the engine tin, the heat risers are blocked off. Those are important for the carburetor to work correctly. You mentioned the heat. That's a myth; these cars when in optimal condition have very good heat. Check your thermostat for one, and the heat exchanger system matters. Aftermarket ones have less fin count. Real ones work great.

[@nejdro1]

I bought a new 1963 VW in Germany and drove 30K around Europe before bringing it home to Chicago. After one winter in Chicago, I WANTED A HEATER! the VW heater will drive you out of the car on the highway, but around town you will freeze to death. VW drivers would constantly be driving in a lower gear just to keep the motor driven fan blowing air through the heat exchangers into the interior.

[@bobbysnow5478]

Thanks for the video! 67 daily driver since 1984…beach car…seldom out of 3rd gear…no hwy driving..replaced all the parts on the car multiple times.

[@SirDrifto]

Thanks for watching

[@wiesshund-games]

Just a heads up, Beetles had heaters. Most people wound up not buying them, but you could get an Esparcher heater for them installed at the dealer, and turn the interior to 95 degrees when it is below zero outside. i drove one for years through many winters, warm and toasty and no frosted windows. A 914 5-speed tranny is a nice addition also

[@SirDrifto]

Great tips 👌

[@dwalker399]

@@SirDrifto If you want 5 speeds in reverse! Think about it. The transmission is mounted behind the engine in a 914. And the engine in a 914 spins clockwise like a beetle.

[@eugenedabs6817]

@@dwalker399You can flip the ring gear, but thats the least of the problems in using a side shift 914 transmission. A 912 or even 911 transmission is a more expensive but easier conversion. Or get a Berg 5 speed conversion. I guess. Not really needed. The rpm in 4th is what is needed to cool the engine. Less RPM, less cooling.

[@justingray3456]

Run a Berg 5 speed, they are the best.

[@wiesshund-games]

@@dwalker399 no You just flip the ring and pinion. Then swap the nose cone and shift lever. It's been done many times before.

[@Ramcharger85]

I love these cars. My mom had a 74 VW Bug, and it's my dream to own one, too. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@dlittlester]

I had three of these. The best was a 1967 Deluxe with 1500 engine, and all 12 Volt system. It had about 20,000 miles on it when I bought it, and around 150,000 when I sold it to a guy who drove the crap out of it. Shortly after I bought it, I had to have a valve job on it. The previous owner didn't realize the valves had to be mechanically adjusted. I had to replace the oil cooler seals, and that was it. At the time I lived in eastern Ontario, and had to commute a half hour every day to work. Within a few minutes, in the middle of the winter, I had to turn down the heat. It would burn people's heals if they were sitting in the back seat.

[@ted4ps581]

I commuted in my '62 Beetle for 17 yrs. All I did was tires, batteries, and tuneups. Never a problem nor issue.

[@mundanestuff]

My brother had an old one all through the 80s, daily driver. Winter was absolutely amazing in it. Narrow wheels bit deep into the snow, rear wheel drive made it a drifting machine, e-break, and if the heat exchangers are clean, the heat wasn't terrible if it was allowed to warm up. It was beige or tan, and the biggest threat to the car was rust. He did switch it to 12V and put new lights in it, so lights were super bright. He swapped out the taillights for some (allegedly) special bulbs IIRC, that made the tail more visible. He foolishly sold it to a kid we knew who promptly rolled it drifting it into the parking lot of the school, rolled into a ditch and bent the body.

[@SirDrifto]

Wow sounds like it was his daily 🤙

[@picklerix6162]

My buddy had an old beetle and the heater worked quite well during the winter.

[@vayabroder729]

You can use as a daily under certain conditions and especially not on the interstate with the careless drivers. If you drive it regularly and maintain it it will be great. Also, try to keep them away from rain and snow if you want them to last. And don’t lug the engine; they need to be driven at sane rpms, not too little and not too much either.

[@SDsailor7]

Well then the people that don't have a garage are out of luck and their big is gonna die sooner.

[@vayabroder729]

@@SDsailor7 Exactly; as it applies basically to all cars but more so to old cars. Maybe getting a really good and waterproof cover on those cases can help.

[@bloqk16]

@vayabroder729 . . . Your expressed my sentiments when I saw this video appear on the recommended list. As I was clicking on it, I was going to make similar comments. Today's [US] interstate highway speeds would stress the VW flat-four air-cooled engine, as I speak from experience in my youth having driven a '67 Beetle [the car was in my parents name]. At the time the national speed limit [US] on freeways/interstates was 55 mph [89 km/h], which was the _sweet spot_ for the motoring speed with that '67 Beetle. Pushing that engine to prolonged paces of 70 ~ 75 mph in todays interstates, especially in warm weather, you're looking at burning the exhaust valve in the number-3 cylinder. That burnt engine valve gives the air-cooled flat-four that distinctive _chug_ exhaust note. When going up road grades at highway speeds, don't expect to maintain the posted highway speed, and anticipate to shift down to a lower gear and keep the engine from lugging; meaning to drive at a slower speed. Ah! When it comes to moisture protection: The sheet-metal floor-pan of the Beetle model is the backbone of the vehicle's chassis. Issues of corrosion with that sheet-metal floor-pan can doom the vehicle. Even in the mild California climate, the Beetle I drove was outdoors 24/7, subjected to the rainy seasonal weather, with the pavement's moisture keeping that floor-pan damp for months out of the year. A car cover would not have kept away the moisture that evaporated from the pavement when the vehicle was parked. I had a hazardous issue arising from the weakness of that floor-pan due to corrosion: The pedals assembly of the throttle/brake/clutch is anchored via a bolt to the sheet-metal floor-pan. In 1974, that pedal assembly collapsed due to the sheet metal giving way with that anchor bolt. Fortunately, I was out on a country road when it happened and was able to safely bring the Beetle to a stop. I had the Beetle towed to a repair garage, where they used a piece of plate steel with a drilled hole to act as a retaining plate, to the floor-pan, to remount the pedals assembly with a new and slightly longer anchor bolt, and nut.

[@boyracer3477]

That's just ridiculous. I've driven tens of thousands of mile on the freeway in LA in a bug. No worries. Keep away from snow and rain? That's just moronic. This isn't a fragile vehicle. They are as tough as nails. I don't know where this clown "learned" about bugs, but it is all Bull.

[@manangbastos]

i was 16 when i found my neighbor was selling a racing vw beetle (unsure of the year), never got to buying it as my first car due to parents hounding me to get a newer car lol. now as an adult, i’ve been thinking of getting one. ty for the info!

[@blastermaster5039]

I remember my Dad driving my family around in this and although its hot, its still kind of cool and somewhat spacious for its size.

[@OldBiker54]

in 1974 I had a 1972 VW drove it back and forth from Ft Bragg,NC to Boston Ma once a month when I got 3 day pass

[@VanaConn]

Easy and generally a joy to work on. Simple but no substantial safety equipment or luxuries. I own a 57 bug and owned many more prior

[@SirDrifto]

Very nice 👌

[@anna9072]

Yes. A ‘67 Volkswagen was my daily driver from 1978 to somewhere in the early ’90s. It was a sturdy, reliable, low-maintenance vehicle that I could repair myself much of the time, I really loved that car and I’ve always regretted selling it.

[@lvlikeyV]

I bought a 71 super beetle a year ago with plans of doing a complete restoration. I've got the body off and chassis completely rebuilt. Just need to finish up some body work and paint and I can start the process of reassembly. I've never driven a beetle in my life and was a little skeptical of top speed and whether or not I could take it on the highway. From the looks of the video, I should have no problems doing so. Great video man!

[@cisium1184]

I drove one for ten years. Loved it. I used to change the oil every 2000 miles, just because I kinda enjoyed doing it. Drove it from Atlanta to New Orleans three or four times, Atlanta to Jackson, MS about a dozen times, Atlanta to Savannah once or twice every summer. Sold it to go hiking, should've stored it and kept it.

[@MrGchiasson]

In the 60's early 70's..a friend's father had a Beetle. Drove it everywhere! It was classic.

[@stevedaley2734]

I n. 74_75 I had a 74 Beetle that i drove back and forth across the country multiple times. It was great, never thought twice about it at the time.

[@garandm1d]

... another positive reason to have them is that 1) you don't need an overhead lift to essentially take it down to the frame & rebuild it from the ground up. A set of hand tools, voltmeter, jack stands and 1 or 2 floor jacks will get you by nicely. 2) tech support..when something happens, a Robert Bentley manual will pay for itself many times over.... everything and anything is displayed , illustrated and explained in a very logical manner. I don't know of many other vehicles which have a repair / maintenance manual as well written. Great video 👍

[@soilmanted]

Had a 68 beetle w the single port cylinder heads. NO problem with the heater. Car has very robust heating system except for the flaps in the heat exchange boxes, which need occasional lubrication with ordinary motor oil, and the cables that operate flaps. People often connect the cables improperly or adjust them improperly. They neglect to attach the ducts that carry air properly. Because the engine is air cooled, the hot air that comes into the car (from under the back seat) is both hotter, and coming in at higher volume, than the hot air on any car with a water-cooled engine. The engine warms up very rapidly (providing no-one decided that removing the thermostat is a good idea (it is not). The same air used to cool the engine is used to heat the passenger cabin. After it cools the engine, it is _really really_ hot. Now if some of the sheet metal and some of the rubber gasket that surrounds the engine, is not in place - the engine won't get well-cooled and the cabin won't get well-heated. Sometime people neglect to make sure the sheet metal and the gaskets are in place. If they are not in place, instead of entering the cabin, or exiting though the air duct below the cylinders and cylinder heads, it come back into the engine compartment. You have to make sure that stuff is in place. I've seen so many of these cars where someone has neglected to do that - so of course the cabin doesn't get heat. Otherwise - this was the quickest to warm up and warmest car I have ever owned. From personal experience, NO problem in ambient temperatures below -20 deg Celsius (-4 deg F). NO problem. My 1968 new from the factory had synchromesh in all 4 gears. I could easily go from second gear to first without rev matching. Although it was only necessary. when going up a steep incline. On a level surface, as long as the car was rolling along at all, as long as it was not at a dead stop, I could accelerate the car, without lugging the engine, in second gear.

[@jimcastillo8950]

Hello, I had borrowed my aunts vw and went to a Drive In to watch a movie, that tells you how old I am lol...... anyhow the generator light came on and I had a busted belt. Well on most cars that would tell you your battery is not going to charge. But,,,, by the time I got home ( 10 miles) I had smoke coming out of the engine, thats when I learn my lesson that the belt is connected to the generator or alternator and the BLOWER..... which cools the engine. I did help on rebuilding the engine. I do like vw cars......

[@porticojunction]

Love those death traps. I daily drove a 48hp Beetle commuting in Cleveland in the early 2000s. Aggressive, deliberate and to the floor gets the job done. The owners manual said top speed 72 and it would do it. The Shoreway and Dead Man's Curve at 7am in the winter was brutal. You are greatly outclassed by every Rio and Sentra.

[@eraummenino3011]

I dally drive a 1982 Volkswagen Gol, no not a Golf a Gol, the Gol was a Brazilian designed sub compact hatch made on the B1 platform, early Gols like mine used a front mounted air cooled boxer, I could not be happier with my car, takes me every were, super reliable and super easy to maintain by your self, the Gol engine has some changes tho, because of the front engine, VW of Brasil developed a completely different cooling fan for it, allegedly in partnership with Porsche ( it is a very similar system to an early 911), mine in particular is a single por 1600 with double carburetors

[@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244]

I had one just like this one for eleven years, a sky-blue 1970. Great car; I went everywhere in it including Death Valley. These cars handle really well. I used to race mine over Mt. Tamalpius in Marin County. it could keep up with Porches.

[@rickyershey-sl8cm]

Drove a 73 beetle for 12 years even from Indiana to Colorado and back and it never ever failed me once.

[@nicholaswoodward8191]

I miss mine was my first car back in the 80s. I live in South Africa and back in the bad old days we had to do national service. I remember many many trips between the Military base in Hoedspruit and my parents home in Jhb. What was cool was that although they break down more often than Britney Spears they are pretty easy to fix. also full of character, They are just fun little cars

[@vintagegirl1961]

My 1965 is my daily driver since I moved to AZ from NY in 2008. I had my "Lady" since 1995 back in NY. She was my show car and Sunday driver then. I donated my daily driver, a 1980 Cutlass Supreme to a family that collects olds and chose the beetle for Arizona due to the heat. I miss the Olds a lot. My Lady bug is a lot of fun!!!

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

super cool, thanks for the vid - I came home from the hospital and learned to drive on the same 1970 Beetle. Super functional little rig, but from a modern standpoint has some downsides, 1. spews pollution, 2) has absolutely terrible HVAC/defroster (bring a towel) and 3) if you get hit by some moron in a Tahoe not paying attention you are toast.

[@calescapee9642]

I`ve Been around VWs all my life. They make excellent daily drivers.

[@kcrr2w]

I drove a 74 VW Thing in college in early 90's. I delivered pizzas and work at ski resorts. The Thing ran like a champ! I wish they cam with A/C option.

[@DoctorWonka]

I drove VW Bugs for many years. We had 1953 to 1973. They ARE high maintenance. But the maintenance is pretty easy and cheap. So I think they were well worth it. They were cool 👍🏼

[@Tackytiger74]

I bought my 1973 1303s back in 1989. Drove it everywhere for 5 years, then garaged it whilst I pursued something more sporty - A Mk2 Golf GTI Oak Green Campaign model. Fast forward 30 years and the Beetle is fully restored and back on the road as my daily driver and the GTI is an occasional drive now awaiting its restoration. Ive had all manner of flashy top of the range cars over the years - but now I just crave simplicity...

[@kevinanderson1096]

Always wanted a Beetle and still want one. I owened a couple of buses, a 68 and 72. Omg I miss them

[@Rottingboards]

Not only is it a great daily driver it also does the following: 1) Makes you smile as you approach it in the parking lot. 2) Causes fathers to hit their children...Slug bug 3) Causes whole school buses to smile and go into a slugfest. 4) Will make old men talk to you for hours at the gas station. 5) Will get the peace symbol throughout the day. 5) Will make your turn around and look at her as you walk through the parking lot.

[@tomtomek2642]

I drive a Vw 1985 beetle it’s my winter car is the best ,it’s my Vocho 😊😊😊😊

[@SirDrifto]

Awesome, they are great in the snow

[@peterhehn9511]

Next year will mark 39 years that I have my 79 Beetle Convertible! My first car. Also have a 996 but still not as fun as a bug !

[@Antarath]

I bought a german '69 this summer and I love every inch of it. The only thing that's not original is the engine, but that does not bother me. It's a newer EMPI 1600. The car has been treated for decades with a corrosion protection called Tectyl. The paint is nearly flawless except for a few tiny stone chips. No rust anywhere. .. and that classic beetle smell. I love it!

[@corrosionoc69]

Loved my '74 beetle

[@prawnstar9213]

I owned a 1967 beetle 1600 and it was not a highway warrior.. it would go 80 downhill tops.. I lived in sf at the time and would take it to my parents place in Redwood City. Anytime you would go uphill on a highway it would slow down to 60-65..California Bay Area people drive 80 mph and over. The speed limit was 80. So, I would have to drive slow lane and would be pumping my body to try to get it to go faster uphill. Ha. Bugs now cost an insane amount. The parts are insane expensive. But I did LOVE that bug.. had saved it from a yard in Berkeley CA where it was rotting. I fell through the floor.. but had a new floor welded in, had it repainted and had a whole new interior kit put in, and got a new fuel pump for a total of $6500 in 2003. After rotting in that yard for 6 years without being started.. All the engine needed was a fuel pump and a belt. It was incredible to me. People used to drive bugs to Tahoe and just put some chains on.. it was common. In alaska, during the 1970s they preferred vwnbusses and bugs because they could be buried in feet of snow and still start up. It’s not a highway warrior for the 21st century.. but they are still adorable!

[@rayschoch5882]

Decades ago, I drove one for several years. I was a little skeptical when I first got it, but it won me over. Power? No. It was just a low-cost, relatively efficient grocery-getter and commuter vehicle. Relatively low maintenance, fairly comfortable to drive or ride in. No bells and whistles by modern standards, but that was OK.

[@freemarketjoe9869]

I remember back in 1970 my grandmother and grandfather toured the country in one. They were in their 80s. They broke down in Death Valley. He was a Forman in a steel mill, making cast iron castings all his life, so he was a tough old guy. I had a chance to buy a 1951 in Seattle back in 82, but couldn't afford the 1000.00 asking price, mint condition, blacked out everything, including hubs and emblem, just cream-colored seats and headliner, gas heater under the dash, instructions in German, split rear window, in kilometers. God, I wanted that car so bad. Even then, I knew it was something special, built out of the wreckage of bombed out Stuttgart, right after the war. On the test drive, the rear wheels kicked out on a sharp corner. "You've got to watch that" was all the guy selling it said.

[@iridiumscribe4915]

You're not wrong there, my grandfather had a beetle in red since he came home from Vietnam, my father had one when I was growing up in the 90s. My uncle even had one, from what I remember. Last time I was in one was with this girl I knew from my church. She had a sky blue one and offered to take me home and after I saw she had a Beetle, I was super happy. Now I'm looking into getting one myself. But the price tags here are quite expensive now. I hope to find one myself to daily drive.

[@neondragonplayz542]

My late Grand Dad had one in 80s have a distinct smell which is hard to fing Missed him and the car.

[@Chance-ry1hq]

I had a 73 Super Beetle in college. I’m 6’4”. Great car. My girlfriend thought it was a little race car. She was always borrowing it, and racing around town in it.

[@bon2198]

I restored a 1970 beetle. Put in a 1776 Mofoco engine with dual dells. Hydraulic lifters and cam and tapped the block for a true oil filter. Was the perfect daily driver.

[@RyansuBike]

A 1974 Standard beetle was my daily driver for my first out of college Job in 1986 it did fine althought it was a bit rough in winter as the car would warm up right at the end of my 20 mile commute lol. the only issue I really had was a blown engine on my way in one morning. but I got it rebuilt and drove it a few more years.

[@steveschramko2386]

I commuted daily a distance to 60 miles for 30 years in my VW. During this time, I learned much: 1) The VW was the BEST car for this job! 2) Keep the car pretty much stock...no blown engines, lowered suspensions etc. no funny stuff. 3) You MUST push the car NO FASTER than its intended speed...55 to 60 MPH. Driving the car faster than this with the standard transmission and rear end will cause the car to overheat, leading to premature failure and much additional expense. 4) I installed a VDO oil pressure and an oil temperature gauge. I learned much about the operation of the car from this data (when oil temperature increases, oil pressure decreases). Since these two variables are the lifeblood of an air cooled engine, they must be constantly monitored. 5) In your area especially, cover the car at night with 6 mil plastic sheathing. 6) Valve adjustments and oil changes at the recommended intervals are de rigeur. 7) Sound proofing the car is a good idea (to preserve your hearing). My recommendation...DynaPad, the thicker the better, maybe even layers of this, especially on the parcel shelf. 8) ALWAYS carry a FIRE EXTINGUISHER under the driver's seat (this saved my car on several occasions !). 9) And yes, run straight 30 weight oil especially in the summertime. Add some zinc or the equivalent for good measure. That's about it. Good luck !

[@chlyon]

Id recommend removing the front spare wheel from the beetle , I smashed my beetle into a mob of sheep at 70 MPH in the middle of the night , I didn't have the spare in the car and this allowed the front void to coplase and for the car to absorb the impact and ride up on the 23 sheep ,rather than the spare acting as a ramp for the sheep to head towards the windscreen .

[@Bearthedancingman]

Small upgrades are available to aid in livability: *Oil filter mod. Adds a part to the engine that uses a modern oil filter. *Disc brakes upgrade. Expensive, but worth the cost. You can even get an anti-lock module for extra $$. *Semi truck sleeper heater (runs on gasoline from the fuel tank or are also available to run on diesel, CNG or propane.) They're small but very warm little heaters. And the only power is two fans and a fuel pump. *Semi truck cab fans for defrost and air circulation. *Double belt pulley. Reduce the chance of losing the blower with a double belt pulley. *Replace the 30amp alternator with a 95amp alternator. (If your engine is stock, go for the 55amp so it doesn't use too much power) This helps provide power for cell phone chargers, the little heater I mentioned above, fans, brighter headlights, and even a couple of those little 200watt dashboard heaters for wintertime defrost. *Brighter lights. Also available as LED low energy. (Headlights, taillights & turn signals) ... Less common(as in, expensive) upgrades include: *Hydraulic lifters. No need to adjust anymore. *Digital throttle body. Can be tuned to increase power AND fuel efficiency. (But adds a computer to an analog car which is a bit of an abomination lol)

[@SirDrifto]

Great upgrade points

[@vayabroder729]

The oil filter addition is most recommended and front disc brakes are also a welcome addition.

[@SirDrifto]

@@vayabroder729 I'll have to remember that!

[@brianchisnell1548]

No filter needed. Disc brakes not needed. A 1600 pound car.

[@Bearthedancingman]

@@brianchisnell1548 I agree, none are needed. This is just a list of optional upgrades.

[@b.snoodleman5864]

I had a couple VW bugs and a Meyers Manx years ago and in stock form I would tell everyone they are very reliable until the day you blow the engine up and if you plan on keeping up with the average speed of traffic it will blow up one day. As long as you do the work yourself there are some relatively affordable modifications that will make them pretty much bullet proof. 1) big bore kit 2) dual port heads 3) case savers 4) big oil pump 5) 8-10 qt dry sump oil system with large oil filter 6) ditch stock oil cooler and replace with one large or two medium sized oil cooler out side engine compartment 7) 3rd and 4th gear gear kit for highway cruise. do those things and they are fun and will not let you down.

[@my1vice]

"58hp?! What are you, some kinda hotrod?" -- 2CV driver

[@bugnut82]

I got a laugh out of that one! What hp does your little ride have, like 25 or something?

[@TheMarmaduke1975]

My parents had a 69 beetle, i had it when i got my drivers license in 76, drove it all over province. The gas fired heater worked but it wasn't any good when got to -20 windows frosted bad. So happy to buy a mopar .

[@michaeltetzner5847]

Is it a good daily driver ? Of course it is. It will take you from point A to point B reliably. Will it be fast ? No. Will it be comfortable ? Not really.. But it will get you there. I went to college in Germany, for 4 years it took me to school and back, as well as lots of other places.

[@thedubwhisperer2157]

It will get you places in mud and snow that would leave many cars stranded!

[@leogeee1]

I had a 68 and a 73 VW Bug. They're great daily drivers. Watch out for rusty heater cores and running boards. I'd take one in a minute if I thought there would be a mechanic nearby who could work on them.❤️

[@colinchung9722]

just work on them yourself

[@manchesterexplorer8519]

Any mechanic can work on a Bug as it doesn't get much easier .

[@MMAfighter38113]

@@manchesterexplorer8519 There are actually mechanics in my city who can’t do a valve adjustment. There are about only 2 foreign car mechanics I know of who are willing to work on air cooled Beetles

[@charlesfritz7327]

I love the lines. The designer must have been a real artist and dreamer.

[@Pamlicojdjdj1487]

It was designed by Ferdinand Porsche himself

[@jeffreyvasby3230]

I bought a German beetle from my Sgt back in 1979-80, he had a 1963 convertible. His was "the gray ghost"👻 mine was "Cherry"🍒. I got mine from his Uncle who was a Major in the Air Force. After Vietnam the Major was sent to Germany. He took all the id tags,plates and title, off his rotted 1969 beetle in Maryland. While he finished his 30 years in the Air Force, then retired. He bought a 69 Bug in Germany and swapped all the necessary numbers. He had connections, which allowed him to get it to America. When I got it, when the driver floor opened. The floor pan dropped in front, to the ground. heater channel and pan was rusted out. I tied the pedals up with speaker wire and drove it that way for a week. No worries because I borrowed a couple of mom's old cookie sheets and used roof cement for a temporary fix🤪🥴. Probably around a month later J.C. Whitney delivered my new pans and channels. Great times and memories of the 70's&80's. We all ordered parts through that catalog for a lot of our VWs and muscle cars 😅. Sorry for rambling on. Glad I found your channel.

[@SirDrifto]

That’s very cool

[@djkenny1202]

I love old Bugs. I had a 75 Vert. Mom once had a 72 Bug in the late 80’s. Primer orange mix. Later painted candy apple res (only outside, single mom) I learned to drive in it around 12 yrs old. Best memories. I still think of having one of my own. I had that 75, liked it a lot, but prefer the flat dash basic beetles. I own a 92 GTI 16v, had since 98. Bought a 2000 Cabrio 3 years ago to boost my spirits during Covid lock down. Still want a Thing, or Bug :) Thx for this!

[@SirDrifto]

Awesome!

[@SuperLittleTyke]

I had two Beetles when I lived and worked in (West) Germany in the 1970s. The first one was an orange model 1302. I drove it all over Europe, and back home to England every few months to see the folks. I drove from Cologne to West Berlin to visit my sister every once in a while. It was a great little car. In 1972 VW introduced a limited edition of the Marathon 'Weltmeister' Beetle in silver blue metallic with very nice sculptured wheels, and I part exchanged my orange Beetle for the Weltmeister. It really looked the biz. Sadly, I returned to the parked car in Paris, France only to find that someone had driven into the driver's door, making quite a dent. I was so angry and upset, as the car was still fairly new. Several years later the clutch cable broke while I was visiting my father in Wales, a long way from home. Instead of getting a local garage to fit a new cable, i drove back home without the clutch! The synchromesh on those cars was fantastic! If I was 58 instead of now 78 I would buy a Beetle without a qualm provided it was in good condition.

[@tiyukitv6508]

i love my vw super beetle. The best car ever. Drive Safely everyone😊✌️

[@lockdot2]

I have a somewhat similar car to the Beetle as a daily driver, it's similar sized, similar HP, similar weight. It's a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage. It has everything you need to be comfortable, it has a few nice to have features like a backup camera (every new car needs to come with them anyway). It's gotten AC/Heat, and overall it's a great little car. I drive about 80 miler per day. Put 9,400 miles on it since September, 2023. I do mostly freeway driving, and set cruise control to 55, or 57 MPH. If it's really busy and fast flow of traffic, I might go 60. But I try to stick to 55. Doing so, the average MPG over the past 41 fill ups, or 9,400 miles has been 49.9. That is including everything, city and freeway driving.

[@poppyneese1811]

Man when a old bug pulls up beside me and I hear those lil air cooled engines, the memories come flooding back!

[@tecate9408]

Hard to avoid empi products as their distribution is far and wide. The quality has come up some but would try to avoid if possible for repairs. Try whenever possible to source German parts if you need them, it is what works best in my opinion. VW beetles are really fun to drive and this usually happens if an owner is a little mechanically inclined. Doing your own valve adjustments, oil changes, brake adjustments, and other minor maintenance will go a very long way. Quite close to getting my 62 to daily driver

[@drjohnsonhungwell5115]

My stepfather daily drove one for years and it was reliable, but he was also a certified Volkswagen mechanic.

[@rodneysmith247]

I've drove or riden in 1-57 2-58 1-61 2-63 2-67 1-70 1-73 1 vanogan and 1 thing. The 1st 1 I rode in was pops 1957 type 2 pickup the single cab rear bed model and vw's are 1 of the best rides ever. 😊

[@Kekulevonstradonitz]

If this type of car would have enough demand, they would still build it, so you are right with your conclusion, it's not a every day car, only one "for a weekend" as you said at the end. And in Germany we have Winters, and this will cause a bad sight because the not correctly working climatisation. Air cooling is also a too loud method. Despite some advantages, it is a bit out of time. But despite it, there will be some bug fans even today.

[@0guiteo]

When VW abandoned air-cooled, I abandoned VW. Prior to that, I had two Ghias, two busses, and one squareback. And loved all of them. They were incredibly reliable and simple to maintain. I had them in Hawaii - no need for heat or AC.

[@jpvill4th]

The things you said needed replacing are common for a 50 year old car. The heater problems are also the result of no maintenance. My 1972 heater system will cook you out of the car. Later Mexican Beetles were fuel injected and they could meet the CARB emission requirements but weren't imported into the USA due to crashworthyness, though I don't think that was the true reason since the Fiat 500 didn't pass yet you could still buy one in the USA. Larger factory air cooled engines put out significantly more power but what the more powerful engines weren't used in the Beetle or Super Beetle is beyond me. There were also other concept Beetles that were developed that had larger engine compartment where a V-4 air cooled engine could have fit in the rear too. The VW Cheetah Concept could have been developed into a 4-seater with a rear engine or a FWD engine. This concept was made in 1970 and again in 1971. All of the air cooled cars could have been air-conditioned in later years by using an electrically driven AC compressor with a high out put alternator and an extra lead-acid battery. That is the way many air-cooled and other vintage cars are being air-conditioned today.

[@biancajc2426]

I had a 73 super and yes! It was my daily driver.