Best Vw Beetle To Buy
Of course, there are still some issues that come with the best VW Beetle years. The 2014 VW Beetle had severe paint and body troubles. The 2008 VW Beetle had issues with the lights. They each have an issue that stands out, but none come close to the troubles in the VW Beetle years to avoid.
best vw beetle to buy
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Second-generation Volkswagen Beetles have several power plant options but the 1.8T is by far the best. The 1.8L turbocharged four-cylinder produces 178 hp with 173 lb.-ft. of torque and can be found in Beetle Turbo S models produced from 2002 to 2004.
What started as the dream of a dictator went on to become one of the best-selling cars of all time, and the symbol of the free love movement. For 65 years the basic design of the Beetle changed very little, but each time it did there were huge improvements.
As time went on, it became harder to convert the Mexican-made cars neatly to right-hand drive, so check the security of the pedal mounting and the neatness of the dashboard. One of the best conversions was offered by Beetles UK which usually added its logo to the speedo face.
2. Decide If You Want an Early or Late Style VW Bug: The subject of early versus late polarizes many Vintage VW Beetle Owners. Again it comes down to what you want out of your Beetle. Many people love the look and lines of early VW Type 1s. The Split Window and Oval Window Beetles, which were made up until 1957, have become serious collector cars and the prices have been going up. These early cars are ideal for someone who wants maximum value from a restoration, but be warned some parts are very expensive if they are missing or broken. Early "Big Window" VW Beetles still have a classic look and a great utilitarian vintage feel. These cars are also a great choice for restoration or customization as their value continues to rise. The downside of these early VW beetles up to 1965 is that parts are a little more difficult to come by and there is less aftermarket support for the original engines. For off roaders early beetle chassis parts are desirable because their king and link pin front ends are known to take some serious abuse. Swing axle transmissions installed in US VW bugs until 1968 are also popular for drag racers. Beetles were continually going through transitions from year to year. Model years from 1966 through 1968 saw some continual changes as Volkswagen update the beetle to new government and technology standards. 1966 was the first year for a ball joint front end and featured a one year only 1300CC engine. 1967 was the first year for 12 Volt power and the 1500 engine. It also featured a one year only body styling that blended beetles from years past and the new direction of VW bugs. 1967 VW Beetles are one of the most sought after cars for many air-cooled VW enthusiasts. 1968 was the first year for the padded dash and four lug wheels. 1969 was the first year for independent rear suspension, making them and later years a great choice for a baja bug. The famous 1600CC Dual Port VW Type 1 Engine came out in 1971 making the later cars the most powerful from the factory. 1971 was also the first year for the Super Beetle. Later standard Beetles and Super Beetles featured the most built in comforts in both the interior and chassis making them nicer for long trips and even around town cruising compared to earlier VW Beetles. Super Beetles featured a Macpherson Strut front end that made them less ideal for off road use, but better for road racing applications. Fuel injection was also installed at the factory in 1975. The factory L-Jet Fuel Injection is great if it is in good working order, but can be difficult to repair. It is also not ideal for performance applications.
5. Check The Condition of the VW Bug's Transmission & Drivetrain: VW Beetle transmissions are another expensive item on your prospective car to fix. Always test drive the car if you can. Shift it through all gears under high and low loads. See if it pops out of gear or grinds between shifts. Some of these issues can be due to shifter alignment, but they can also be related to a deeper transmission issue, which can get expensive. The early and late VW beetles have different transaxle setups. Swing axle transmissions have two inner boots and oil seals at each wheel. Check the rear drums and axle tubes for signs of leaking fluid. Repair of these parts is not too difficult but it is a dirty job. Replacing rear axle seals will require an impact wrench. VW Beetles after 1969 and all Super Beetles had independent rear suspension transaxles. It's always a good idea to listen for clicking at the CV joints while on a test drive. The clutch on any bug is also a good thing to check, if the pedal has a high release on takeoff, it may need adjustment. If there is very little adjustment left on the clutch cable, you may need to replace a clutch in the near future, which requires removing the engine. The biggest cost is a transmission rebuild and most of the other parts require more labor than cash to repair.
6. Does The Bug Stop?: It sounds silly but it's a legitimate concern when buying any old car. VW Beetles were fitted with four wheel drum brakes for almost all of their production years. These brakes can work well as long as they are in good condition and are properly adjusted. If you are driving a drum brake beetle and the emergency brake doesn't work or the pedal sinks very low before the car stops the drum brakes likely need serviced or adjusted. If the car shutters to a stop your drums may be out of round or just out of adjustment. If the pedal bleeds down or pumps up that my indicated a leak or air in the brake system. A nice upgrade for a VW Bug is disc brakes and many owners have already installed them. No matter which braking setup the car you are looking at has make sure it is safe. Old rubber hoses and corroded steel brake lines can wreak havoc on a brake system. Aged brake hoses can close up and prevent fluid from flowing to your calipers or wheel cylinders. If the steel brake line that leads from the front to the rear is rusted out get ready for a several hour job. Again rust is your enemy!
7. Check Out the VW Bug's Front End: The front axle of a standard VW beetle is a modular unit that has a fairly simple design. But, when it wears out it can be a big job to replace different components. Early VW Beetles up to 1965 have a King and Link Pin Front End. This front end is fairly simple and strong, but if you find your king pins are worn out it will require a specialist to repair them. The job requires pressing the spindle assemblies apart and replacing king pin bushings with new units, which must be reamed to fit. Link pins are an easier job, but must be shimmed correctly to give the correct camber. Ball joint front beams have four ball joints in them, two upper and two lower. If they are worn out, you will need a press to replace them. Often they are an extremely tight fit, so it's not a bad idea to have a good shop press the old out and the new in. Tie rods are a fairly simple replacement and that job can be done in the driveway. Steering box play is another common problem. Sometimes sellers will say the play can be adjusted out, but that is not always the case depending on wear. Super Beetle front ends had either a steering box (1971 - 1974) or a rack and pinion (1975-1979). Common wear items on both of those front ends are suspension bushings, steering universal shafts and strut cartridges. Keep in mind that steering boxes are available in the aftermarket for Super Beetles, but late model rack and pinions have not been reproduced.
9. What Should I Pay for a VW Beetle?: Like many other classic cars the value of VW Beetles has risen. They are no longer $50 cars, but most are still relatively cheap by classic car standards. In truth prices for VW bugs are all over the map. Early Split window beetles (1946 - 1953) tend to be highly collectable and expensive. A cheap project goes for $20K - $35K. A nice running and driving example of a Split Window VW Beetle can be upwards of $50K. Oval Window Bugs (1954 - 1957) are also very collectable. Typically a project Oval Window Beetle will cost $6K - $10K on an enthusiast website. A nice running and driving Oval will be $20K -$30K depending on year model and options. Early big window VW bugs (1958-1966) are the most affordable of early style VW Beetles. A project can be had for $1K - $4K. A driver will cost $5k-$14K depending on quality and the style of car. The 1967 model year has its own classification to many VW enthusiasts. 1967 VW Beetles tend to be more valuable than its earlier predecessors. A 1967 VW Project will cost between $2500 and $4500. A driver will cost $6K - $25K depending on the quality of the car. Late model Beetles (1968 - 1977) and Super Beetles (1971-1979) are the most affordable of the bunch. A project can be had for $500 to $2k. A driver can be had for $3500 - $15K depending on condition.
We hope this guide helps you better select your Volkswagen Beetle. If you have any questions on buying or selling your bug please contact us. If you need any VW Beetle Parts, whether they are aftermarket, stock replacement or performance check out DuneBuggyWarehouse.com or give us a call and we will do our best to get you what you need fast and at a great price.
We are a son and father team who love restoring Volkswagen beetles back to their original historical beauty. Whether it is nostalgia you are looking for, the thumbs up from other classic car owners, or just to enjoy its sheer artistic design, the VW Beetle will always make one's head turn and smile.
Among the many models of the Volkswagen Beetle, the ones released in the following years have been said to be the most problematic, which is why you should do your best to stay clear of them.1. 2000 Volkswagen Beetleif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'carproper_com-box-4','ezslot_6',815,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-carproper_com-box-4-0');Among the various models of the Volkswagen Beetle released in the past 2 decades, the one released in the year 2000 is the most problematic, receiving the highest number of complaints from owners and the NHTSA and a total of 9 different recalls, making it a fitting year to be on the top of the list when it comes to the worst years for the Volkswagen Beetle.This year brought issues in all parts of the Volkswagen Beetle; the brakes, electrical system, interior, and windows all suffered from various problems, but none suffered more than the engine and the airbags, which received the most criticism.The engine was prone to excessive oil consumption and always had the check engine light on. It also had a habit of dying. 041b061a72