1974 Volkswagen Beetle review from North America

Starter

Starter

Battery

Clutch Pedal Shaft

Heater Gate Spring

Ran out of Gas (a few times)

Tires

Shocks.

I bought the car for $500, no rust, rebuilt engine, no dents, California car. Drove the car everywhere. My brother (who drove the car for 4 years) took his wife to Quebec City in winter (smart?). Out of 4 cars that went there, one returned, the Beetle. The others had engine block problem, related to -60 degree nights. I gave the car to my best friend (I junked, sold or donated all other cars I had in order to keep friends), helped him restore it and 10,000 dollars later, with 2.2 liter 150 hp engine the show car was back on the streets. Women and children loved the Punch-Buggie. CUTE is the word. Passangers loved it. Starter failed a few times, but push-start is fun-2 friends or downhill. Best car ever engineered. Handled like s^%$, top speed was 70 mph before resto, and 80 after, fun factor was always 10. After resto, Mustang and Corvette owners cried at stoplights for the first 25-50 feet anyway. Not much fun to drive on windy day over Pulaski Skyway. At 50 mph it took all my skill and some praying to keep it in its lane. The car is now with my best friend in TN, doing about 100 miles per week as alternative to Ducati 748SP or Dakota P/U. In 8 years between my brother and I, we spend a total of 1700 dollars in maintenance and parts. I used only Mobil 1 since I had so much extra money from maintenance reserve.

Summary: unsafe, poor brakes, unstable at high speeds, unstable at low speeds in cross-winds, scary in rain if pushed hard, poor defroster, great heat. Best damn car I ever owned. Fun, cheap, etc.