1972 Volkswagen Beetle review from North America
"You just can't kill a Beetle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Replaced three fuel pumps.
Rewired turn signals. This was the hardest job of any I ever did.
New carb needed after first 5 years.
Rust in rear floorboards. One hole, I super-glued a quarter over after sanding and painting the edges of the hole.
Accelerator cable broke once on the highway. Luckily, I carried a spare with me, having heard of the potential. It was back up and running in about 10 minutes, and I wasn't late for class.
The "Biggie": Blew the engine on the way home one night. No oil light, no warning, just lots of noise and lots of smoke, and then... silence... except for my explitives. Got another bug (73 Super Beetle) for US$200, stripped it of its engine (I preferred the Standard body style), and continued on my way after a few days of down time.
General comments?
A hard car to kill.
It gets very warm in the Central Texas summer, but stays very warm through the winter.
For the original $1000 I paid for it, it lasted well-past its prime. I racked up thousands of miles on it traversing Texas and New Mexico. It was my first true love. I will have another some day.
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| 1971 - Beetle Standard 1.6L flat 4 Not perfect, but fun to drive, and tough as nails! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1972 |
| First year of ownership | 1989 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 cc Gas Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 120000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 200000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda 626 |
| Date of Entry | 24th August, 2002 |