1974 Volkswagen Beetle Super review from North America

I purchased the car at an estate sale, it hadn't been driven for over 15 years, so anything rubber was shot. This included all the brake hoses and seals, torque converter seal, tires, battery, and window gaskets, all of which had to be replaced. This was not because they failed, but because the car had set so long unused. All of these things were repaired by myself over a period of about 6 months. Shortly there after the torque converter seal failed again, probably because the one I put in it was as old and dried out as the original. It hasn't failed since.

Very slow, noisy, and cramped, but ultra reliable and surprisingly comfortable for one person. Not much room for luggage and what room there is is difficult to get at. Other cars feel the need to pass you as some kind of macho statement regardless of what speed you're going. Poor gas mileage by modern standards, only about 25 mpg at best, or about 280 miles to a tank of gas, probably caused by the semi-automatic transmissions torque converter. It doesn't lock like newer cars do. The heater and defroster work very well(it has a defroster fan) contrary to the popular myth that they don't.