1971 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible review from North America
"My beautiful air-cooled wonder!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The gas gage never worked.
Wind-shield wipers didn't work.
Brake drums made a growly sound when I lightly hit the brake.
Engine overheated and cracked, and I had to install a new one.
Had to slow down to zero to re-engage first gear.
Very VERY noisy.
Door jambed.
Very small and delicate components.
Couldn't go up hills at all.
Difficult to start if it had been running in the freeway.
Choke valve would occasionally stick.
General comments?
Yes, lots of things have gone wrong, and yes I gave it poor ratings in all categories, but it is still one of the best cars I've ever owned!
My dad and I replaced a busted engine by ourselves in two days... and all with tools in our garage.
It is very simplified and practical. When it breaks down, I know exactly where to go to fix it in a few minutes.
I recommend you buy a book called "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive." Very fun to read and makes anyone into a mechanic.
Its best to have a second car, if possible, to drive you around when the beetle breaks down. You don't want any negative vibes to come between you and your bug.
If my car ever breaks down in the desert in the middle of nowhere, I just hope it's a bug.
Don't drive with the oil light on!!
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| 1970 - Beetle Wunderbug 4 cylinder. Why did they stop making these? |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1971 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 130000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 145000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Thunderbird |
| Date of Entry | 11th March, 2004 |