Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Reviews - Page 2 of 4

The car was purchased from my aunt who bought it new. The car was driven 350 miles get it home.

The body was cancer (rust) ridden and the floor hung down on drivers side. The car was taken to a mechanic who specialized in older VWs. The mechanic recommended replacing the engine - upgraded to a 1600cc engine. The automobile was really in need of a total restoration and possibly only good for parts - but my sister who purchased the car sight unseen continued to spend money on it. It was later found that someone took a cutting torch to the drivers side heater channel and cut it out completely, thus taking away most of the structure strength on the drivers side.

Eventually the car became a money pit and was sold to a young neighbor kid who kept it a very short time and traded it in on a Jetta. Hopefully someone with an interest in restoring it bought it.

Considering its age and condition, it managed to drive a seven hour trip without incident.

Usual items are heat control cables, and the occasional electrical problem. The central wiring terminals are exposed in the trunk, and that can lead to problems with corrosion and shorts if not cared for properly.

If you want to own this car, then you should be somewhat knowledgeable about them, or at least know a mechanic or shop that understands them. Mine was rescued from a shop that could not even get it running.

Car was picked up as an unfinished restoration project, which means I have to locate missing parts and undo mechanic's mistakes. Being almost 40 years old also means you have to take care of all the "deferred maintenance"... things that were not done when they should have been!

As a car it is very reliable and economical: You can drive for hours and use very little fuel, mileage seems between 30-40 MPG.

In the looks department, it always turns heads. That hand-built body has timeless good looks and people will just walk up to you and ask questions. Be careful though; one driver literally hit a curb at 45mph while gazing at it, and a fast food cashier almost fell out of a drive-through window trying to watch us park.

Handling is adequate, not as sharp as a Porsche, but lighter feeling than almost anything else. Surprisingly, the later Ghia's with the 1600cc dual port engines have decent power for the light weight of the car, and keeps up with traffic just fine. The brakes are front disc/rear drum like modern cars, so brake performance is better than expected. However, remember that this is an old car and lacks the safety equipment and mass of modern cars. For protection in front, you have sheet metal, a spare tire, and, um, a gas tank...

Use the same caution as you would driving a large motorcycle.

Another unexpected plus? Comfort! For some reason this little car has a smoother, more comfortable ride than most other cars I've owned or driven. It's relaxed but not sloppy, and I'd rather take for a drive in the country than our other two late-model cars.

So many things, but it's 36 years old so it's kind of expected.

One CV joint has worn out.

The right rear wheel bearing has worn out.

The windscreen squirter stopped working.

The voltage regulator stopped doing its job.

Worn drivers door hinges had to be replaced.

All rubber windscreen seals had to be replaced.

The fuel gauge needed grounding to work properly.

The drivers door window regulator lost its teeth.

I use this car as my daily driver to and from work, both summer and winter here in Ireland. I've found it to be reliable enough. I've only ever been stranded when I ran out of petrol once due to the dodgy petrol gauge.

The heating system is good when it gets going, but you freeze for the first 10 minutes of your journey! I'd recommend an eberspacher heater for anyone using this car year round.

I'm constantly amazed at how well this car starts in the mornings. It's instant with no hard cranking needed.