VW Beetle: PH Carpool
In at the deep end with a characterful (in every sense) first car for a VW-mad PHer
Car: 1972 VW Beetle 1302S
Owned Since: November 2012
Previously Owned: 2x (broken) Yamaha DT50 mopeds, family have owned 2x VW T2 Westfalia Campers, many MK2 GTI 16Vs, few Mk1 and two Golfs
From 17th birthday to daily driver in three months
"After a year of never being able to get anywhere on my stupidly unreliable moped, you'd think I'd be happy with a 2006 Fiesta or something that would actually make it from A to B occasionally. However, I grew up around old Volkswagens and I had to have a Beetle, even if it turned out to be more of a driveway ornament than a daily driver. My dad and I were looking around for a few months and this one popped up on eBay with a ridiculously short description and a few blurry pictures. The bidding was low and stayed that way until we won it at £2,200, I think the reason for the lack of interest could have been the fact that the seller had called it a 'Beatle' in the title. A set of new tyres, various brake components and a couple of fuel lines later, she had a learner sticker on and, after three driving tests, was my daily driver three months after my 17th birthday."
What I wish I'd known:
"We knew a fair bit about bugs anyway, having had a couple of campers and my parents having had some air-cooled experience when they were younger, but I never knew the size of the community built around these cars. I'm subscribed to three monthly magazines and am a member of a few forums; I'd have been a lot less nervous about owning a car that needs so much attention if I'd known that there were all these people who can help you. One thing to bear in mind is that any problem you have with a Beetle, no matter how strange, someone on the internet will have already had (and fixed) it."
A keen eye on eBay picked up overlooked gem
"Everything. The noise, the attention it gets, the feel of driving it, the smell, cleaning it ... I know a lot of people say that their cars attract attention at petrol stations but this is probably the most recognisable shape on the road and, it being bright orange and making more noise than a jet plane, it's hard to forget that. People pull alongside on dual carriageways to get a picture, kids shout 'Beetle!' and point and when I'm washing it (every Friday) in the driveway, I have to stop every five minutes to talk to someone about one they used to have but it's all part of the fun."
Things I hate:
"It sounds so obvious and I can't believe we didn't see it coming but the endless costs of keeping this thing on the road. I can't bring myself to add up what we've spent in various garages and on parts but it's got to be almost what we paid for it again. The fuel economy is horrific as well, I know it's not a G-Whiz but it does about 15mpg on my drive to school and, as a waiter who earns £45 a week, that's not so great. Also, when I'm on the way to a party or something important and it breaks down, I do consider rolling it in front of a lorry, but that hasn't happened for a while, so touch wood etc."
Relationship with RAC has become a strong one
"Recommissioning the car when I bought it (it had been in storage for about 12 years) cost over £500 and little things like the clutch pressure plate, fuel pump, exhaust, coil and battery have all needed replacing at some point. I've always got a list of things that need doing on the go and am lucky to have a friend who can help (read: do them all by himself) in exchange for lifts."
Where I've been:
"Let's be honest, it's no grand tourer so the furthest I've been is from Sevenoaks where I live to Camber Sands, I'm reluctant to take it any further at the moment as I only have one free callout left on my RAC membership card. Saying that, it did 36 miles every day taking me and three friends to school and back until I finished recently so that's quite impressive I suppose. Never broke down on the way TO school, which was strange."
With a VW-mad family there was only one choice
"I'm away for most of summer and then, hopefully, going to university so I'm going to slip the car into my grandparents' garage when they're not looking and hopefully drive it when I'm home for holidays. I have no plans to sell it; I can't bring myself to watch it go and, I know I haven't exactly been the garage-owning, Sunday-driving owner it deserves, but I worry that whoever owns it after me will wreck it. When I come across some money, it'll be getting a re-spray (looks good when it's clean but it's not exactly concours ... and I prefer green) and some new wheels. Who knows, maybe one day my kid will be kicking it when it's broken down on the way to one of their parties."
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
I had a Type 3 Variant which also broke down or failed to start. It felt ancient, even by 1980s standards and eventually got T-boned and written off. It had a certain charm but the floor-mounted pedals and sheer austerity of the rubber-matted beast never really wove it into my heart.
I like Bugs though. I would still do one out as Herbie - sad, I know....
I was thinking the same. It took about 3 months to book a retest at the place I passed (not that I experienced it 
).
Personally though I would have thought as it's obviously not in great nick, that further storage for mths on end won't help it, I would chop it out and then (if you must) reinvest in another one further down the line and I doubt that anyone prepared to pay the sort of cash these are apparently moving for would trash it, I would imagine they would likely restore it correctly
But get a relationship with GFS and DIY - - get a trolley jack and off you go.
I do agree thougth - £2200 does seem a touch on the high side though it is a 1302S :-)
The rest of the journey was quite terrible, though looking back I think she was already ripped to the tits on drink and drugs when she came to pick me up.
I'm glad I can say I've been there and done that, and as a result of that particular car I hooked up with one of the most attractive girls I've ever met (it didn't last) so I do recall those 6 months of ownership quite fondly.
As it's been mentioned, they used to be ubiquitous a few years ago but I can't recall the last time I saw one on the road. I hope the ones that are left are being treasured and fettled.
Are you sure you don't have a leak somewhere?!
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