2001 VW Beetle 2.0 (aka the "Sports Beetle")
Discussion
Yes, I know... A 2.0 Beetle is anything but sporty. 
Its tongue-in-cheek nickname comes from the rather cheeky twin-pipe aftermarket exhaust, poking incongruously from under the rear bumper.
So, here she is - my wife's first car. A late starter to the driving game at 48 years old, she finally took the plunge and sat her test (and passed, hooray!) To celebrate, we went straight out and bought the first cheap motor with a long MoT!
Sometimes, it doesn't pay to overthink these things. 
£795 to a local dealer, and the "Sports Beetle" was ours!
Mechanically, the car is in fine fettle, having only covered 83k miles, supplied to us with a fresh MoT. In use, the engine is indistinguishable from a brand new VAG 2.0 8v, which is to say that it's workmanlike, but smooth. The automatic gearbox changes crisply - again, indistinguishable from a new 'box. On the inside, most things work (electric boot release and fuel flap release excepted), and it's pretty well specified (heated seats are a particular highlight).
Of course, no cheap car with great oily bits has good paint (it's the law, you know), and this Beetle is no exception. Whilst refreshingly free of dents/rust, the paint is covered in 16 years worth of scratches and scuffs. My plan is to give the car an all-over T-Cutting (thankfully, I have a 240v rotary polisher), then a coat of polish, and a sealing layer of wax. I've given a few of the panels a "first pass" with T-Cut, and am pleased with how it's going so far - but there's a long way to go!
Here's a bunch of "before" pictures, taken the day we picked the car up. As time goes by, I'll update this thread with some "after" pictures (in the finest PH tradition).
Here's a few examples of what I'm up against, scratch and scuff-wise.
These really are only a few examples. There's not a panel on the car that isn't scratched. Classic case of the previous owner taking care of the mechanicals, but neglecting the bodywork.
Before I forget, my thanks to PHer Grahamdub, who has been very helpful since the Beetle came into my life, and encouraged me to start this thread. Cheers Graham!
Its tongue-in-cheek nickname comes from the rather cheeky twin-pipe aftermarket exhaust, poking incongruously from under the rear bumper.So, here she is - my wife's first car. A late starter to the driving game at 48 years old, she finally took the plunge and sat her test (and passed, hooray!) To celebrate, we went straight out and bought the first cheap motor with a long MoT!
Sometimes, it doesn't pay to overthink these things. £795 to a local dealer, and the "Sports Beetle" was ours!Mechanically, the car is in fine fettle, having only covered 83k miles, supplied to us with a fresh MoT. In use, the engine is indistinguishable from a brand new VAG 2.0 8v, which is to say that it's workmanlike, but smooth. The automatic gearbox changes crisply - again, indistinguishable from a new 'box. On the inside, most things work (electric boot release and fuel flap release excepted), and it's pretty well specified (heated seats are a particular highlight).
Of course, no cheap car with great oily bits has good paint (it's the law, you know), and this Beetle is no exception. Whilst refreshingly free of dents/rust, the paint is covered in 16 years worth of scratches and scuffs. My plan is to give the car an all-over T-Cutting (thankfully, I have a 240v rotary polisher), then a coat of polish, and a sealing layer of wax. I've given a few of the panels a "first pass" with T-Cut, and am pleased with how it's going so far - but there's a long way to go!
Here's a bunch of "before" pictures, taken the day we picked the car up. As time goes by, I'll update this thread with some "after" pictures (in the finest PH tradition).
Here's a few examples of what I'm up against, scratch and scuff-wise.
These really are only a few examples. There's not a panel on the car that isn't scratched. Classic case of the previous owner taking care of the mechanicals, but neglecting the bodywork.
Before I forget, my thanks to PHer Grahamdub, who has been very helpful since the Beetle came into my life, and encouraged me to start this thread. Cheers Graham!
Cheers folks.
She is a solid old bus, which gives me confidence for its medium term future, at least.
As I'm utterly useless with the spanners (history shows I will invariably make a problem worse if I tackle it myself), I'm much more comfortable sorting the cosmetic problems, so a mechanically sound car with rubbish paint suits me down to the ground.
Badges (front/rear), centre cap badges (all four wheels), and a pair of new plates are on the long list. More T-Cutting, polishing and waxing is on the short list.
As a new driver, my missus hasn't noticed that it's a bit slow for a 2.0 engine, though I've given it a couple of "shakedown" tests and Italian tune-ups, and I have to say that it doesn't go too badly if you're not shy with the (very long travel) loud pedal. Lack of sports mode on the auto 'box isn't surprising for a car of this nature, but its omission is a bit annoying. Having said that, if you keep your foot in, it will rev to the redline before changing up.
I'll post up some "after" pictures once I've got some decent results on the paintwork.
She is a solid old bus, which gives me confidence for its medium term future, at least.
As I'm utterly useless with the spanners (history shows I will invariably make a problem worse if I tackle it myself), I'm much more comfortable sorting the cosmetic problems, so a mechanically sound car with rubbish paint suits me down to the ground.
Badges (front/rear), centre cap badges (all four wheels), and a pair of new plates are on the long list. More T-Cutting, polishing and waxing is on the short list.
As a new driver, my missus hasn't noticed that it's a bit slow for a 2.0 engine, though I've given it a couple of "shakedown" tests and Italian tune-ups, and I have to say that it doesn't go too badly if you're not shy with the (very long travel) loud pedal. Lack of sports mode on the auto 'box isn't surprising for a car of this nature, but its omission is a bit annoying. Having said that, if you keep your foot in, it will rev to the redline before changing up.
I'll post up some "after" pictures once I've got some decent results on the paintwork.
1Toomanycars said:
Just bought a TDI Cab myself, always liked them since they came out.
Good luck with yours, seems like good value as long as the box remains ok for you.
Cheers. Good luck with yours, seems like good value as long as the box remains ok for you.
I've driven autos for years, and would like to think I can spot a fragile slusher a mile off (I've had a few, so learned the hard way!)This one feels tight as a drum - as mentioned previously, indistinguishable from a new unit in use.
PS: Going to tackle a minor mechanical job this weekend - replacing the missing dipstick tube. A quick Google reveals these tubes break/fall off with alarming regularity on the VAG 2.0 lump!
I was/am a massive aircooled VW fan. had lots of bugs/vans/campers
I was actually in the USA when the new beetle was launched in 1999 ?
went to a VW showroom and took one for a test drive !!!
took a set of brochures back to the UK, to show all my VW friends at the next club meet, like an excited child !! I think it really was such a big deal- a new, old beetle coming out.
I was actually in the USA when the new beetle was launched in 1999 ?
went to a VW showroom and took one for a test drive !!!
took a set of brochures back to the UK, to show all my VW friends at the next club meet, like an excited child !! I think it really was such a big deal- a new, old beetle coming out.
MorganP104 said:
Cheers. I've driven autos for years, and would like to think I can spot a fragile slusher a mile off (I've had a few, so learned the hard way!)
This one feels tight as a drum - as mentioned previously, indistinguishable from a new unit in use.
PS: Going to tackle a minor mechanical job this weekend - replacing the missing dipstick tube. A quick Google reveals these tubes break/fall off with alarming regularity on the VAG 2.0 lump!
Ha, know the feeling, I was just gonna lower ours and fit new wheels, and now 2 weeks in it's turned into another big project with Cambelt, Service, Brakes all round, Wheels, Tyres, Coilovers, Wrap and next week what was just having the front bumper painted because of a small scuff and a bit of laquer peel, is now smoothing etc if the garage gets time 😚 I've driven autos for years, and would like to think I can spot a fragile slusher a mile off (I've had a few, so learned the hard way!)This one feels tight as a drum - as mentioned previously, indistinguishable from a new unit in use.
PS: Going to tackle a minor mechanical job this weekend - replacing the missing dipstick tube. A quick Google reveals these tubes break/fall off with alarming regularity on the VAG 2.0 lump!
Don't allow it to get under your skin!! 😀
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff