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Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:40 pm

Hi im just getting into vw beetles and was lookin at a 73 standard autostick.I was wondering if you can tow and if you can how much max can you tow.Can you tow as much as a manual transmission.Also are the gear ratios the same or similiar to a manual.Can u drive 70 75 or is that too much?Is gas mileage much different?How many mpg can i expect ?

Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:48 am

vmxr wrote: Can u drive 70 75 or is that too much?

ROTFLMAO! Yes, 70-75 IS too much ........ too much to expect from an autostick. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but seriously, if you plan on doing ANY towing at all, don't even consider the autostick. It really, really is very anemic even when running with only the driver, no luggage and a close to empty gas tank.

The Germans (God love 'em) came up with idea back in the late 60s, that folks would like this. But when it turned out to be a dinosaur, they stubbornly stuck with it for years and years. It never got any better.

The rest of the 1973 model that you're looking at is probably in really good condition. But please try and talk yourself into shopping around. You'll thank me in the long run.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:48 am

As the PROUD owner of a 1969 Autostick Beetle, I'm going to have to agree with some parts of what David Grason said, and disagree in other parts.

I will agree that expecting the car to run at 70-75 mph is probably a little too much. I find that the car can easily run at speeds of 50-70 mph without any excessive noise or problems, but because I am running the original 1500SP motor that came with the car in '69 I don't like to push it too much and will generally keep it below 70 mph.

I will disagree that the car is REALLY ANEMIC when running it with only the driver, no luggage and close to empty gas tank. In fact, because my car is under constuction, that is the way that I'm running my car currently. I find that even when I only leave the car in Range 1 (1st gear) when taking off from a dead stop, I have no trouble whatsoever not only keeping up with traffic, but also out-accelerating most other drivers. If I was to put the car into L (low gear) from the stop, I would accelerate even faster, again having no trouble with most other drivers, with the probable exception of "rice-boys" in their Hondas, but what are you expecting, it still just a Beetle with a stock motor.

If you were planning on doing towing with the motor you would be using the low gear most often. I have no idea how much the car could tow, again because I don't want to push my motor that hard. As far as gas mileage goes, I find that I get 25-28 mpg doing lots of "in town" driving while commuting through the stop-and-go traffic on the crowded streets of the San Fernando Valley.

I will agree that parts are hard to come by, but if you're looking here on TheSamba and e-bay, you can find them. I have included a link to a VW Autostick website which is where I got the specifications for the gear ratios that you asked about.

http://www.vwar.org/

Specifications

Gear ratios

Low 2.24 : 1
Medium 1.26 : 1
High 0.89 : 1
Reverse 3.07 : 1
Stall speed -1302 2000 - 2250 rpm
-1302S 1900 - 2100 rpm
Final drive ratio 4.375 : 1
Torque multiplication -1302 2.1
-1302S 2.5
Converter oil capacity ( dry) 3.6 liter
Transmission / final drive oil capasity (dry) 3.0 liter
Converter oil pressure at 4000 rpm 38 - 52 psi

Tarque wrench settings

Tarque converter drive plategland nut 282 Ibs ft / 39 mkg

Design www.volks.org Copyright © VW Automatic Register, all rights reserved.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:33 pm

Hiya vmxr,

There are some valid reasons to put a knock on the AutoStick, but, quite honestly, performance is NOT one of them. I have a 1970 AS Bug which is running a 1600 dp out of a 73. It's using a 30/31 (if anything, this engine is undercarbed) and getting 26 to 28 mpg as a daily driver. It has no problems doing 75 mph out on the freeway. Matter of fact I often run between 70 and 75 while doing a hop up to Seattle on I5.

The transmission is rock-solid and has never given me even a hint of trouble. The clutch components in these AutoSticks last nearly forever. I pulled my clutch plate last year (100,000 miles) to examine it. Original equipment and still has at least 50% left. Since the AutoStick prevents the driver from dumping the clutch, clutch wear is kept to a minimum.

However, parts availability is, indeed, a sore spot. Most parts can be found with some looking. However, throwout bearings and seals are all but unobtainable. That is a good reason to look elsewhere if the AutoStick you are looking at has any symptoms of tranny problems.

As for towing................Geez, I wouldn't use a standard transmission Bug for towing let alone an AutoStick. If you are thinking about using your new car for towing, look at something else besides an AC VW.

Mike

1970 AS Bug

Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:08 pm

back in 88, i owned a 74 with autostick. it would do 70 plus on occasion without any noticeable problems. i even towed a 14 ft. jonboat with it, no idea how much it, motor and trailer weighed, though. not very much im sure, but it kept up with traffic pretty well pulling the boat..she was one tough ole bug.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:30 am

No problems runngin 70 down the freeway in my 72 Autostick. My buddy has a 73 Ghia Autostick and hauls down the freeway at 80+ all the time. If you keep it properly maintained, you shouldn't have to worry over it too much.

As for parts, right, getting some of them are tough. You can't just stop off at the local shop and pick them up. Personally, I have been stocking up on spare bits as a just in case item and I'm looking at seeing if I can recreate rebuild kits for the control vavle and solenoid.

Towing? I wouldn't expect a whole lot there even with a 4spd. I would guess it depends on what you plan to haul. If it's fairly small/light, you could probably get away with it. Maybe a jetski, small/light fishing boat, small trailer, etc.