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Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:20 pm

im thinking about buying an 86 mexican beetle but i dont really know mucha bout the mexican bugs. what size engine, is it carbuerated of fuel injected, do older parts fit etc. i would appreciate anything you could tell me about mexican bugs. thanks

Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:28 pm

I believe the Mexibugs that age are fuel injected, and I heard that it can be quite expensive to get them smog-legal for the U.S. Texas, for example has an age limit on smog testing (my '74 is exempt) but they will test an '86. I believe a stock Mexibug would fail here. (some states harder than others).

Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:39 pm

it's already in tennessee and that's where i live too. they dont do emissions tests here.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:43 pm

Are you buying one from Mexico? You may have trouble registering it. If it currently is registered in the states then more than likely it's a conversion. Basically they swap the pans with later standard beetles. That way they can legaly be registered in the states.

Over all the mexican bug is nearly the same as a later standard. Some trim differences, sometimes the chrome is crappy, but overall it's similar to say a '75-76 beetle. It may have FI on it, it may not. Talk to the seller about it. As for engine size, I believe they are 1600's but don't quote me.

-jeffrey

Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:45 pm

SO lucky....if mine wasn't so old, I'd have a long expensive road ahead trying to get mine smogged. I haven't studied the chronology of the Mexican Beetles in depth....had they started painting the bumpers body-colored in '86? That's the only thing I don't like about them....it's gotta be chrome!!! I'd say go for it! If I didn't have emissions testing, I'd love a bug 12 years younger. Age has not been kind to mine.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:16 pm

The 86 Mexican was fitted with an AF series engine, which is a low compression (6.6:1) carb 1600DP. It would also have a 4.37 r&p transmission. It will appear more like a US '73 model with 77 model seats.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:39 pm

I own a 1990 Mexican Beetle here in Chicago, IL, where it is registered as a 1990 Volkswagen Sedan, legally. It is carburated and has no catalytic conveter, and has failed IL emissions. I am having A1 Performance in Santa Ana CA build a custom exhast system that will use stock heater boxes and will have a catalytic conveter. Also will be adding EFI so my emissions issues should be handled soon.

Some Mexican bug info from my experience. '92.5 was when EFI was introduced, and these cars run cleaner than most current water cooled VWs according to a road test I read in a British auto mag. Body colored bumpers came along in '96, along with a host of other improvements thanks to a lot of new factory tooling. The fit and finish on late mexican cars is very good, much better than the 80s-early 90s.

Your '86 is probably VERY similar to my '90. I have added over 40,000 miles in 3 years to my car (total is about 83,000) and it has been an excellent, trouble free car. I am rebuilding the front end and doing brakes right now-the OG parts were showing some wear, but this is the first non oil change/tune up money I have put into it. I feel the car handles well, stops well, gets good mileage, and is quite stable at 75mph. It is my daily driver and does basically everything it was designed to do, well. A lot of people will say that they are not as good as the German cars but IMO they are better in many ways. Chrome trim as mentioned is not the greatest, but it is at least as good as the mid 70s german bugs.

Complaints about the Mexican issue cars in specific are noise level (gearing and total lack of sound deadening from the factory-both fixable), and lack of room with 4 adults on board (same goes for any small car though).
Other than that, these cars are a good value. Unappreciated, a nice one can often be had for a lot less than a German car is worse condidition.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:28 am

Mike, it may be that your state has it registered properly, but according to the US DOT, your car does not comply with US standards. Doesn't have a third brake light does it? Did it come from VW with a MPH speedo? The emission standards in place in 1990 in the USA for such a car could not be met with any carburator made. That's why all cars by then had EFI. Since your 90 has a carb, it does not comply, that's why you have emissions problems today.

The Mexican cars were carb'd with a normal twin tail pipe exhaust to the end of 91. Then in 92 they fitted a CAT on the exhaust with a single tail pipe. By 94 they had EFI, hydraulic lifters and a spin-on oil filter. Disc brakes didn't appear until about 97 or 98.

IMO, there is nothing special about an 86 Mexican Beetle. It is the same carb'd engine with drum brakes as any 71 or later German car. The only thing it has going for it is that it may have 10 years less wear and tear, rust, mileage, dents, etc.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:45 am

I just want to correct a few dates just the keep the record straight.

The AF engines fitted with the two-way cat started very early in the 1991 model year. This was replaced by the ACD fuel inject engine, with three-way cat for the 1993 model year.

Disc brakes replaced drums during the 1994 model year, but the drums were re-introduced in 1996 for certain versions.

I can agree with Bruce that there is nothing particularly special about the pre 88 Mexican Domestic Bugs. However, the 1982 to 1986 export models were something else entirely. These had full sound proofing, rust proofing, etc. Some even came with better interiors and tinted glass. The only down side was the 1200 engine, but reliability and mileage were excellent. Mexico did produce a number of Export versions of the 2004 'Ultima' special. These were superior to the domestic 'Ultima' in terms of sound proofing etc.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:17 am

I was going to add that a 1986 Mexican Beetle probably was a 1200L model with a 40hp engine but by now God knows what it could be / have.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:09 pm

If imported from Europe, then a 1200L, if from Mexico, a 1600 Sedan.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 1:41 pm

PJMS wrote: Disc brakes replaced drums during the 1994 model year, but the drums were re-introduced in 1996 for certain versions.

My friend has one. Kinda weird they still made both braking systems.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:19 pm

Mike J. Goode wrote: I own a 1990 Mexican Beetle here in Chicago, IL, where it is registered as a 1990 Volkswagen Sedan, legally.

Yeah, take that "registration" to the DOT and ask them if it's legal. You will be walking home.

Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:59 pm

Yes my car does have a third brake light-probably added by PO. All I know is it has an Illinois title with the correct VIN, listing the car as a 1990 VW Sedan, also I have it insured as such. I am moving to Arizona next month and will say that since I am keeping the 2 flat I own here in Chicago and renting both units out when I go, I may leave my car registered here. I am worried about what may happen if I do try to transfer the title. But so far I have had it to emissions, etc and no one has snatched it away from me yet. I know that the carb and lack of cat are two big reasons it fails emissions-I am having a 1776 built for it that will have these features on it. I don't think ALL cars sold in the US in '90 had EFI though-I remember looking at a new '90 Samurai and am pretty sure it was still carburtated (EFI I think was new in '91 on these).

Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:13 am

Mike J. Goode wrote: I don't think ALL cars sold in the US in '90 had EFI though-I remember looking at a new '90 Samurai and am pretty sure it was still carburtated (EFI I think was new in '91 on these).
There was a sprinkling of computer controlled feedback carburators in use on the smallest engines in the early 90s, but the vast majority of manufacturers had to use EFI to achieve the emissions specs.