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Thu May 15, 2008 6:50 pm

You're crazy if you like STD's :shock:

Thu May 15, 2008 7:05 pm

I guess it depends on what you prefer. I bought my 71 Super from a friend before I knew that there was much of a difference. I was just lucky.

I do like the look of the early Beetles too...so I'm keeping my eye out for one.

I'm also looking for a Squareback.

It's a sickness...

Thu May 15, 2008 7:36 pm

I was never much of a Super fan, but call me crazy, I'd love to have a 79 Super Convertible. Like this one (got it from the gallery):

Thu May 15, 2008 7:43 pm

Like this?

25 years later and I still love it.

-jeffrey

Thu May 15, 2008 7:50 pm

neil68 wrote:
The term fat chick actually does only apply to Super Beetles, due to the bulbous front fenders and hood. However, some newbies have since tried to attach the name to earlier Beetles and even Baywindow buses :)

actually the term was coined for the baywindow buses.... but newbies can't remember that.. :wink:

towd wrote: Dudes in the early 70's VW detuned the motor to run at 47 hp

not even close...

Thu May 15, 2008 7:59 pm

bugninva wrote: neil68 wrote:
The term fat chick actually does only apply to Super Beetles, due to the bulbous front fenders and hood. However, some newbies have since tried to attach the name to earlier Beetles and even Baywindow buses :)

actually the term was coined for the baywindow buses.... but newbies can't remember that.. :wink:

towd wrote: Dudes in the early 70's VW detuned the motor to run at 47 hp

not even close...

Also, from Glossary of VW Terminology:

Definition: "Fat Chick or Fat Girl: Descriptive name-Type 1 SuperBeetle sedans and cabrios-refers to 'overweight' appearance of trunk lid" :wink:

Thu May 15, 2008 8:08 pm

neil68 wrote:

Also, from Glossary of VW Terminology:

Definition: "Fat Chick or Fat Girl: Descriptive name-Type 1 SuperBeetle sedans and cabrios-refers to 'overweight' appearance of trunk lid" :wink:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/dic/f.php

Samba dictionary wrote: Fatchick Slang term for most air-cooled VWs that use 4-bolt wheels, such as 68 and newer Standard Beetles, Super Beetles, Bay Window Buses, 1970 and later Ghias, 1970 and later Type 3s, etc.

many folks define the term differently, but if you were around when it was applied to vw's, you'd know... you can read for hours about the debates on what is, and isn't, a fatchick... one thing's for sure, it's not reserved for only the superbeetles...and wasn't applied to them initially.
:wink:

Thu May 15, 2008 8:46 pm

With the front of my '72 Sb dropped in the weeds.
Alot of people ask what year is that, or guess earlier
and are suprised when I say '72 SB. I'm a fan of all bugs
I like the older style's better, but my '72 is by far my favorite.
It's like the best of both world, flat screen, old dash, modern suspension.
Who could ask for more.

Thu May 15, 2008 9:00 pm

mclamorewp wrote: Why does everyone seem to bash on supers. I'm new to the vw scene but I'm not understanding what the big deal is

There is no big deal.
If someone thinks there is...then it's a big deal to them. It's a discussion that' comes up in here alot. I think some people are too sensitive to BS so they get more of it. It's a recreational activity for some bug owners.

Wanna' have fun? Start a thread posing as a new "Beetle"owner and tell everyone how much better your water cooled "beetle" is compared to a ACVW. You''ll see ALL the ACVW owners on the same side... at least for 1 thread :wink:

Thu May 15, 2008 9:33 pm

Well... I know I'm still new at this but...

It's not at all unreasonable to say a New Beetle is better than one of our air cooled ones.

They are faster, require less maintenance, have good AC, probably get better gas mileage, are safer, have far better brakes, are roomier, pollute less, and their engines last longer between rebuilds.

And personally I don't care. Yes I'm buying my Beetle because I want to save some money on gas, but I'm also buying it because it's cool, different and has character. Most modern cars are just boring transportation modules.

If I was willing to settle for a transportation module I'd have bought a Civic.

Thu May 15, 2008 9:54 pm

I'm one of the rare breed who actually prefers the 73 and up Supers the most. While I think some of the old Ovals look really nice, I greatly prefer the rounded windshield and the big trunk with the curved under front apron. Older beetles start to just look silly after a while. Super beetles actually have some level of potential to have an aggressive stance, and I daresay look pretty damned cool.

Fri May 16, 2008 2:51 am

JeffDeWitt wrote: Well... I know I'm still new at this but...

It's not at all unreasonable to say a New Beetle is better than one of our air cooled ones.

They are faster, require less maintenance, have good AC, probably get better gas mileage, are safer, have far better brakes, are roomier, pollute less, and their engines last longer between rebuilds.

And personally I don't care. Yes I'm buying my Beetle because I want to save some money on gas, but I'm also buying it because it's cool, different and has character. Most modern cars are just boring transportation modules.

If I was willing to settle for a transportation module I'd have bought a Civic.

The mileage isn't really that much better...they are a true pain-in-the-ass to work on...they require coolant and radiator maintenance...there is a ton of plastic crap on them...

...that being said, my g/f wants one and will probably get it.

If you like it...drive it.

But "better"? :roll:

I beg to differ.

Fri May 16, 2008 5:28 am

I dig all bugs...My first restoration was a 74' super. It was the best driving aircooled I've ever had the chance to cruise.
Reading this forum is the first time I've encountered VW snobbery. I positively hate the term "fat chick" for late model Buses and Bugs....what the hell? 99.9% of the population can't tell the difference between a 55 and a 75.... I know a lot of people that can't tell a New Beetle from an air cooler.
We don't have any VW clubs around here so the car club members I hang with think all VW's are Junk....and they are right. :lol:

We got 6 sitting out back, just call me Fred Sanford.

j.

Fri May 16, 2008 6:19 am

towd wrote:
WHY is so many seem to think a super had " a Bigger Engine"

Dudes in the early 70's VW detuned the motor to run at 47 hp

Actually, you're right that the super does not have a bigger motor because it's a super, but you are wrong on the motors being de-tuned. The reason HP ratings went from 60 to 46 in 1972 is due to reporting in net SAE vs gross SAE. Fuel injection brought a 2 HP increase to 48. Net SAE HP is the more accurate rating. The only car from the 60's-1971 that maybe actually put out it's gross HP rating in real net HP was the Hemi.

It's confusing, but several motors of the muscle cars were intentially under-rated to try to keep owner insurance costs down, but they were under-rating a HP rating that itself was inflated by "proper" net SAE standards...except in my opinion the 60's Hemi which just put out a crap-load of power. By the way, I'm talking the real 426 hemi motor, not those corporate fleet V8 motors they call Hemi's today- in my mind the 6.1 litre SRT versions are the only ones MAYBE worthy of being called a Hemi, but that's just my opinion 8)

Fri May 16, 2008 6:37 am

ive owned a few standards and both flat screen and curved screen supers and i dont care how much ppl wanna argue but the strut front end is light years ahead of the 30s design torsion bar and can be so worked so much further.
theres a good reason most manufacturers are still using that same mcpherson strut today

im another one of the the handfull that prefers curved screen 73 on supers
my pride and joy is a 74 super and i think they make the best german look VWs
ive slowly turned mine into a german looker over the years and yes old 6volt beetles have loads of character and are highly collectable but the later vws are just so much more nicer to drive

towd wrote:
WHY is so many seem to think a super had " a Bigger Engine"

oh and in most countries other than the US supers were offered with a 1600 and disc brakes where as the standard was only availble with drums and a 1200 or 1300 engine so thats where the super having more power deal comes from

Fri May 16, 2008 6:45 am

The way I see it, VW's slogan "The Volkswagen Changes but Stays the Same" really represents the evolution of the bug over its production history. VW changed little things here and there not to make the bug look different, but instead to make it work better. The Super represents VW's efforts over time to improve the bug overall.

Yeah, supers look like someone inflated a standard bug like a balloon, but they're still a bug - they're just a little more modern than the original mid 1930's design. It's a cool thing for VW fanatics to have the choice of what era of bug to get into. I've had bugs ranging from '56, '73, '78 and love them all. It's cool how simple the early bugs are. There's not much to them. With the Super you have a lot of complicated technology like the Bosch FI system... which just represents a more modern design. Gotta love them all, I say.

Fri May 16, 2008 7:23 am

I think Volks Folks are a unique group no matter what you own. I love it for the hobby, comradery and love of all things VW. I do know what some of you are talking about, you have the pre 68 guys, Thing guys, Ghia guya and so on. Growing up I owned a 78 Toyota Celica in a sea of GM and Ford guys that I hung out with. I have always been a, point A to point B man myself. The only input I have on Standards vs Supers is: Supers have a nice smooth ride with a few creature comforts and Standards have a unique ride of their own (suspension, steering, power). I think Farfegnugen can be achieved with either.

Fri May 16, 2008 7:39 am

Hypnolobster wrote: I'm one of the rare breed who actually prefers the 73 and up Supers the most. While I think some of the old Ovals look really nice, I greatly prefer the rounded windshield and the big trunk with the curved under front apron. Older beetles start to just look silly after a while. Super beetles actually have some level of potential to have an aggressive stance, and I daresay look pretty damned cool.

X2. While I don't consider myself one of those annoying snobs, I do prefer the '73+ Supers. I was always drawn to them more, and I ended up buying one. The ride is better, handling is better, more trunk space, I love the curved windshield, and on and on and on... Yes, the steering components are more tempermental but keeping them in A1 shape is a small price to pay for the benefits. To the general public, a Beetle is a Beetle. Most can't tell the difference and usually unless you are a Beetle owner, you don't really have a preference. That said, buy what you like, screw what others tell you.

Fri May 16, 2008 7:45 am

I like the way the Super has a bulging front end, it lends more character to it.

Fri May 16, 2008 11:07 am

Thats why I date fat chicks, they have nice bulging front ends... When I got into beetles, I HAD to have a 67, if I could do it over I'd get a 73 or 74 super now...