TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:40 pm

What do you do to prevent rust? How about staying warm? How do they handle in snow?

Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:51 pm

Undercoating of some sort. Something like Gator Guard. To keep warm is first to make the car tight. No Air Leaks!! Make sure both heater boxes open fully and seals are tight. Make sure the heater boxes are in good shape. All else fails a good coat. :D
They handle great in the ice and snow. I've passed 4x4 feed trucks on the highway without any problems. Just make sure to have good tires and keep a rag to defrost the windshield. Their a blast!!!!

Fear the winter not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Winslow Haselwood
SAW Industries

P.S. My brother and I drive our bugs ALL year round here in Kansas!!!

Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:52 pm

I did for 27 years and the last 5 was with no heater boxes.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:09 pm

i have driven mine in the winter and snow and had no problems but not ice, follow the above advice and if your really a cold nature person like me you can add in a blower system :D

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:13 pm

Glenn wrote: I did for 27 years and the last 5 was with no heater boxes.

Holy crap :shock:

Weren't you cold? I've never seen snow before, but I get cold just thinking about it.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:19 pm

Hat, gloves and a good down coat.

My biggest problem was water vapor from my breath freezing to the inside of the windshield.

If your seals are tight, your body heat and the heat from the engine will warm the interior of the car a bit.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:26 pm

How about the gas burning heaters? Do those work well? And can you easily add them to a car that didn't have one originally?

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:26 pm

You can always use gas heater...

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:27 pm

LOL Weux we post at the same time!

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:34 pm

gloves, facemask, jacket. my baja freezes my balls off.... its FAR from air tight.... :( and no heat....

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:37 pm

Brett Ross wrote: You can always use gas heater...

Isn't it something crazy like $600+ for a refurbished one? I think I'll deal with the cold.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:38 pm

thermostat and flaps are a must for cold winter driving... most vw owners have NO IDEA how much heat factory heater boxes will put out with an engine that is actually up to operating temperature...

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:39 pm

They totally kick some serious ass in the snow. you can plow through a foot of snow like its nothing (I've done it). Ice? well, its ice and its slickery no matter what your driving unless you have one of those cool motorcycles with nails in the tires for ice racing.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:49 pm

Ya I wish I could find a thermostat setup for my bug.

-Winslow

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:53 pm

They handle great in the snow. It is also when I drive my bug the most.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:00 pm

Winter driving in VW is chilly unless you have the like everyone menitoned everything hooked up correctly. they do travel quite well in the snow. I have a set of studded snows mounted on extra rims as well.
Ice is Ice. :(

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:07 pm

While I haven't driven much in the winter during the last few years (J-pipes on the big motor now) I drove daily for 30 years up to minus 35 degrees, right from high school, through university, marriage and two kids. The Beetle has plenty of heat once it warms up (3-5 minutes), IF the heater boxes, air hoses, etc, are all working correctly. A gas heater is a nice addition for the first few minutes, until the heater boxes start sending sufficient heat to the cabin.

Make sure the levers (between the seats) work correctly so that you can direct air to the windshield for defrosting. The floor vents can actually get so hot that your feet will get fried, if they're too close. I melted a box of cassette tapes once, by having them sit on the floor near the passenger heat vent :wink:

If you don't see much sub-zero weather, you will be pleasantly surprised by how warm you stay in your Beetle :)

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:22 pm

We had a little cool weather shortly after I got my Bug and I was pleasantly surprised how well the heat works, although I see why some folks call those front floor vents "ankle burners".

I hope we get a good snow (or three!) next winter, I'd love to play in the snow in my Bug... my 2wd Jeep Cherokee SUCKS in the snow.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:55 pm

I am surprised no one mentioned hot stove pipe to prevent icing???

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:29 pm

Years ago I had a 1968 Baja Bug we called the snow bug. It got through the snow as well as most 4x4's. No problem with heat, even in a Black Hills winter. Just make sure that it is all sealed up well.