TheSamba.com :: View topic - '75 Auto-stick Beetle

Wed Nov 27, 2002 12:59 am

I've been bug shopping lately, and recently fell in love with a '75 auto-stick beetle. The body and engine are in remarkable condition, but I still have reservations. I called a VW specialist in town that told me not to get it, because auto-sticks are problamatic and something about the fuel-injection in the '75's [he doesn't even want to look at it for me]. I wanted a second opinion, so I talked to the VW guy who's been doing maintence for this car for some time. This second guy told me that it's one the nicest bugs in Seattle, and that the auto-stick in this particular o ne hasn't had any problems.

Now I'm seeking a third opinion. I 'm okay with a car that takes a little extra maintence, but I don't want one that'll fall apart on me. I've talked the guy down to $1800, but the first VW guy I talked to said it is only worth about $450.

Which guy should I believe? And what's the deal with '75 auto-sticks?

Thanks.

Wed Nov 27, 2002 6:29 am

JUNK! GET AN EARLY BEETLE! There are plenty of early bugs on the samba for sale under 2 grand, in good condition. The 75 super beetle with autostick is just plain garbage. I'm sorry superbeetle people, this is my opinion in dealing with these cars daily. Just to give you an idea, the front end with the struts will shimmy no matter what you do, the fuel injection is garbage (once again, my opinion) and with the autostick, you cant do anything to the motor as far as improving performance because the trans and motor work together. If anyone disagrees, please post below.

Adam Vegas JHC

Wed Nov 27, 2002 7:18 am

Autostick will be a collector's item some day. Will no doubt add to the car's value in the future due to its rarity. It was an ingenious way to (no kidding) get more women to drive the car by eliminating the clutch. But true, it does require more maintenance and is more complicated to work on. Fuel injection gives you better performance and more fuel economy when working well but also has a bunch of electrical components and an electric fuel pump that can cause you more problems. If it's a Super, the front struts mean better handling and a smoother ride but also are more sensitive to wear and will shimmy when the parts are worn sooner than a beetle with the older type suspension. More components mean more things that can go wrong when they do wear out. The car won't fall apart on you but you will be spending a bit more on maintenance in the long run, I think. $1800 for a car in such nice shape is not bad, I think.

Wed Nov 27, 2002 1:43 pm

I have a '71 super that I really love, and it is a Autostick too. It's great! Although my family friends really are the driver(s) of the car since they are almost 80 years old now, and autosticks are the only way they will drive, and they will NOT take anything but a autostick beetle. It's a great little car, it handles nice, rides nice and is automatic to boot. I've had at least 5-6 autosticks and this is my first Superbeetle autostick, and it's even better than the standards! Now a '75 there is not much difference other than "looks" as far as the body and the dash and misc stuff, and the FI is a PITA. I would still consider it, sounds like a pretty decent deal. I paid 2k for mine. If the FI gives you too many problems you can always convert it to carburation. Most people think the Super"b" auto's are crap, thats because they more than likely drive the living snot out of the transmission like it is still a 4 speed slamming it into gears and just beat the heck out of 'em, THAT will kill the tranny and give you problems forever of course. It has to be driven "gently", not speed shifted and not played with to get the most speed or "performance" out of it. Thats why most people have problems with them, they have been beat/driven it to death and neglected to fix it properly because it is hard to figure out how to correctly fix the workings of the transmission/engine system for the car. I say buy it, but maybe you are a 4-speed kind of guy and it will bore you to drive it, it just is not the same as a 4-speed, thats the one thing I do not like.... the feel of not shifting through 4 gears drives me nuts! Good Luck with your decision, I hope it turns out well!

Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:35 pm

Will anyone repair it in your area when it breaks down?

Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:23 pm

I'm not sure if you mean me, Timgud?. "Nealgoboom" said he knew the mechanic who worked on it, so I suppose that means he is around his area and probably will work on it. I work on them (auto's) myself, and never once had to take them (or any of my ACVW's) to any shop's to have any repair work performed, even on the transmissions. They aren't to difficult once you get them figured out and have the proper tools. If anyone has prob's with the auto's I am more than happy to try and help as much as I can! :)

Wed Nov 27, 2002 7:23 pm

Thanks for all the input. I do haen to know a couple VW specialists in the area, though one of them [the one that advised me not to get the '75] said he wasn't going to work on auto-sticks anymore, he hates them so much. I'm not concerned though, he's said this kind of thing before but he never follows through, plus, I know some other mechanics who do VW's.

Fri Nov 29, 2002 10:08 pm

As for the auto stick part, it isn't too bad, but with th FI it comes down to this. It's hell when it's well but it's broke too much. If you do buy it i'd advise to invest in a set of DP heads and go carbureted. It'll be cheaper in the ong rn, and if you keep all the FI parts laying around you can convert it back if you go to sell.