TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jan 11, 2003 11:08 pm

Is the original style Beetle still being
manufactured in Mexico? Has anyone
owned a Mexican Beetle, and is the
quality as good as the german manufactured
Beetle? (at least of the seventies) I've read
it is illegal to bring one into the U.S. Why??
I read that sales of the New Beetle were down
some 40% last year. If this trend continues might
vw consider discontinuing this car? I doubt it will
last as long as the original.

Sun Jan 12, 2003 8:14 am

Hey, I have been wondering the same thing and have found out a lot of info on the topic. They still produce the original style beetle but I think it's only in Brazil. I dont think the quality is bad but i dont think it's good. The metal is not nearly as good as metal on a German bug. It is illegal to bring them into the U.S because they dont meet U.S saftey standards. I think it's dumb but thats just the way it is. I also was told that you could bring one back but then you have to get it to meet the saftey standards but i have no idea if this is true. If anyone else knows more about this let me know. I'd like to find out more.

Matt

www.geocities.com/matts65resto

Sun Jan 12, 2003 10:44 am

Im not sure how it's done but I believe some guys were driving them in and putting the body on a good 1970's pan and licensing them as a 70's car. Or getting someone from mexico to buy one and drive it over and selling it to them as a used car. I live in illinois and saw one for sale for $12,000 in the K-mart parking lot.

Sun Jan 12, 2003 12:32 pm

Don't wait to long to try and get one. The Mexican government is trying to require Mexico City cabbies to drive 4-door cars and give up their Beetles. With Brazil no longer making them, Mexico is the only place they are made and Mexico City cabbies buy more of them than anyone else. The cabbies are up in arms because they smell a conspiracy between a corrupt government and car dealers to force cabbies to buy much more expensive sedans. Sounds crazy but true. The days of the Mexibeetle seem numbered.

Sun Jan 12, 2003 6:51 pm

Go to http://www.btlmex.com/. They import Mexican Beetles to the USA.

Sun Jan 12, 2003 9:14 pm

I have a '70 beetle center chassis with a '99 Mexibeetle grafted on. I am happy with the overall performance and fit of the vehicle, but it is definitely a major step below original German built standard beetles from the late '60's and early '70's. The body metal is thinner (anyone buying Mexican replacement fenders can attest to this), the paint is not as well applied, and the car is stripped of almost all trim. On the other hand, it has standard front disc brakes, and a very nicely perfoming fuel injection system.
Interestingly, it has a swing-axle transaxle, as European and South American standard beetles were never offered with an IRS rear.

I bought mine for $10,500 including a Mexican factory installed electric ragtop, which is very similar to the pre-'64 beetle ragtop, except it extends down to where the bottom of a standard rear window would be. Yes, it has a vinyl rear window, but when that top is down, it is one of the nicest convertibles out there. The wind is much less annoying to rear seat passengers than a standard beetle cabriolet.

Overall, I am very happy with the car, when you think what it would cost to get a standard beetle in this condition, I think it is a very good deal.

Here is a photo of the bug:
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/60611.jpg

Sun Jan 12, 2003 9:20 pm

wow, that is one patriotic bug!

Mon Jan 13, 2003 1:48 pm

Heres one on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2400187888&category=6019