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Fri Sep 05, 2003 9:08 pm

I am a graduate student in vermont looking for a daily driver that I can also learn to do work on. Anyway, I am seriously considering a ghia or a bug. Is one a better choice than the other as far as maintenance goes, rust etc. Also, since it gets snowy up here that's another consideration I have...
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Fri Sep 05, 2003 10:28 pm

I have both. The bug is easyer to work on and get parts for. They are also more interchangable and have more accessories offered.

Sat Sep 06, 2003 8:08 am

Old Ben Gun wrote: I have both. The bug is easyer to work on and get parts for. They are also more interchangable and have more accessories offered.

'Scuse me Ben Gun, but you are incorrect. :!:

The Ghia and the Beetle share 99.95% of the mechanicals. Engine, transmission, gauges, everything but body, seats, and steering column. Beetles never received the front disc treatment in 1967, while Ghias have disc from 1967 - 1974. Oh, and Ghias have wider pans. If you have both, then why do you say the Bug is easier to work on? Ghia's have more room in the engine bay and have a wider body. 8)

Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:15 pm

Gages are not the same, But that is besides the point. Weener is correct about all the other stuff. The one downside I never liked about the Ghia is being more of a uni-bodt than a bug. If you bashed a fender you can't bolt another one on and go.

Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:15 pm

MeanIrish,

I am going to call you out on this one. :?

The speedo and clock are the same from the intro of the Ghia through 1969 compared to the Beetle. The gas gauges are different. In the 1970's neither shared gauges. Most people are apt to run across a 1960's era Ghia because there were more of them produced. 8)

Sun Sep 07, 2003 12:21 pm

A ghia speedo is the same as a Bug speedo? :?

Sun Sep 07, 2003 1:33 pm

Yes, late 1950's and into the 60's they shared the same speedo. :shock:
I don't know all the particulars because I am getting out of t he VW hobby and am letting the intricate knowledge I had die. I think if the the magical year of 1967 that the two parted ways.
Ghiaddict would be a better source since he restores Ghias for a living. When I parted out my 1959 Ghia several Bug people wanted the speedo out of it.

Sun Sep 07, 2003 3:56 pm

I could of swore the faces were diff. Just like busses are a little diff. :?:

Sun Sep 07, 2003 6:37 pm

MeanIrish,

Quit swearing. :shock:

Sun Sep 07, 2003 8:00 pm

I'm a sailor, I'm allowed to swear. I waited all day for your reply and that's all you say! Damm you :lol:

Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:14 pm

Sorry to burst your believe bubble IC Weener, but you are incorrect. :)

The gauges on the early Ghia's are NOT the same as Beetle's. Oh the speedo may look similiar and be a similiar size but in fact they are different. At the very least a different needle, high beem indicators differed.
The most telling is the part numbers are different 119... and 141.... If they were the same part they would have the same part number.

I cannot swear about the 60-67 but I had a 62 convertible for awhile and it only varied from my early Ghia in not having the chrome ring around the center needle button. It was still different from the beetle's.

If you still don't believe me I can show you a side by side picture of two 58-59 speedo's my Ghia's and a spare Beetle's one that came with the Ghia originally.

-Craig

Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:23 pm

Well, that's a new one on me. For years it's been my understanding that those gauges are the same. I think the differences varied between Standard and Deluxe Beetles. I do believe the internal working are the same as well. Either way, if I'm wrong then I'm wrong. It would surprise me that VW wouldn't use similar gauges as thrifty as they were. 8)

Tue Sep 09, 2003 5:58 am

The Ghia especially pre-60 was a luxury model and VW wanted to make a big splash and seperate it from the more pedestrian beetle. This is one of the reasons that none of the pre-60 interior pieces are the same as that of a beetle. All the knobs, steering wheels and interior materials are different and a level above what was available for the Beetle. The post 60's Ghias got the same steering wheel, knobs etc. in an effort to save money. I still believe the guage was different at this point but I will not swear to it.

-Craig

Tue Sep 09, 2003 8:10 am

In your face weener! J/K :D

Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:09 pm

[email protected] wrote: Sorry to burst your believe bubble IC Weener, but you are incorrect. :)

The gauges on the early Ghia's are NOT the same as Beetle's. Oh the speedo may look similiar and be a similiar size but in fact they are different. At the very least a different needle, high beem indicators differed.
The most telling is the part numbers are different 119... and 141.... If they were the same part they would have the same part number.

I cannot swear about the 60-67 but I had a 62 convertible for awhile and it only varied from my early Ghia in not having the chrome ring around the center needle button. It was still different from the beetle's.

If you still don't believe me I can show you a side by side picture of two 58-59 speedo's my Ghia's and a spare Beetle's one that came with the Ghia originally.

-Craig

OK, I know the Ghia was the luxury model, blah, blah, blah. However, you only stated the the *early gauges are not the same as those on the Bug. You were making me think I was losing it, because I know darn well that in the 1960s they shared speedos and clocks.

So, MeanIrishmofo \:D/

Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:57 pm

I don't think the Ghia ever had a clear speedo needle or the same part number for the speedo as a Beetle, so no I don't think they ever were the same. I just am not willing to swear on a stack of bibles as I am on the early Ghia's. It's been awhile seen I last owned an early mid 60's Ghia. The 62 vert I owned 4 years ago still had a slightly different speedo as I recall.

-Craig

Wed Sep 10, 2003 8:22 pm

HA HA Weener, You old salty dawg! :lol:

Wed Sep 10, 2003 8:46 pm

The 1966 ghia i had had the same speedo as a friend's '66 bug. Screw the needles, they were entirely interchangeable. The only difference was a small crack down the side of mine.
-James T

Wed Sep 10, 2003 11:23 pm

Yes they are interchangable. But I don't think they are the same.

Thu Sep 11, 2003 8:10 am

In 1965, for instance, they are the same part number. If need be I can do more digging and get the part #'s for all years.