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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject: Daily driver? |
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So im selling the second bug ive owned and seriously considering getting a Thing. You see, this would have to be my only car and a daily driver. My dad thinks i should just get a used toyota from my work and that old VW's arent reliable enough. I really hope that isnt true.
Help me out guys, is there anybody here that has had their Thing for years and drives it 5 days a week? _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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Towel Rail Horizontally Opposed
Joined: April 15, 2005 Posts: 4622 Location: SE CR IA US NA PE
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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I drove mine 7 days a week for a while. As long as it doesn't have any major issues, it won't be any less reliable than a Bug.
That said, I try to always have a backup car. Shit happens. _________________ 1974 Thing -- under the knife
1967 Beetle -- spring/summer/fall driver
1996 Subaru OBW (EJ22, 5-speed, AWD) -- winter car, 3-seasons "don't feel like biking today" car
049 > 070 > 053 > 009 |
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Ian Epperson Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2005 Posts: 2262 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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Totally agree with Towel Rail. For years, I drove mine every day, and would limit repairs to what could be done over a weekend. Now that I have a backup car, I'm able to do repairs that span several weeks (OK, months).
Oh, and you should come out to BTLN on Thursday nights to see my, and other daily driver Things. (Note that this coming Thursday will be a Halloween pot luck). _________________ VW-181 shirts and stickers.
http://ian.epperson.com/vw |
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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Ive been wanting to go, but i got school thursday nights
Thanks. Unfortunately I dont have the luxory to have a 2nd car. Ideally i want a second, but no can do right now. My first car was a bug, so was my second, and I just think VW's are the most awesome cars out there and I Kringe(spelling?) at the idea of not having one. Ive always wanted a thing but I settled on a bug since they are cheaper than things. Now that my bug is giving me loads of grief that i just cant handle with school and work, I see this as an opportunity to spend my saved money on something much better and on what ive wanted. _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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npconnor Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 194 Location: Central Texas
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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As long as you are decent to them- they return the favor. Get a nice one. Not one that needs a lot of attention and you should be good. Do you have any good friends that wouldn't mind giving you a lift perhaps a couple times a year? If so- then yes... go for it. If your heart says get a Thing then you should! _________________ '73 Thing
Austin Air-coolers Gang |
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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Im looking at one that is with 28k original miles. Decent u think?! Only thing (pun not intended, hehe i bet u guys are immune to that by now) is its an hr drive away and my current VW might not make it, and my 2 days off are in the middle of the week. Why is it so haard! _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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Towel Rail Horizontally Opposed
Joined: April 15, 2005 Posts: 4622 Location: SE CR IA US NA PE
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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nictator wrote: |
Im looking at one that is with 28k original miles. Decent u think?! Only thing (pun not intended, hehe i bet u guys are immune to that by now) is its an hr drive away and my current VW might not make it, and my 2 days off are in the middle of the week. Why is it so haard! |
I take odometer readings with a grain (okay, a block) of salt. The one on my car (which might not even be OG) froze at 66701 miles long ago. Let the inspection be the final determinant. Good luck, man. Take some pics if you can. _________________ 1974 Thing -- under the knife
1967 Beetle -- spring/summer/fall driver
1996 Subaru OBW (EJ22, 5-speed, AWD) -- winter car, 3-seasons "don't feel like biking today" car
049 > 070 > 053 > 009 |
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Acetone Jack Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006 Posts: 110
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Haha, I drove my thing to school everyday for all of senior year, and work every day over summer break. I reccomend sound deadener for your rear shelf, or maybe a taller 4th gear. Suprisingly with routine oil and valve I didnt have any serious problems, allways made it to where I needed to be.
(Can't wait to drive my car again when I go back home haha.) |
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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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about th 28k miles, the guy says its recorded. good enough 4 me. plus the thing is pretty dang cherry _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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kuebelwagen84 Samba Member
Joined: March 15, 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Edison, NJ
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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nictator wrote: |
Im looking at one that is with 28k original miles. Decent u think?! Only thing (pun not intended, hehe i bet u guys are immune to that by now) is its an hr drive away and my current VW might not make it, and my 2 days off are in the middle of the week. Why is it so haard! |
As long as the engine was well maintained you shouldn't have a problem, well assuming the floors aren't rotted out to the point that you'd fall out either (but you're out west so that shouldn't be a problem). The 181 I bought had a completely rebuilt engine and new transaxle, needs new rockers and floors + some other misc. body work, but the mechanics are solid and it always starts (well started, I just started redoing the fuel system) and gets me where I need to be... I'm actually amazed at how durable the engine is, but you being a bug guy you should know that already
Just keep in mind that they are old cars and some parts might be hard to come by + it seems with old cars that one problem can tend to expand to others. Even so, they are incredibly simple cars to fix and there shouldn't be anything too major that you wouldn't be able to tackle it in a day/weekend _________________ // '73 Thing "Jeep Zerstörer" currently being restored / kustomized
// '07 Rabbit taking over daily driver duties
1600s of air-cooled German muscle! |
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spaeth Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2005 Posts: 355
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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I would be more concerned about how well it has been maintained then the low mileage. Low mileage means that it has been sitting ALOT. That can really take it's toll on a vehicle. Make sure that someone has already got all of the systems up and rolling again or it can be a pricey and time consuming proposition.
Craig |
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Ezra466 Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2007 Posts: 6
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:42 am Post subject: |
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I've driven mine daily for over a year, only stranded once (belt broke). Other than that, like others have said, if its well maintained they are as reliable as any other AC VW. Other than the Thing, I've had 2 bugs, and in the 7 years having a VW as a daily driver, I've only been stranded twice.
As a side question, I was thinking the other day, with all the old AC VW's on the road and with the ability to easily maintaine them mechanically for the forseeable future, if or when would metal fatigue become an issues, it is with planes, but obviously those are under much greater stresses, but I still wonder, after so long on the road is it possible to have structural failure due to metal fatigue? |
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TDodge7 Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2006 Posts: 283 Location: WV
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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i used to drive mine daily for 2 years , and mine was a pile . home made windows , bondo everywhere , never let me down tho . |
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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot guys this is really reashuring that it will be a good decision.
Anyways, yes, it has been maintained. The owner kept the reciepts of the services and that i guess is the 28k proof. Ahhh he hasnt contacted me back yet and im really excited! _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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Skorzeny's G Ride Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Gods curse on humanity...The Arizona Desert
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject: ... |
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Sorry but this is the only time i disagree. I have had nothing but old chevy muscle cars growing up since i was 17. I've gone through 4 of them since then and i can tell you they are extremely difficult to take care of when you "have" to depend on them while going to school and work. Mind you they are a lot of fun working on but when you have to spend 3 hours a day alone studying besides the time you spend at work and in school its too much.
The best thing i did was pick up a base model tacoma that was 5 years old and have been driving that ever since. They last well over 200k and I know i can get in it and just take off without worrying about tinkering with it. Since i've been in college its been the biggest stress reliver and since i'll be in school for sometime i need something i can totally depend on. I didn't go for the 4x4 flashy one and didn't even opt for power windows or any cool options. Its the lowest base model and its left me with extra money to save for projects while i go to school. Yeah i get laughs for it being simple but it leaves me money for my cool cars and they don't laugh when i cruise my cool cars to work and school.
School can make you broke quicker than anything else and unless your silver spooned i'd go for some good quality reliability first. And not to mention the truck is perfect for a parts getter. Just my experience _________________ ...70 type 181
...59 Beetle
...62 beetle baja (new) |
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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Funny you mention a tacoma. I work at toyota and thats what i also want as a second car. Just a simple "gardener truck" thats gonna last and double as a parts transporter. So I do plan on getting a tacoma, but not at the moment.
Im used to having a VW now and always doing something to it. I work 4 days a week and school is part time so I do have space to tinker. Its just now im selling my current ride to get one that needs less attention. One that is already complete.
Maybe im too subourn. _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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nictator Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 193 Location: san jose, california
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:52 am Post subject: |
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EDIT!
I work FOR toyota. AT would be nice. One of those neck tie wearing dudes. Second thought, no. Ties are annoying and I enjoy getting dirty.
Wait, there are these guys from toyota that pop into our shop wearing these funky grey jumpsuits that hardly speak english and ask to measure something on the car that you are working on. I think they are trying to figure out how long components last or something. I wouldnt mind at all to do that. _________________ Ya, I got a hardcore flat four in this brute. |
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Skorzeny's G Ride Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Gods curse on humanity...The Arizona Desert
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject: .. |
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Well good luck which ever route you take. I drove my 73 chevy for years while in college before i got so busy i had to pick something else up. I remember one summer i took the bus because i pulled the motor to put in a cam and some other upgrades and also fix some leaks. It is fun and you just have to have a certain type of personality to love working on stuff. Well good luck. _________________ ...70 type 181
...59 Beetle
...62 beetle baja (new) |
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