When you bought your bug, how far did you drive it home?

tasb · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject:

ahh, when we were young, restless and invincable...

One of my first jobs after getting my drivers license was working for a used car salesman in the town next door (Michigan). He had a brother in northern Alabama. I drove rusted out VW's down to the brother and had a few days r&r while the drive train was removed and put into non rusted southern cars before driving the "new car" back north.

It was about 850 miles one way on back roads because none of the cars had proper registration while I was driving them. I always felt like a bootlegger running whiskey over state lines. The rusty cars going south were always a bit of an adventure with poor brakes being the most common ailment but really bad floorpans was also very common. The return trip had its problems too as sometimes the guys doing the transplants weren't paying real close attention to details like torque on rear axles nuts. Met some really great people along the road though. Learned some very valuable skills like perserverence and self reliance. I think I made about 17 trips over six months before I got a real job milking cows... Wink

That was in the late 70's.

jhicken · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

I bought my first VW, a '66 sunroof, from a neighbor, so my first ride home was about 200 ft. My most current ride was is a '69, which I bought online and had it trucked to my house. So my first ride home was about 40 ft.

-jeffrey
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Derek Cobb · Annoying Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 1912

I bought a 70 bug convertible sight unseen. I flew to pittsburgh and drove the car 850 miles back to Kentucky. It was one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned and the trip was completely uneventful. The first 50 miles I was as nervous as a cat, just waiting for *whatever* to happen, but as the miles rolled by, my confidence grew.

WesleyGarrard · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject:

when i bought mine i traveled to Laramie, Wyoming to hang out with a friend for a week, then we drove another 2 hours to Wheatland, Wyoming. drove it back to Laramie, put another 200 miles on it driving around that week. Then my brother and I tried driving it the 13 hours back home made it within 5 miles of the nebraska border and it spun a rod bearing, we had to get it towed and the closest town was Cheyenne, 30 miles back. Then my grandparents came and towed us home. so about 1350 miles, give or take.

racecar67 · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

How about from Coral gables Fl. (Miami) To Dallas Ga.(West Atl) Shocked

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gasseous · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

I bought my 65 in Clarksville, Tennessee. Test drove it and decided to drive it back to Huntsville, Alabama. I made it about 13 miles when it quit running. I went to a U-Haul, rented a dolly and towed it home. Next day, I changed out the fuel filter. Other then a few adjustments, no problems since. Not sure how far that is.... but will say 13 miles.... LOL!
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Rowroy · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

'73 Thing - bought in Pittsburgh, PA and drove it to Knoxville, TN (~550 miles).

The only problem I encountered was a ruptured oil pressure line to the gauge in WV. Luckily, some locals stopped and hauled me to their shop where I was able to make the necessary repairs. They even kicked in some free parts and beer!
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Blu67Bug · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

0 Miles. I bought my '67 from "OldBug.Com" in California and had it trucked to me here in NY. The movers managed to lose the key on their previous stop when they moved my car to the end of the trailer for drop-off! Thus, when they arrived, I had to get a flatbed tow truck to come and haul it to my house.
Sitting in the Beetle, with my foot on the brake as the tow truck driver tilted the bed was quite scary! Shocked

I just kept hoping that the brakes were really working as advertised when I released the handbrake, and guided my new baby down and into it's parking space.
Needless to say, if you ever have a car shipped to you, be sure to have the PO make an extra key and mail it to you.
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scottvw · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

I bought mine in Orlando and drove it about 5 miles to the house I was living in.

towd · Samba Member Joined: June 20, 2005 Posts: 2463

DRIVE IT HOME ! ! ! ??? damn it to hell.....

Don't know that I ever bought a Volkswagen that you could drive.. my girfriend did, but she wouldn't let me drive it..

I have bought two that could be driven 5 minutes after giving them the money

20aegti · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject:

does towing count? I bought a 59 rag in NY and towed it home to MD. 300 miles or so.

freednighthawk · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

If towing does count:

About 60 miles, doing no more than 25mph due to the broken and quickly disintegrating tow bar, which was loaned to me...

Fun trip, constantly worried that my new aquisition was at any moment about to slam into the back of my mother-in-laws 06 Exploder.

herbie91 · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject:

3 miles...... with no floor. The petals were on a 2x4 going across the heater channel and the tunnel. same with the seat.
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Harris · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:26 am Post subject:

I only had to drive 3 miles to get home, but after paying for the car I agreed to leave it with the original owners for 2 weeks. They were in their 80's and needed the '62 to look for a new car.

16CV's · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: Drive home

You mean when you buy a bug,you can actually drive it home. I've pushed them, had them towed and brought them home in boxes.
I think of the 35 or so bugs I have owned , I've only really had one together and running. And that was a beautiful Fontana Gray 66 sunroof euro model with a Gas heater,dealer badge locking column and all original paperwork.

Stacy

JiI · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject:

It was in the driveway waiting for me as a birthday present when I was in high school.
Jeff

Hatin Rain · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

I purchased my first 1966 Beetle in Dallas, Tx. and drove it home to Ohio in 2001... 1400 Miles. I had to change one tire along the way. I purchased my second and current project, a 1965 Beetle Convertible, out of Denver, CO. and drove approximately the same distance in 2006 without incident. Such trips are therapudic for me and allow me to forget everything for a few days while I'm on the road seeing the countryside. My next purchase will probably be from California and I'll drive it home from there as well. Shocked

Can't beat the feeling when you turn on your street arriving home...
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bugdust · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

Just driving them home...
This one...about 60 miles
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This one...about 45 miles
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This one...about 25-30 miles
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This one...about 10 miles
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This one...about 3 miles
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This one...about 40-45 miles
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This one...for a friend...about 100 miles
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olson1955 · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

i tow all my bugs back home.. when i buy em..

58 rag = 5miles
64 bug = he drove it to my house
65 bug = 150 miles round trip

bugdust · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject:

Towing...that's another story

I think the farthest I've towed on was on a trailer about 250 miles from near Dothan, AL to my house. I've towed a couple with a towbar from the Tampa area to the Jacksonville area.

I've drug home about 60 over the years from piles in boxes to running driving cars and everything in between.
_________________
'67 westy
06 4
425 B42 080 108
UH 2312 523907 711****

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When you bought your bug, how far did you drive it home?
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