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canyonwlf7
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Joined: December 04, 2010
Posts: 48
Location: Culpeper, Va
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 Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject: Why is it that Ghia's are so fun to drive! |
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I took mine out tonight after a tough day, Even tho there are deer out there!
Had a blast, listened to good music, drank a beer ( no judging please)
And smoked a cigar, something about cruising back roads in a ghia! Saw a lot
Of nice Xmas lights as a bonus...... |
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zzhayward
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Joined: June 01, 2005
Posts: 166
Location: Newport Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:02 pm Post subject: fun ghia |
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When you get the tires warm and it grips and you know your handling and tires, it becomes very personal driving. They respond to direction well and give back what they take. They just put a smile on your face. When you can roll down the road 8-10 inches off the assphalt and can you can double the recommended speeds on corners its all good.
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1973 914 2L Ravenna Green |
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Greezy Joe
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Joined: April 12, 2010
Posts: 1182
Location: Crawfordville, Fl
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:15 am Post subject: |
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 It's the cool factor  Even stock they handle pretty well, but get some extra HP and do brake and suspension upgrades and they are an absolute BLAST to drive  I think one reason the Ghia is so much fun to drive is that the Ghia likes to be taken out and put thru the paces 
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Current:74 Ghia Coupe w/ 2276
71 Ghia Vert/top in progress
07 GMC Truck
04 Chrysler Crossfire
73 Harley FLH 93 cid
89 Harley 883 Sportster (1200)
Owned before: 58, 69 Ghia Coupes, 64 Canvas Sunroof, 68, 72, 73, & 74 Bugs, 63 Single Cab, 65 Bus, 66 & 70 Camper
"You have to be smarter than what you're working on" |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 7896
Location: Central Morris County, NJ
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will46r
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Joined: August 31, 2010
Posts: 43
Location: ALABAMA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| It's like asking why is a fine ceegar better than a Dutch Master? The finer things in life are often hard to explain. It's close to driving a vintage road racer without getting so close to the edge. |
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Altema
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Joined: June 20, 2010
Posts: 2051
Location: Lower Michigan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:20 am Post subject: |
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| will46r wrote: | | It's like asking why is a fine ceegar better than a Dutch Master? The finer things in life are often hard to explain. It's close to driving a vintage road racer without getting so close to the edge. |
^^ x2
Or why a Godiva raspberry truffle is better than a gas station candy bar!
It's not snob appeal, but an appreciation of the car; all that went into it, and all it has to offer back.
This morning I was grinning as I shaved and dressed, knowing that I was taking the Ghia today. People adjusting their pace on the freeway to get a better look, passengers pointed, a security guard stopped to chat about the Ghia he used to have... these are all fun, but the Ghia is a car you can enjoy just by itself, all alone. We have a long park nearby that stretches for miles and miles, and I can't count the nights I have gone for long drives in the dark. Even when no one is paying attention to it's beauty, a Karmann Ghia is a joy to drive.
Paul |
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walkerman
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Joined: June 21, 2005
Posts: 256
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Back in my single days, I worked in Los Angeles and lived in Huntington Beach. It was about a 45 mile commute each way. I got my ghia in the early 70's and put a couple of hundred thousand miles on it. I worked the evening shift, so I was always driving opposite rush traffic. I went home after midnight, so I pretty much had the freeways and PCH to myself. My ghia just made the drive enjoyable. I would go home a different route every night just to make it interesting, but regardless of which freeways I took, the last 10 miles were on PCH along the beach.
Those were the days. |
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Frankie Pintado
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Joined: April 02, 2008
Posts: 352
Location: Little Washington, VA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know what it is about Ghia's and other air cooled vw's. It's everything.
I do know that it it has a lot to do with the people. I've got it in my blood. My dad had 2 Ghias, and several Porsches. I don't know how many buses and Beetles my Uncle had (now he's got my grandfather's 74 vert) and I've got my Grandfather's Bentley Manual. My mother owned a Bug named Luscious Lou, and a Rabbit (diesel). Even my Father-in-law has owned a couple Bugs and a Squareback.
We all know what you're talking about.
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1972 Karmann Ghia, 1985 Vanagon GL, 1989 Cabriolet |
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Greezy Joe
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Joined: April 12, 2010
Posts: 1182
Location: Crawfordville, Fl
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Ghia's have SOUL...they like to be driven...mine talkes to me and says Harder Faster  Or was that my wife that said that
_________________
Current:74 Ghia Coupe w/ 2276
71 Ghia Vert/top in progress
07 GMC Truck
04 Chrysler Crossfire
73 Harley FLH 93 cid
89 Harley 883 Sportster (1200)
Owned before: 58, 69 Ghia Coupes, 64 Canvas Sunroof, 68, 72, 73, & 74 Bugs, 63 Single Cab, 65 Bus, 66 & 70 Camper
"You have to be smarter than what you're working on" |
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61 BUS 
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Joined: January 05, 2005
Posts: 389
Location: Tucson, Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:35 am Post subject: |
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I think all of the air cooled VW have soul, which is missing from most newer cars nowadays. I like to think of my Ghia as a poor man's Porsche 356.
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61 Bus, 76 Porsche 911, 84 Porsche 928, 07 Porsche Cayman |
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John Moxon
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Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 8626
Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| 61 BUS wrote: | | I like to think of my Ghia as a poor man's Porsche 356. |
Na...I am a multi, multi millionaire (GBP) and I much prefer my Karmann Ghia to any Porsche I've owned.
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John.
Posted from my Apple iPhone 6 (Beta)
The VW Judson Register
My '58 Karmann Ghia
1958 Karmann Ghia Postcard Now Available
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong. |
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xWestonx
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Joined: November 26, 2009
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Location: Lakewood, CO
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| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| Having owned quite a few classics from various eras (50s-70s), I have to say the ghia has become my favorite to drive. I can't really speak to how a bone stock one feels, but I absolutely love the way mine handles! Only problem is... I run out of road too fast |
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wolfgang klinkert
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Joined: March 04, 2009
Posts: 209
Location: NRW - Germany
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| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:30 am Post subject: |
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_________________
With cordial "Karmann Ghia"-greetings from Germany
(O = i = O) ~~~ Wolfgang Klinkert ~~~ (O = i = O)
»»» [Member of "Karmann Ghia IG Lippe in NRW"] ««« |
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CLKWRK
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Joined: October 02, 2001
Posts: 477
Location: Niagara Falls (14092)
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Altema
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Joined: June 20, 2010
Posts: 2051
Location: Lower Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:59 am Post subject: |
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| CLKWRK wrote: | | that "1969" ghia is actually a 1970-71 model |
Definitely 70-71, but perhaps it has a 1969 build date like mine.
| CLKWRK wrote: | | BTW ... Type 4 or turbo powered ghias are the funnest to drive |
Probably true, but a stock looking 1584 type 1 that runs the speedo off scale at half throttle is kinda fun too!
Paul |
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wolfgang klinkert
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Joined: March 04, 2009
Posts: 209
Location: NRW - Germany
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| CLKWRK wrote: | | ... that "1969" ghia is actually a 1970-71 model ... |
It was an ORIGINAL Karmann Ghia advertisement created by Volkswagen.
We all know, that some mistakes happened ...
... for example: have a look, where the fuel filler flap is positioned in this brochure:
 
But nevertheless: The Karmann Ghia is one of the most beautiful cars of the world !!!
_________________
With cordial "Karmann Ghia"-greetings from Germany
(O = i = O) ~~~ Wolfgang Klinkert ~~~ (O = i = O)
»»» [Member of "Karmann Ghia IG Lippe in NRW"] ««« |
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canyonwlf7
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Joined: December 04, 2010
Posts: 48
Location: Culpeper, Va
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| xWestonx wrote: | | Having owned quite a few classics from various eras (50s-70s), I have to say the ghia has become my favorite to drive. I can't really speak to how a bone stock one feels, but I absolutely love the way mine handles! Only problem is... I run out of road too fast |
Mine is bone stock, except for radials I suppose!
Can you tell us what you did to yours to make it such a fine handling ghia! |
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Altema
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Joined: June 20, 2010
Posts: 2051
Location: Lower Michigan
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| Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:39 am Post subject: |
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| wolfgang klinkert wrote: | | ... for example: have a look, where the fuel filler flap is positioned in this brochure: |
Wow, I'm glad they really didn't put it there!!
Paul |
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