TheSamba.com :: View topic - Resurrection of a New Beetle. What is wrong with people?

Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:28 am

I am an auto tech for a GM dealer (we also have Honda and KIA) and have always owned at least one pre 1969 Volkswagen. Recently we had two New Beetles traded in for KIA's ,(good grief), a 98 white and red 02. I am always eyeing the wholesale lot for a potential fixer upper for my soon to be driving age son, so as soon as I spotted some German engineering I was eager to look them over especially since we hardly ever see a VW in on trade. They looked great from 100 yards, (my father calls them 20 footers), but up close was another story. To make my story as quick as possible, the 98 with 99K miles had been beaten to death, scratches, dents, bumpers, etc. The 2.slow engine ran but the poor trans was sluggish. The interior was completly ruined. :roll: PASS :roll: .So I then proceeded to the red 02 also with 99K miles. The body and interior were in decent shape so I figured it had a better life with some love shown its way. The battery was dead so I jumped it off. It slowly cranked and ran....but... no coolant and the low coolant light flashing. I managed to drive it about 5 miles even with coolant pouring out of it. Poor little abused cars. I felt so sorry for them. I ended up buying the red 02 Beetle for a song, and put a used engine in it, servicing everything as it was replaced.
:arrow: I feel somewhat gratified having resurected this car from the dead. I hope to drive it until I can pass the Volkswagen torch onto my son. I just wonder what is wrong with people. Not so long ago, maybe 50 years or more, people fixed thier cars so they would last, now they just get thrown away as trash, and replaced with a new shiny one to run into the ground. I am a guy who over maintans all of his investments and just cant understand how people can abuse a vehicle they depend on to the point of junk. My father a ,product of the 1950's, has instilled into me to maintain or repair rather than replace. I believe that this partially lost American practice/tradition is part of the reason the greatest country in the world is in the shape its in. The throw it away generation is now running the country, seems the good old USA needs some old time repair values. After all, aren't we going to keep our country.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:50 am

I call it the "Bic" syndrome. Like a Bic lighter EVERYTHING is disposable now. Nothings made with longevity in mind. Use it for a year or so and throw it away, thats our motto. I absolutely HATE new cars. I hate the way they feel, look, smell...they bore me and I have no connection with them. When I walk the junk yards I am amazed at some of the cars there. They look like you can drive them out. Hell most of them are nicer than the cars on the road!!!! My thought is this. Fix them and donate them to a charity that can give them to people who NEED them instead of scrapping them. Our country wastes at an alarming rate.

Fri Nov 28, 2008 6:22 am

ovalteen wrote: I call it the "Bic" syndrome. Like a Bic lighter EVERYTHING is disposable now. Nothings made with longevity in mind. Use it for a year or so and throw it away, thats our motto. I absolutely HATE new cars. I hate the way they feel, look, smell...they bore me and I have no connection with them. When I walk the junk yards I am amazed at some of the cars there. They look like you can drive them out. Hell most of them are nicer than the cars on the road!!!! My thought is this. Fix them and donate them to a charity that can give them to people who NEED them instead of scrapping them. Our country wastes at an alarming rate.

Amen. If I had the time I'd do exactly what you describe. I worked years ago for Family and Children Services and they had a program called "Wheels to Work" where donated cars would be checked by mechanics who volunteered time and given to worthy single moms who needed 'em to get to work. When I'd go out for lunch these cars were easy to spot. They were clean and always parked away from the front of the parking lot where no one could dent their "new" car! A couple of clients even dragged me into the parking lot to show 'em off.

Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:17 pm

I agree a lot of people do not take care of or take pride in their cars. Every new (used) car I have bought, I had to replace the engine within the first few weeks. Not due to my driving. It seems that the car lots will fix a vehicle just enough for people to drive it a month so they can not bring it back b/c of the lemon law (at least here in La).

I bought an 97 ford explorer with barely 100000 miles on it. I was driving home about 45 mins from the car dealership and it died on me. I was like how could I kill an automatic. It started right up, then died again like 5 mins later, this continued for about 3 miles. Finally I pulled into a gas station and called daddy....again. The truck sounded horrible. I took it back to the dealership and they "hummmm well I am not sure what you want us to do, you knew it did not have a warranty. I told them I had not made it 20 miles, finally they said the would fix it free of charge. 2 months later and 2 rent a cars later, I finally got my truck back.

On my rabbit, I have to fix all the crap the PO's only temp. fixed.
Sorry to rant.

Niki