How fast can a Mexican made Beetle go with a 1600i engine??

[NRAgunnut1993]

Long story short I’m really considering going down to Mexico And buying one from at least 1993 or newer and would like it to have the 1600i engine. I just like to know the top speed of one, thank you all and God bless.

[danfromsyr]

probably ~75mph.. maybe bump to 80 with a tailwind

would want to tune the tires/steering/suspension if planning to go much more than 70mph though.. can get 'twitchy' in side winds
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[Pegasín]

Official factory speed: 127 km/h (79 MPH)

With good weather and road conditions I saw my speedo reach 140 km/h (87 MPH). But I don't recommend it. I only did it a couple of times for testing perfomance.

1600i gearboxes has short ratios, same or similar as 1200, and over 100 km/h (62 MPH) engine runs at high rpm's. The advantage is that it has better accelerations and full power at any conditions. 1600i engine has an special feeling. No more power than a carb engine, 46HP @ 4.000 rpm (DIN)

I think 55-60 MPH is the best cruise speed.

Also, with side wind the car stabilty is the same as other VW Bugs... i.e. awful.

[Zundfolge1432]

[adventurebob]

They can go right up to the speed recorded on the crash report.

[Zundfolge1432]

[Lost69Convertible]

I learned to drive on cars with four wheel drum brakes. And I remember one of my first attempts to drive a car with "power brakes". I struggled with the transition, my heavy foot kept locking up the wheels.

Now I'm back driving a Beetle with four wheel drums. And it has taken some time to re-learn the old methods. Like - get on those brakes HARD and early, without skidding. Get the car's weight forward and squish those skinny front tires for a larger contact patch. (I'm not talking about braking while cornering) I wonder how many young drivers can pump and modulate the brakes in a panic situation without ABS today?

Old cars certainly don't have all the safety features of modern cars. But at the same time, I think the expectation for driver knowledge and skill was greater with older cars.
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1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible

[Tim Donahoe]

I seem to remember the top and cruising speed in my 1974 Owners Manual, it says 81 mph for manuals, and 78 mph for auto-sticks.

I usually got 67 mph on the freeway, and have gotten it to 75 to pass trucks. My motor is a stock 1600 dual port.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[Zundfolge1432]

[Tim Donahoe]

Zund, I just limit myself to 75 mph when passing trucks. I don’t like going too fast in a bug.

Back in the day, I’d go 90 mph in my new 1969 Karmann Ghia, then it would go faster (1500 engine). But Ghia’s cut through the wind and air drag, infinitely better than a bug. Although, I don’t drive that fast anymore, even in my modern car. No need.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[Lost69Convertible]

I have a '79 1600 dual port FI engine, all stock. Not sure how close it is to a '90s Mexican FI Beetle. But I came upon an open stretch of highway today, it was a shallow incline, strong head wind, and the convertible top was down. I put the pedal down:

I didn't reach Zund-Speed but I'm pleased considering the conditions.
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1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible

[mukluk]

127km/h (79mph)

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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[KTPhil]

How fast can a Mexican made Beetle go with a 1600i engine??

Top Gear answered that. About 110 mph.


Link

[viiking]

Of course, everyone’s speedo is correct and the tyre rolling radius is correct for the speedo.

I can get 120 mph out if mine if I put 12” tyres on the front of the car.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

With a stock engine/set up-physics says around 80mph +/- depending on exact factors

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647276&highlight=mother+natures+dynamometer
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[hopkin]

I can easily cruise at 120 km/h (~74 mph) and 'pop' up to 130 km/h (~80) in my unmodified '96. The fastest I've pushed the engine was to 'kiss' the 140 (~87mph) mark on the speedo. Based on the flow of traffic and comparing my speedo reading to the radar signs (that show your speed), I'm pretty sure my speedo is reading accurately.

To be fair, the roof was removed from my car, which makes the car a little lighter than other Mexican Beetles and may allow for a higher top end.

The engines can be 'chipped', Manfred at www.1600i.de used to offer that service, I don't know if he still does.
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1971 Super Beetle (past)
1971 Super Beetle (past)
1974 SunBug (past)
1972 914 (past)
1991 Honda Civic (Original Owner)
1996 'Open Air' Mexican Beetle (current)
2015 Golf (current)
2017 Dune Edition (daughter's car)

[jarmchairpilot]

The Mexican 1600i has a good engine the thing that restricts it most is probably the catalyser and exhaust design.
What the stock combination loses in power and acceleration it gains in the advantage of approx. 20 per cent better fuel economy compared to the majority of other VW 1600 engines found in other markets.

[Matt Wilson]

Beetles are little city cars so no need to go too fast I suppose, but I recall renting a fuel injected Mexican Beetle on vacation one year. I was impressed by the pep, I was a little put off by the finish. The interior was very stark. The engine certainly had plenty of power, but what I noticed immediately was the rev limiter. I suppose I rev my cars a little higher, but the rev limiter was very noticeable in that vehicle.

Otherwise it was a good car, I'm sure it would be fun to drive and own.
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1972 Standard Beetle
1969 Baja Beetle

[adventurebob]

As you want to get to the scene of the crash.

[Lost69Convertible]

It's good to see this topic active again.

Today I drove the same stretch of highway as last May. No other cars in sight. This time I cheated by accelerating down the hill leading into the flat stretch. I entered the flat at 88 mph, steering and stability felt good. On the flat my speed went down to 82 mph.

My throttle cable is a little loose. I don't think I'm getting WOT.
_________________
1956 Beetle Ragtop: My Father's car
1969 Beetle Convertible: My first car. I loved it, I lost it, and I never got over it.
1979 Super Beetle Convertible