1963 Bug as First Car

[beartoothweb]

We found a great deal on a 63 Bug, so we bought it with the anticipation of restoring it for my daughter. She's 14 now, so we have a year and a half or so.

I started thinking more about the safety issue with the car, and wondering if it's just too dangerous for a new driver. There are a lot of big trucks and SUV's in our area, and the driver's aren't great. I'm more worried about her being plowed by some big truck than her having a wreck from being a new driver.

I had already planned on doing a disc brake conversion, and adding at least 3-point seat belts. I know you can add a cage inside for extra protection, but that does make a big difference in the look, of course.

I drive a 65 Cobra replica, which is fast as hell and has no side impact protection (unless you count my arm being protection for my chest), so I am not risk avoiding.

I'm interested in hearing from other DD's of these cars and if you'd let your wife/girlfriend/daughter, etc. drive one on a regular basis? I know you can't predict what will happen.

Our other option is to go with something like a 10 year old Honda that would at least have more airbags, but I'm still not sure that would ultimately make any difference.

[Glenn]

A = A 63 Beetle will not do well in a collision with a huge SUV.

B = Teen age drivers are more likely to be involved in a collision.

So A + B = C


C = Crash


The car I let my kids share when they got their license was a 1999 Accord 4 door. You're more likely to survive a collision in a larger car with airbags and a better safety record.

[kami_sn]

I voted no, altough I started myself with a 74 super-beetle, but in my case I lived in a city with small cars, with speed limits in 40s and all city driving. That car you got may be OK for her to do some weekend driving but not for a daily drive.

my choice would be a mini van
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1958 Euro Model Ragtop Agave Green, She is Beautiful!

[Jon Schmid]

My wife and I faced the same dilemma a few years back. My daughter wanted a bug but we decided that for numerous reasons a used "new Beetle" (I know, blasphemy) would be a better choice. It especially paid off when she went to college some 300 miles away from home. She still loves her "Little Bastard" (big you-know-who fan)--no regrets. We're still thinking of getting a '60-'65 bug some time down the road as a kick back car but as a daily driver for a first time pilot, I would recommend against it. If you do get the '63, use it as a weekend warrior. Just my $0.02. Good luck--

[beartoothweb]

Thanks for the comments!

No minivans...they are an abomination. ;->

My wife actually drives an 03 Vert (which actually is one of the worst cars we've ever owned, it's a bit of a lemon), so a new beetle might be an option.

My first car was an 84 Honda Civic, and it was a great little car (not much safer than a bug.)

We live in a Rural area, but lots of highway driving to get to "town", so that would be an issue.

I had already told her I thought we should do a little bit to the bug then sell it and buy a safer car. Now, just have to find something that she might like.

Thanks in advance for all of the comments!

[drscope]

Glen says a 63 Beetle will not do well in a collision with a huge SUV. He is right, but the reality is that a 63 VW will not do well in a collision with ANYTHING!

Unlike video games, with a classic Beetle you don’t get to start over again once you have an oops.

Your daughter is 14 and may express interest in the car and working on it now, but that interest may not last more then a couple days once the actual work begins and boys start hanging around.

If you want to do the car, do it with the intention of doing it for yourself. That way if or when your daughter looses interest the project won’t come to a halt.

If she sticks with it all the way through and still has interest in the car then it can be a nice toy for her to enjoy. But her principle mode of transportation should be something else.

That being said, I did a lot of crazy stuff with my VW’s over the years and I’m still here. But I never hit anything or had anything else hit me real hard either.

I will say when I saw these pictures a few years back it did give me a sick feeling in my stomach thinking about all the things I did. I was fortunate to last this long!

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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[KTPhil]

I also vote to wait. Let her crunch a 5-10 year old Toyota or Honda, THEN see if she still wants a Bug. By then you can turn it into a reliable daily driver. Make it a graduation present.

The real question then becomes where she will be living... these cars require owners to be mechanics as well, in order to stay safe and reliable. If she's with you, no problem. If she's a few hundred miles away, this is not a good choice, since there a few auto repair shops that can fix them.

Depending on other drivers and road conditions, the lack of safety in the car's design may or may not be relevant. In the suburbs, at low speed, and if she watches out for T-bones at intersections, it's not a bad choice. Open highway, bad weather, aggressive drivers... that's not a good recipe for an old Bug.

The only way I'd let my child drive an old VW would be if they lived with me so I could be the mechanic, and if they commuted locally without dangerous drivers. That's pretty rare these days.

[bugnut68]

I wouldn't recommend it for primary transportation. Maybe engage in a parent/kid project that can be enjoyed periodically together, and, in truth, the more occasional the car is driven, the more special it seems. I know looking back I wish I'd focused on something other than VWs during my teen years; I truly regret the level of obsession I held for the VW hobby at that time and even into my college years.

[beartoothweb]

How about some reasonably cool small safer car recommendations?

She's paying for her own car (we match 1:1), so we're hoping for $4000-5000.

I'm thinking early 2000's Honda's, Audi A4, etc. I've had a couple of Jeeps, but the mileage is horrendous.

[bigdog1962]

My son just turned 16 and while I wanted to get him something that would get good gas mileage, safety rules. Odds are he'll be involved in a wreck sometime and I would rather pay for the gas now than worry about saving gas money. When he is older and can afford a new vehicle, it will be his decision. But for now, safety first. (Even though my first transportation was a motorcyle and then a 1970 bug...)

[SkooobaSteve]

Not to mention its a vw and if you don't have a good mechanical mind as a driver. You as a dad will end up getting phone calls where she is broke down somewhere or it wont start.
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Jonathan
Romans 6:13
WTB 67 beetle rear seat belts.
59 Euro ragtop build with my dad
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=493553&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
65 dlx Slow build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391061

[79SuperVert]

My two daughters were raised to be very responsible, got good grades in school, always came home every night.

They both totaled their first cars within a couple of years of getting them, each of them after one year of college, one in a near head-on collision with an SUV one block from home, one in a collision with a lamp pole after avoiding another car.

They were both driving old Toyota Corollas. They both came away with no injuries.

That's two for two. 'Nuff said as far as I'm concerned.
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Central Jersey VW Society

Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt.

[johnhous]

I can't count how many times I have been cut off in my 68 ghia by big SUVs and trucks who could not see me. Fortunately for me I had disk breaks up front. Driving my 63 bug around the foothills of L.A. I'm always being cut off by tiny Honda's or Toyota's weaving in and out of traffic expecting me to stop on a dime. Unfortunately my 50 year old technology can't match theirs. I drive my bug like I would drive a motorcycle, very defensively and always looking out for someone to do something stupid like short stop on a yellow light. Unless your daughter currently rides a superbike I would advise against it.

[Damian Gomez]

I'm a 17 year old male driver with a 63' lap belts that I only use on the freeway(because its the law) I feel pretty safe in my bug.

[Jon Schmid]

Hi spot,
Where in "Ca" do you live? LA, Alturas, or...? What might work in one part of our lovely state might not work so well in others (405 anyone?). Just curious.

[eggman95]

That's trouble waiting to happen.
I voted no for two reasons:

1) Even a low speed accident can cause serious harm in a Beetle.

2) Young drivers make mistakes (we have all been there). Isn't it better to make a mistake and ding up a slightly used car, rather than a 51 year old classic? We are trying to keep these cars alive and well.
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Henry

[pb_foots]

[Damian Gomez]

209 near the Modesto area,

[Damian Gomez]

and my cousin was hit head on by an suv in his 65, he was prepared for it but his passenger wasn't and they both walked out just fine

[johnhous]

there is probably a good reason vw changed from a single circuit master cylinder, drum brakes in a 63, to later dual circuit and disk brakes.