VW things to ponder in 2025

[NJ John]

We have the samba for information, conversation and classifieds. Thank you!

We a few hardcore companies still developing new products for our old cars. Our hobby is very specific and it’s amazing that businesses big and small are still dedicated to it.

We have HotVW’s magazine as well as other over seas ones. Many other car magazines are disappearing or switching to quarterly.

We have a huge surplus of used parts, parts cars, drivers, beaters, junkyards, hoarders and show cars.

I guess these are just some of the things I think we should realize and be thankful for. Feel free to add your thoughts.

Happy New Year!
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[oprn]

If we were to take an age survey I am thinking that there are more of us close to or past our "best before date" of 3 score and ten. I for one am thankful to have enough physical and mental capacity yet to enjoy this hobby.

How many of us still will have by the end of the year? Not all of us for sure...

Happy New Year and make the most of each day!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[iowegian]

[zerotofifty]

Many of my VW's are near as old as I am. I have owned one of them for 45 years now. I have been into VWs since Carter was President and now he is dead and he lived to be 100. Let that sink in. Yikes!!!! I have been a Hot VW's and Dune Buggy subscriber for 45 years now. I believe I have every single back issue still. Although a few might have been misplaced. My most recent renewal is $65.93 It was a lot less money 45 years ago! I sued to see the magazine in the racks at the grocery store, but not no more.

My Hot VW's and Dune Buggies subscription....In todays money, 45 years times $65.93 per year is $2,966.85 That is a lot in subscriptions. 45 x 12 issues per year is 540 issues!!!

I also had VW Trends but they went out of business long ago.

[dennismcd707]

Here's something I've been thinking about lately. I'm unsure of how much longer I'm going to be able to take my tires on and off my 71 SB. I'm already struggling at 62 years old, sitting on the ground "Indian style", holding the wheel with one hand, and using my foot/knee to balance the tire on, to move it around while my free hand is trying to thread the lug bolts. I already suffer from chronic back problems, so I just love doing this when I have to.

I don't know, maybe a couple more years of twisting my spine in funky positions, we'll see, but I know that my VW is still fun to own, maintain, and most importantly.............. drive! As soon as I can't maintain or drive my car anymore, it'll be time to say goodbye, but it won't be in 2025. I'm still functioning ok, and so is my Bug.
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1971 Super Beetle, 1776, dual Weber's, roller crank, modified large valve heads on match ported intakes, 9.2 to 1 compression, close ratio trans, lowered suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, truss bar and other goodies. Car has over 370,000 actual miles, and counting. (RIP 1970 Beetle/Baja, 1986 GTI, 1999 Jetta, 2002 Jetta)

[zerotofifty]

[NJ John]

I was going to suggest tire hangers, also. Although I don’t have one.

I really haven’t followed cars in the $20k plus range. I kinda seems they aren’t moving that well. Cars on oldbug.com seem to be not really selling fast. I’m not In the market, so not a good source of info.
I don’t know. Just looking forward to more comments.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[Cusser]

[wcfvw69]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[zerotofifty]

A big sell off, a drop in prices will mean that I will be able to afford that 23 window deluxe Bus, or that 1958 low light convertible Ghia, or that split window Bug. If I live that long

[Manfred58sc]

Old and in the way...maybe.My big fear is getting parts where they need to go. Greyhound killing package express has made it very expensive to ship large items. Thus many possible drivers end up being scrapped or ignored. If usps get sold ( ie killed) then its lights out. I think the parts crisis will kill the old car hobby long before interest wanes. Will I be able to fix my bus on the side of the road if there is a breakdown?? just hit 60. I really don't know.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Abscate]

[wcfvw69]

[oprn]

This may be the last year my wife can get in and out of our street Buggy. She no longer wants to ride in the sand rail, has trouble getting in and out of any car to be frank.

We have 4 children, 2 of them would be interested in the street Buggy to drive but none of them would be capable of anything beyond oil changes. One of them does not have the income to support it, the other's spouse does not want anything to do with it.

I will likely keep it for a year or two more incase surgery is an option for the missus but I have found that any car not used is a burden. They deteriorate faster sitting it seems and you have to keep the mice out. That's why I finally sold Dad's '69 Bay Window...
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[vwracerdave]

The older I get the easier it is to throw shit away. The older I get the less junk I want around me. I am not broke and if I can't get at least $25 for it then in the trash it goes. Everything fits inside my 2 car garage, nothing laying around in the driveway or yard. There are not gonna be any more "projects" in my life. I'll keep what I got running, but I'm getting rid of any parts that do not fit on a VW I have. Having said all that, I still want to go racing.

Hoarding is a mental illness.

Humans are attached to material objects. Humans have way too much emotional attachment to family heirlooms. Humans have a very difficult time letting go of mom & dads things, even when they have no use for them.

Hoarding is a mental illness.

I've seen many times the results when a senior family member dies and the family has to deal with cleaning up the estate that they know nothing about.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[KTPhil]

[NJ John]

I moved homes twice and out of a large commercial garge since 2000. So my stash has shrunk. But, I’m still holding to certain items for that sweep the floor build, or something. I picked up a chopped roof project bug last year. It needs a lot, I’ll be 59 in March. Crossing fingers.

I do think that people that held into their real Empi, Speedwell, Deano and the like have missed the boat. There’s less and less people interested in that stuff. Some ads have been up on here for 10 plus years.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[2type2]

I have 71 bug and a 66 bus, thought I was done and would be happy to just work on them, drive them and improve on them.Then I realized how much time I have available, so I bought a crusty 65 bug project that is making me happier as I go. Nobody telling me how much to spend or what or when to work on, it's glorious
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"A life of peace and happiness depends on your own gratefulness"

[NJ John]

Just got the new HVW’s magazine in the mail. The cal look issue! The cover kinda sums up what most been saying.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage