Have You Got the Bug?
Tips for Buying a Volkswagen Beetle.
The VW Bug is the most popular car in history. Fans will search the globe to find the Beetle of their dreams.
The Beetle is among the most common and well known vehicle of the Volkswagen model range, if not all automobiles. The car was originally commissioned by Adolf Hitler during his evil regime to provide a cheap means of transportation on the new Autobahn roads then under construction. Although the Beetle had an unfortunate origin, it went on to become one of the most popular cars of all time with its four cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed engine.
It became renowned for its low price and high quality, and went on to outsell the Model T Ford. The original Beetle is still commonplace today, which provides evidence of the integrity of the original design. Few cars, save the original Mini and the Model T Ford, can even approach the Beetle's popularity and longevity.
The condition of the car is the most important factor in my opinion. There are tons of "cheap" VWs out there, but if it's a real "pile", you'll save more money in the long run by buying a nicer car for a few bucks more to begin with. Now condition is a pretty vague word and covers many parts of the car. So let's define it a little bit and separate it out into a few categories: body, paint, interior, mechanicals, originality, and history. Some of these are obvious, while a couple of them are a little strange. So I will take each one and break it down for you.
With Volkswagens, the body is
the main thing... it's the body for crying out loud, and you can't have a
car without one. The condition of the
body is very important. Some things can be easily repaired, while others
require acts of God to make right. Rust is one thing to keep a
serious lookout for.
In most parts of the world, that
"demon rust" has it's way with old cars and has ended the
lives of many VWs. Volkswagen's are no exception, so look all
around for signs of rust or signs of repaired areas.
Bubbles in the paint
that can range in size from that of a pencil eraser to several
inches. Look at the underside of the Bug and inside the fender
wells for any signs of holes, welding or
patches. Shake the doors and listen for little bits of stuff
moving around. Surface Rust is rust just on the surface that has
not rusted through the metal. This is easier to deal with than
holes and crusty stuff.
Paintwork is
another basic thing to look at when considering buying a VW Bug. If you are buying a car that has
been restored and has a nice coat of paint, there are a few things to
look for to insure that it was done correctly.
There is a huge difference between
a $300 paint job and a $5000 paint
job from a professional restoration shop.
First look at the finish; Is it
smooth? Is it really smooth?
Lots of small bumps in the finish
is called "orange peel", it is a sign of
a lesser quality paint job. On some occasions, this orange peel can be
"color sanded" and buffed to a glassy finish. But this doesn't always work.
Beneath the paint is
the real important stuff... When you sight down the side of the Beetle
and look at the reflections in the paint... is it like a mirror?
Waves in the body are usually signs
of previous bodywork.
If you are paying top dollar for a
restored Bug (i.e.: $50,000 for a VW bus) it better be like glass.
If you are paying $3000 for an old
60's Beetle, don't expect perfection.
Other areas to look
at when it comes to paint, are the spots you don't normally see.
Take a look at the bottom edges of
the fenders and look under the hood and in the door jams. Don't
let you emotions get the better of you, make sure you choose your
Volkswagen wisely, it'll save you a lot of trouble. |
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