Golden Beetle Car Company (Page 2 of 3)

Ok, this sounds like you get what you pay for, no?   I was with Peter when the car was delivered, I have it on video.  I am Lisa's friend.  I am a 30 year hobbyist-mechanic and restoration enthusiast practitioner.    I build old cars, motorcycles, Vespas, whatever I want.  I pay attention to things that can go wrong later.

I tried to be the go between for Lisa and Peter because there was a communication break down.  Lisa was (is) rightfully steamed that her $22,700 sight-seen Beetle drove for 2 miles when the rusty gas tank clogged the fuel line.  At the shop, Peter told the mechanic to clean out the rust, the mechanic, like me, diagnosed a brand new tank.  The bill was a few hundred bucks, not $2500 even with the next line of repairs.

The truth is this should be embarrassing for the Golden Beetle Company because it's all dead true.  I have video of axle bolts so loose that they were already backed out 1/4 inch and all were finger tight.  The same with the rear brake drum hub nuts.  No cotter-pins,...and finger tight when I jacked up the car (also on video).   This was the day the transmission ground to a halt at about 20 miles of total ownership time.   Fortunately I was able to find 3rd gear and limp the car home, but that was it, a tow truck was needed again.

Here's more and this isn't all:  Gas gauge never reads full, front brakes click and thump in the pedal, oil leaks in the engine from the distributor at the base of the cap not the gasket, car idled at 2000 rpm when it warmed up, front defroster blower simply not connected to the switch (I connected it), the new carpet glued up  under the dash has already sagged down, the mirrors won't stay adjusted into place and there is no more tightening left, the dome light pops out onto the floor and the switch doesn't work, rust is developing through the white paint (completely amateur paint job too) under each door and on the engine hood and the running boards, the modern radio CD player was specifically declined but delivered anyway,  the seat belts were old and frayed and unsightly - plus the Clasp of the Seat Belt did not match the hook, so the seat belts were never tested, or maybe they were.  Peter sent replacement clasps that were old-unsightly and very worn looking.  Lisa bought a new perfect set on line somewhere and I installed them. 

More:   The steering is a white knuckle on the highway.  Either the tow in, or tow out or caster or camber is wrong because that car must be held perfectly still on the highway or it will squirrel from lane to lane with the slightest movement of the wheel.  The gas pedal was so hard and the idle was so high.  At traffic lights, I would pull up the gas pedal mechanism with my toe.   Days later, still figuring this out, I found that the throttle cable was too tight essentially always pulling down on the throttle - gas pedal mechanism.  A simple loosening of the cable locking nut tip and the throttle dropped.  Now I could take off the giant spring that Golden Beetle put on to pull the throttle back.  There was no need for it in the first place if the cable wasn't so tight. 

More:   Engine is fuel injected.  Specifically ordered carburetors.   Most of the fuel injection factory pollution or air control sensors are missing.   There are unconnected BOSCH connectors because the sensors are missing.    Under the rear seat, rust dirt and old rusty wire connections twisted around what I think are heater vent pipes.  The connectors were covered with soft brown rust that were so loose, the the engine would not start (starter relay wire?).   I found it, I cleaned and replaced it.  Lisa got stuck at Walgreens because of the loose wires under the rear seat.

More:   Rear engine hood was so misaligned that it had already scraped off the paint in the upper right corner.  Such a simple thing to fix, why didn't they see it and fix it?    Glove box, no key.  Ignition key - rusty like it was sitting in a puddle of water for weeks, so simple to cut a new key for a "like-new" car, but it wasn't done.   Gas, Brake, Clutch pedal controls dirty, rusted and obviously not considered in the restoration.  I sanded, primed and repainted them so Lisa didn't have to get in her car and be instantly reminded that dirt and rust were right at her feet.  A simple 1/2 hour restoration repair, but it wasn't done.   

More:   Then center consol was so unattractive and old and wood grain, un like the dash (non wood grain).   Old and brittle and inconsistent with the new upholstery and carpet.  Either get a newer one or delete it.      Seats tracks.   Neither side would lock.  I test drove the car with Lisa after the first shop visit and her seat went zooming forward when I applied the brakes and since there were no working seat belts it was pretty dangerous.   Now, I was not happy, too many things.   Too many excuses from Peter.  Too much blaming other people, i.e. his employees, the Fort Lauderdale VW shop.   He even attributed the lack of road testing on Lisa's desire to get the car in April.  She had expected May.  Apparently Peter charged Lisa $1200 to deliver the car himself on a truck and took a vacation to Key West at the same time.   I think the testing and quality of the car was jeopardized by Peter wanted it finished so he could go on vacation and make an extra $1200 .

Also...it is not easy to get Peter on the phone.  When I called his cell number and got his voice mail, there is no pleasant "Hi this is Peter from Golden Beetle", what I got is a one syllable grunting sound so I never knew if I had the right number.   Once when I did get through early on, I was greeted  with a very loud "WHAT !?"  Peter then told me, " I thought you were a Detective who has been calling."   Well I am a Detective, but not that one.

Lisa's first post was really written so others will first investigate this company before buying. She did not put in the details like I just did because she didn't want to complain, she wanted to warn others Caveat Emptor. (and there is more).   She was screwed on this deal but she has learned to live with it and we have been fixing things together to make it right.   She always, always sent big down payments immediately overnight delivery to Peter as he requested  ($18,000 in advance).  She paid cash for the remainder on delivery.   Peter did not do the right thing.   He delivered a shoddy car pure and simple.  It is a window dressing car, a Hollywood prop that looks good 10 feet away.   After 2 shop visits Peter said that there is no more warrantee, he was "done."

I have no beef with Peter Seabury or his company (which is for sale on Ebay) but the truth is the truth.   People are not stupid and they should not be expected to be bamboozled by a salesman.   The product tells the story.   If all this was not true, we would be singing your praises, instead we are not.

Last edited by MrRestoration (2007-06-13 07:43:57)

Last edited by 88carfan (2007-06-12 08:44:09)

Golden Beetle Car Company::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I Wanted To Respond To Peters Seabury Response He Obviously Paid 2500.00 For Someonelse Repairs On Another Car.
The Only Thing He Paid For Was A New Gas Tank At Delivery Because Car Wouldnt Run And, Transmission To Be Rebuilt Two Visit To The Shop.
It Was Not 2500.00 He Paid He Is Being Dishonest Again. He Said I Will Not Pay For Anything Else Your Warranty Is Up. 

This Is All I Will Pay For. I Have Paid For Towing And All Other Repairs Parts Etc .

If Anyonelse Needs A Copy Of All Receipts Replacement Parts . I Am More Than Willing To Make A Copy Of Them .

I Do Not Want  This To Happen To Anyonelse It Is  Upsetting And A Mean Thing To Do To Someone .

Lisa N Florida / Myvwbug1234@aol.com

Hi.  This is 88carfan's sister-n-law.  I was present when Peter came and got the car.  Also, my brother who was the person who did the new paint job on the VW in question.  He has been doing car body work for over 30 years and stands behind his work.  He actually had Dupont come out and scan the paint that was found under the hood to match exactly the original color.  The only issue my father in law had with the paint was inside of the glove box wasn't painted, but that pales in comparison to what Peter has done.

Peter promised also to send a contract to the terms and never did.  He did promise all the things that Kevin spoke about in the previous posts.  The only problem Peter didn't like at that time was the carpet that was put in.  Peter said it would not be a "Golden Beetle" but a "Silver Beetle" instead.  He actually complimented the paint and the leather work done on the seats and door panels.  He, Kevin, and I loaded all those parts with such care and assured us that he'd take good care of everything.

My in-laws are not poor by any stretch of the imagination.  Money was never an issue.  All they ever wanted, expected, and asked was for itemized statements or bills asking why he wanted to charge more than the initial $10K (remember that they also paid him to come by and pick it up on his way back from delivering a car to Georgia in addition to the $10K).  Most good business men keep good accounting records and this task should not have been complicated, but apparently his booking skills, along with his manners, need some work.  He also said, specifically, that the car would be done by January and would sit in his showroom (because it would be Silver Beetle status) until it could be arranged to be picked up in the spring, due to bad Montana winters that can be a problem.  Then it was expected in March, but this, that and the other stuff always came up on his end; then it was April, then May and finally June.  He very rarely, if ever, returned phone calls or emails.  If he did, you got a one word answer.  Pictures came in sporadically.

It is unfortunate that it has come to this on the internet, if he would only have done what he promised.  He even said his word was gold.  Well, we all know it was fool's gold now.

Last edited by bettynunn (2007-06-12 18:37:40)

Bravo Denny.   Gipper