• From: Marietta, GA
  • Registered: 2006-05-30
  • Posts: 606

Topic: Fortunate to have my Herbie...

In the last month my 2000 Impala has been in the shop for almost 3 weeks of time...

Rack & Pinion, Torsion Bar, Ball Joint, Multi-switch (w/ cruise), Passenger-side leak in the foot-well, Door Lock Actuator... and Monday the Stabilizer Bar!!! (The dang thing snapped in half, and I hear that it's a known problem... the replacement ones are more robust.)

Each and every day, my '68 Beetle has steadfastly run like a wonderful champ!! As the mornings get a little chilly I may finally have to fix the heater-cable, but I must admit that it's nice to have at least ONE dependable car. LOL

Eric - '68 "Herbie" 1835cc (O\(53)/O)
GO BUCKS !!!!!!
  • Registered: 2009-06-25
  • Posts: 558

Re: Fortunate to have my Herbie...

I appreciate my VW's reliability as well. Despite the mess that it was in when we got it, it's been great. I've taken it out of state without worries, and I wish I could make a stainless steel replica so I could drive it in the snow too! Fortunately our other cars have been reliable too, but our van radiator started leaking and I just replaced the sway bar link and tie rods. Can't really complain though... it has 171,000 miles on it. My other car is a 2004 PT Cruiser and has 162,000 miles, but has never been back to the dealer for repairs and runs better than it did when new. Funny though, the car in the family with the MOST problems? Nissan Maxima. Out of the bunch, it's the last car I'd take anywhere and I'm not sure if it would even MAKE it out of state! But, I'd gladly take the VW on a mountain road trip with only a set of spare points.

Paul

  • Registered: 2005-06-02
  • Posts: 427

Re: Fortunate to have my Herbie...

My bug has also been the most reliable car in our 'fleet' over the last 17 years.  I think I've spent probable $1300 on it in that time.   Not to mention putting 30 bucks of gas in it and it lasting about two or more weeks.   And driveway oil changes!
Of course I'm not exactly working it hard these days but it is the 'go get the kids' car.

Patty B.
'69 stock bug
  • From: B.C.Canada
  • Registered: 2005-01-26
  • Posts: 2,610

Re: Fortunate to have my Herbie...

My '71 Super has seen the buying and scrapping of a 2000 Neon I bought new. In 10 years of driving only a Beetle I was stranded once at the grocery store near home. The culprit? The small wire attached to the points broke.

I had to drive my wife around several times while the Neon was in the shop. I don't work on newer cars but I do all the work on the Beetle, which has mostly been tune ups and cosmetic.

jim

'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915
  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2010-11-19
  • Posts: 1

Re: Fortunate to have my Herbie...

James, I'm of the same feeling when it comes to my Beetle. It's a scrappy little '71 as well, was painted sky blue by a previous owner and was in serious disrepair when I acquired it in 2003, but love and care has brought it back up to par and now it runs better than my wife's 2001 Golf. Amazing how much information there is out there if you're just willing to look and put the time and energy into your car.

"There is no past but the present, no present but the future." - Michael Roland, MD, creator of the Insanity Workout review & Insanity

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