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  #1  
Old 05-21-2014, 11:58 AM
I miss my MBZ
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 563
Dune Buggies

Why do I want one of these so badly ?

I hate the common 'stinger' exhausts, I hate the 'non-Nader-approved' big long, single piece steering column. No windshield means that hearing protection is mandatory for long runs. MPG's are probably what I'm getting with my AWD Outback (mid 20's). I really want 4 seats and street legality, but that doesnt look like its very common.
...yet I am really tempted to try and trade my 1979 R65 for one (if I could...). they must be easy to work on, and it'd be a toy machine anyway (like the R65 is now...). I'd need a cover so my image concious nieghbors dont complain...or just to keep the rain out- but I'm cool with this.

Anyone have a Dune Buggy, or give up on one ? Brands to look at or dismiss ?

-John

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  #2  
Old 05-21-2014, 12:26 PM
TheDon's Avatar
Ghost of Diesels Past
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,285
You don't buy a dune buggy for safety,sense, or MPG's...
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  #3  
Old 05-21-2014, 12:52 PM
iwrock's Avatar
roflmonster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hella NorCal
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They are awesome fun blasting down trails doing ~60mph, while throwing a 20' rooster tail.

With that said, transporting to and from the trail is a PITA, there are hard to get odd-ball parts, and they eat consumables (tires, oil, gas, etc) so they are a no-go for me. I'd get a larger displacement ATV and go wild. Much easier to live with, transport, and parts are easier to find because of mass production.
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  #4  
Old 05-21-2014, 01:10 PM
I miss my MBZ
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 563
Thats the "street legal" part - I have no friends in the trail world, nor any close trails, nor do I wish to pay the entry fee into that world (I'm sure its a good time though.)

I cannot take any of my children with me on a motorcycle (Well done sidecars are too pricey), but I can roll to soccer practice in a buggy...

If safety were that big a deal, I wouldnt have a motorcycle in the first place But when its so easy to get a collapseable steering column, or fit a newer VW front end (with u joints), and the buggys is slim on bumpers in the first place...its the appearance that gets me.

My impression is that most dune buggies are aircooled VW's on a different frame - the cost of maintenance can't be that high (esp. if 'factory original' was thrown out the door a long time ago).

-John
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  #5  
Old 05-21-2014, 01:41 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 379
So are you talking a Manx style buggy, or a sand rail type buggy?

MV
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  #6  
Old 05-21-2014, 01:57 PM
I miss my MBZ
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 563
Manx or sand rail ? Either. I like the look of both styles (most of the time - there are some horrible examples out there though)
It appears that more of the Manx/bodied buggies are street legal (on Cincinnati craigslist at least) but that body would need occational repair/paint/wax more often than a rail frame would. A rail would be easier to work on/modify. A manx-style would more likely have a windshield.

I think I'm open to wearing a helmet while dune buggying, so I'm not sure where I fall on this one.

-John
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  #7  
Old 05-21-2014, 02:57 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,611
Sounds almost as dangerous as a motor cycle.
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  #8  
Old 05-21-2014, 04:04 PM
SwampYankee's Avatar
New England Hick
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: CT
Posts: 1,501
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angel View Post
Why do I want one of these so badly ?

I hate the common 'stinger' exhausts, I hate the 'non-Nader-approved' big long, single piece steering column. No windshield means that hearing protection is mandatory for long runs. MPG's are probably what I'm getting with my AWD Outback (mid 20's). I really want 4 seats and street legality, but that doesnt look like its very common.
...yet I am really tempted to try and trade my 1979 R65 for one (if I could...). they must be easy to work on, and it'd be a toy machine anyway (like the R65 is now...). I'd need a cover so my image concious nieghbors dont complain...or just to keep the rain out- but I'm cool with this.

Anyone have a Dune Buggy, or give up on one ? Brands to look at or dismiss ?

-John
I'm with you for the same reasons! If you can work on an aircooled VW engine, there's not much more to them.
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  #9  
Old 05-21-2014, 09:41 PM
Posting since Jan 2000
 
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It's a good thing those things are easy to work on, because you will have plenty of opportunities to do so.
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  #10  
Old 06-03-2014, 05:56 PM
cmac2012's Avatar
Renaissances Dude
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 33,908
Ah, missed this one. In my high school years, I lusted after a Manx. Still do in some small way, especially the one in the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" the first one with Steve McQueen. That was a spinoff of a Manx, looks a tad bit better, and it had a Corvair engine. The new thing for the ultimate Manx is a Subaru 4 banger.

Car and Driver mag had a road test of a Manx powered by a 90 hp Porsche 4 cylinder in '67. They said that with racing tires on it out-braked and out-handled any sports car they'd ever tested.

The hopped up Subey Manx's reportedly do 0-60 in around 4 seconds.

THOMAS CROWN DRAGON TATTOO BEACH BUGGY.avi - YouTube

Start at about the 1:26 mark. Not sure what's up with the bedroom scenes.
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  #11  
Old 06-03-2014, 08:43 PM
elchivito's Avatar
ĦAy Jodido!
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Rancho Disparates
Posts: 4,075
We had one of those around here in the 60's when I was in high school. Fiberglass bodied thing on a VW chassis or something. I drove the crap out of it out in the desert when I wasn't doing duty using it to drag the arena pulling an old ranch gate weighed down with a couple of railroad ties. Haven't though of it in years. I bet my brother sold it or more likely left it out in the desert somewhere. It was purple metal flake and I mean FLAKE. Like the scales of a fish left out in the sun.
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  #12  
Old 06-03-2014, 09:03 PM
Silber Adler's Avatar
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In Missouri you can ride any offroad 4wheeler on road. The only caveat is that you can't run state highways.
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  #13  
Old 06-03-2014, 09:08 PM
A Talent for Obfuscation
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: In the Deep State
Posts: 16,985
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmac2012 View Post
Ah, missed this one. In my high school years, I lusted after a Manx. Still do in some small way, especially the one in the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" the first one with Steve McQueen. That was a spinoff of a Manx, looks a tad bit better, and it had a Corvair engine. The new thing for the ultimate Manx is a Subaru 4 banger.

Car and Driver mag had a road test of a Manx powered by a 90 hp Porsche 4 cylinder in '67. They said that with racing tires on it out-braked and out-handled any sports car they'd ever tested.

The hopped up Subey Manx's reportedly do 0-60 in around 4 seconds.

THOMAS CROWN DRAGON TATTOO BEACH BUGGY.avi - YouTube

Start at about the 1:26 mark. Not sure what's up with the bedroom scenes.
Must be the director's cut...

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