How many people who have typed their opinion actually owned a nice air cooled beetle for any length of time?

My most recent was a 78 SB convertible with fuel injection. Think I had it wound up to about 85 mph. Mine had about 18K on it when I sold it. Sweet car. Was like new. Kept it for 2.5 years and lost no money. Put about 4K on it. It was my first with the strut front end and I liked it. They are cheap, but I love them. Type 4 motor is sweet. 914, what a great car. Not much power but what a fun drive. Then again I like my 240D automatic.

Opinions are like butt cracks, but that kind of distance and I'd say the Benz would be more comfortable, and yes safer. Put the top down on a SB, throw caution to the wind and you may find yourself with a big .

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

Hattie,
My problem is exactly as asnowsquall posted so much more eloquently. Everybody that is so negative on VW's knows someones sister's buddy's boyfriends second cousin who had a VW and it was crap. You posted 3 times which didn't particularly add to the discussion. I'm sorry for tee-ing off on you, we've met and you seem like a fine chap however I have a particular sore spot for close-mindedness when it comes to automobiles.

I should note that I wouldn't recommend a VW Bug for commuting use in todays traffic either.

RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Well I have a Jetta now, look at my sig. I'm doing the timing belt and a bunch of seals this week, so I'm pretty familer with under the hood. I'm not impressed at all.

My friend that I sail with has a few VW bugs, they are crude little cars but very simple and neat. I have driven them, they are like go carts, not very comfortable or practical.

This thread is VW VS MB, I own both.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I drove a '70 bug for a few years during college (in the late 70s). Mine was not very "nice," it had serious rust issues, but I did enjoy it. They are fun little cars, but they are very "crude" and they are not very comfortable. The heat was marginal, the power was limited, the brakes were less then great, etc. At the time they were very cheap to fix because of all the junkyard parts. Now a decent sedan would probably cost $4-5000, and a convertible would be closer to $7000.

As I said, I would buy another one as a toy (probably a convertible). They are very cool, but I would not want to drive one any distance on a regular basis.

Yes, that's exactly the problem - BIAS.



I guess I'm "biased" as well - towards quality machinery. BFD!

I've owned an aircooled VW, and yes it's a fun toy. But in 2007 traffic it's nothing other than that - a toy. Pre-WWII technology, plain and simple. The OPs question was whether an old Diesel MB or an aircooled VW would be a better daily commuter.

I agree with the above post. A Beetle is a fun toy, but thats about it.

Air-Cooled Beetle vs MB in daily use? No doubt about it, MB, hands down.

You nailed it there with both those statements

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

11 to date, plus another dozen water-cooled from vanagon syncro to scirocco et al.

I've also had diesel and gas Mercedes, 2wd and 4matic, new and well-used, Porsche, Triumph, Italian and American, even six BlueBird coaches.

We don't all wear our entire lives in our signatures.

When someone asks the opinion of others, he gets opinions. It is up to the reader to determine what opinions are useful to him. I appreciate all posters' opinions whether I agree with them or not. In fact, seems I learn more from the opinions with which I disagree some times.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff