Beetles look iconic but as cars they were complete shit. Heating and blowing the windows dry was nonexistent, the car had no acceleration at all, the back seats were only meant for dwarves and kindergarteners, driving it was loud and unsafe and shaky...
True. In the 1980s friends and I drove a lot of high class cars from the 1960s - those formerly expensive cars, big boxes with big engines, were shit compared even to middle class cars from the 1980s regarding comfort and safety.
I’m 6’3” and fit no problem. Lots of headroom too, but yeah the windshield and dash are closer than modern cars in these things.
The plus side is that it’s easier to scrape the inside of the windshield in the winter, since the defroster doesn’t start working until you’re moving pretty fast.
Took me a little more than fifteen minutes when I had to do one years ago after an engine seize. But I did it myself slowly with a few jacks.
I developed a love/hate relationship with them after four different ones. Three of them were auto stick shift. Such a fascinating concept, if you could keep it maintained.
I also love the simplicity of older cars but also recognize that while newer cars are more complicated, you also don't need to regularly pull the engines out because it needs its 30k mile rebuild.
It’s in such great shape too. They must really be caring for it.
My sister and I each had one in HS. She took the purple one and I got the black. My favorite part was something went wrong with the horn and it sounded like an old man screaming. Refused to fix it bc it was hilarious.
assuming cops are not selling access to it, or not themselves malicious, and that the authentication method to access it is magically perfectly secure sure
Ok. I can see how it's at least theoretically possible but considering this is just a post about a classic car it doesn't seem too problematic in this instance. It's not much different than just seeing a car on the road. I don't think anyone is hacking into ALPR systems to track down owners of random cars they see whether in person or online.
It's a beautiful car, but German automotive manufacturing between the late 1930s (when the beetle was introduced) and mid 1940s was not necessarily the most... umm... soulful.
I believe everyone is aware that Hitler’s demand for cars shaped their beginnings. A company's history during World War II isn't particularly relevant 60 years later though 💁
26 Comments
Janx@piefed.social · 19 pts · 10d
Of course you did. You got eyes and a heart, don't you!? It's absolutely beautiful...
ladicius@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 10d
Beetles look iconic but as cars they were complete shit. Heating and blowing the windows dry was nonexistent, the car had no acceleration at all, the back seats were only meant for dwarves and kindergarteners, driving it was loud and unsafe and shaky...
We loved that car.
protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 9d
so was everycar in 1950s
ladicius@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 9d
True. In the 1980s friends and I drove a lot of high class cars from the 1960s - those formerly expensive cars, big boxes with big engines, were shit compared even to middle class cars from the 1980s regarding comfort and safety.
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 10d
I'm 6'4", the one time I rode in one, I felt like the windshield was two inches from my face.
The fifteen-minute engine change was a nice selling feature, though.
World record engine change, one minute, four seconds:
https://youtu.be/gKF6dcKjLJo?t=117
nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 9d
I’m 6’3” and fit no problem. Lots of headroom too, but yeah the windshield and dash are closer than modern cars in these things.
The plus side is that it’s easier to scrape the inside of the windshield in the winter, since the defroster doesn’t start working until you’re moving pretty fast.
Rhaedas@fedia.io · 4 pts · 10d
Took me a little more than fifteen minutes when I had to do one years ago after an engine seize. But I did it myself slowly with a few jacks.
I developed a love/hate relationship with them after four different ones. Three of them were auto stick shift. Such a fascinating concept, if you could keep it maintained.
shiroininja@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 10d
Yeah that’s one of the things I love about the old beetles, is the ease of repairs. I love a simple design.
CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 10d
I also love the simplicity of older cars but also recognize that while newer cars are more complicated, you also don't need to regularly pull the engines out because it needs its 30k mile rebuild.
Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 10d
https://youtu.be/BQhfcdQf1QA
Plus, you can change the belt on one while it's running.
tacosanonymous@mander.xyz · 16 pts · 10d
It’s beautiful!
It’s in such great shape too. They must really be caring for it.
My sister and I each had one in HS. She took the purple one and I got the black. My favorite part was something went wrong with the horn and it sounded like an old man screaming. Refused to fix it bc it was hilarious.
ObtuseDoorFrame@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 10d
Oof, don't show their license plate...
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 10d
Can you find someone's identity from their plates or something?
protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 9d
you can track their routes thanks to license plate readers and deduce where they live
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 9d
Well only if you're a cop or something right?
protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 9d
assuming cops are not selling access to it, or not themselves malicious, and that the authentication method to access it is magically perfectly secure sure
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 9d
Ok. I can see how it's at least theoretically possible but considering this is just a post about a classic car it doesn't seem too problematic in this instance. It's not much different than just seeing a car on the road. I don't think anyone is hacking into ALPR systems to track down owners of random cars they see whether in person or online.
deHaga@feddit.uk · 9 pts · 10d
I had a 1991 Mexican import to the UK. Was great, apart from the heating, mild carbon monoxide poisoning with every commute.
skooma_king@piefed.social · 7 pts · 10d
I can smell this car
stevles@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 10d
Yep, love the classic Beetle’s. Back when Volkswagen was run by people with souls.
fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk · 9 pts · 10d
It's a beautiful car, but German automotive manufacturing between the late 1930s (when the beetle was introduced) and mid 1940s was not necessarily the most... umm... soulful.
protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 9d
kübewaggen
stevles@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 9d
I believe everyone is aware that Hitler’s demand for cars shaped their beginnings. A company's history during World War II isn't particularly relevant 60 years later though 💁
HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 9d
okay but you have to admit this is a wild statement to anyone who knows the origins of the brand.
stevles@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 9d
What's social media without wild statements? 😀
Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 10d
What did it play?
Beep beep?
Or maybe beep beep beep?
Bebopalouie@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 10d