Known issued with the 1976 Super Beetle

These old, air-cooled Volkswagens have a huge reputation for reliability and durability. And, back in the 1950s and '60s when they were most popular, they definitely were more reliable than a lot of their competition. However, these days, even a relatively late-model Beetle such as a 1976 could be an absolute minefield of problems, starting with rust and a driveline with worn out mechanical bits and pieces. You haven't said how many kilometres the car has covered, but I'm betting it's plenty and that really plays against something like this car. You could wind up having to rebuild a large percentage of the car just to get it roadworthy, at which point, you could have bought something newer, faster and more comfortable. In fact, that's another issue with old designs like the Beetle's; there's virtually no safety equipment beyond seat-belts. This is why cars like this have a place, but that place is as a weekend toy where you can relive your youth in small chunks on a Saturday morning before the shopping traffic has hit the road.

Stylish car for $15k?

With your budget you would be looking at a 2010/2011 VW Beetle, which had a regular automatic transmission and not the troublesome DSG that was fitted in later models. That’s a big tick for the Beetle. The Citroen C3 is a decent car, but an orphan in the sense that there weren’t many sold and you won’t find a dealer on every corner. As for the BMW, they’re too expensive to service and repair if you use a dealer, and they have too many niggling issues that spoil the great driving experience. The Subaru Impreza is well worth looking at, but my pick of that bunch would be the Volvo C30.

Travelling to Cape York

I loved the great work of Mike and Mal Leyland. You've spoilt some of the myth by revealing this secret.

Best car for P-plate driver?

The first of the born-again Beetles was severely compromised because the rounded body sat over the mechanical package of the boxy Golf. But the new car looks good, almost like a Porsche, drives well and is well equipped. I give it The Tick and will help you track down a good deal.

Both will give you good fuel savings in the sort of driving you're doing. The hybrid would likely be better in stop-start driving, the diesel better for open-road motoring. The diesel would be cheaper to buy and have a better resale value in the medium term. People are still sceptical about the life of the batteries in the hybrid -- though there is no evidence to suggest they are a problem -- but it has a negative effect on used values. You would also be tied to a Toyota dealer for servicing. The broader trade has yet to develop the expertise to look after the complex electrics of the hybrid.

Volkswagen Beetle 1964 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Volkswagen Beetle 1964 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Volkswagen Beetle review: 1945-1996

30 Jan 2009 · by Graham Smith

The humble Beetle was able to do something Adolf Hitler couldn’t, it conquered the world. The Beetle was Hitler’s idea to give his people a cheap and cheerful car, but by the time it went out of ...

Used Volkswagen Beetle review: 1957-1976

15 Jun 2006 · by Ewan Kennedy

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most significant cars of all time.

Used Volkswagen Beetle review: 1960-1973

6 May 2006 · by Graham Smith

The VW Beetle, while conceived by Hitler in the 1930s, was designed by Dr Ferdinand Porsche, one of the most gifted automotive designers of all time.

Beetle juice

Answered by CarsGuide 19 Dec 2003

I assume you are currently using lead replacement petrol, which is PULP with an additive such as Valvemaster. The easiest option for you is to use PULP, which is 96 octane, and add Valvemaster yourself, which is available from most servos.

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Volkswagen Beetle 1964 Problems

Used Volkswagen Beetle review: 1945-1996

Used Volkswagen Beetle review: 1957-1976

Used Volkswagen Beetle review: 1960-1973

Beetle juice

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