Hi everyone,
I do plan to buy an autostick VW. I used to own a 73 Super Autostick and I really enjoyed it. It kept destroying flexplates and the Internet with its wealth of knowledge was not available back then. So I traded it for a 71 411 wagon which I no longer have. I am narrowing my choices down to 69-74 Ghia or 73-75 Super Beetle. The reason for the year restriction on the Ghia is safety features. The reason for the year restriction on the Super Beetle is that I like the curved windshield very much. I have not driven a Ghia since I was in my 20's. I am now 62. I wonder if the Ghia would be difficult for me to get in and out of at my age. I am in average shape for a 62 year old. I would be interested in comments for a Ghia vs. a Super Beetle for a daily driver. Comments on any factor interests me: Ride, handling, acceleration, entry, exit, noise,.....anything.
Thank you,
John
Hi John,
I have a '73 Ghia convertible, autostick, that has 115k on her. I drive about 1000 miles a year. I'm 62, 6', 230#. I do all of the maintenance and have done quite a bit of front end, CV Joint replacement and this year pulled the motor and did a "cosmetic" overhaul on it. (gaskets, seals, missing tin, missing thermostat, etc)
With that being said, I love the damn thing.
Tough Points: It's low and tight to get in, door wants to close on your leg/ankle even though the straps have been replaced. Seatbelts are a stretch to put on and cranky. Stock seats are marginal at best. It's slow. You have to be a contortionist to check the fuses. It rusts in all the wrong places. Convertible top will leak no matter how hard you try to fix it. People want to talk to you about your car whenever you stop.
Great points: It's simple to work on. You feel like your 21 behind the wheel. It's beautiful. You can't help but smile when you see it. People (men & women) want to talk to you about your car whenever you stop.
Down side is that Ghia's have gone up in price, alot. If you can find a 'vert that's decent, life will be good.
Gary from Vermont
Hi Gary,
Thank you for the response. I found it interesting. A friend (another director here) and I went to an aircooled VW gathering on Sunday and there were no Karmann Ghia's. I was hoping to get to sit in one. I check thesamba.com often for autostick vehicles and to me if seems that they are becoming quite rare. For example, in the state of California, there was one autostick Karmann Ghia for sale. The price was quite reasonable but it was an unpleasant brown color. I'm sorry if I am going off track here, I have had a stressful day and my brain is fried. Again, thank you for responding.
John
Hi Gary
Well, that is the first time I have ever read anything about owning a Karmann Ghia...
They are rare in Australia as they were only sold in 1 or 2 years in the early 60's and were very expensive.
No convertibles were sold by dealers. So, most Karmann Ghias here have been imported and I have noticed the autostick gearshifter rubber boot on some of the later models, but have been changed to manual.
After reading about the door closing on Your leg, and the seat belts etc... and I've never heard about them leaking. I know there are many many rubber bits on the convertibles or cabriolets. A convertible doesn't have a hood lining on the roof its just a bare top with metal bars etc. A Cabriolet has a fully padded roof inside.... I read this many years ago and it has always stuck in My mind. They are usually called cabriolets over here in Australia...
cheers
Lee 68autobug
Ha! I guess we own a "cabriolet"! The fold-down top indeed has a lining and is insulated (and has a glass rear window). The top is fairly new and leaks in a rainstorm at the windshield/top seal. I think the body flexes a little bit and the rain finds an opening...
My millennial children call it The James Bond Car.
They also say I should replace the speedometer with a calendar.
G