I drove My autostick about 60 kilometers yesterday.... and it drives beautiful..

68autobug · 07 September 2017, 12:34

I haven't driven My 68 autostick for nearly a year, but yesterday I drove it about 30 kilometers to My Sons place and return. It drove quite well, taking off in either of the 3 forward gears and even driving up a slow hill at 40 KMH in TOP gear, and easily accelerated away. Peaked at 110 KMH which is 10KMH over the speed limit....
The steering is excellent, and the suspension is also excellent..... just right... Brakes work Ok... No Bad points at all.... It was very windy driving on the highway but I find the Independant Rear Suspenson with Constant Velocity Joints plus the excellent front suspension all do their job extremely well....
Sadly it has come time to think about selling My beloved 68 autostick.

Lee Noonan Australia

itskyle · 07 September 2017, 19:14

Say it ain't so...

Oh well, just make sure you get it to somebody as dedicated to the 2 pedal vw driving phenomenon as you are...

(that may take some time.)

One thing I remember about dealling with wind forces on vw beetles was rolling both side windows completely down. helped a lot in side winds during the summer.

You wouldn't want to try it in winter here, at least, around these parts.

Kyle

68autobug · 14 September 2017, 10:12

I do remember driving early beetles in strong winds and it was a job to keep them going straight, so when there are strong winds [which we have had now for many weeks - up to 50 kmh] but My Beetle handles and rides very good.... It would be perfect in strong gusty winds once I put the anti roll bar back on the front.... lol..
I had a steel pipe in the ground to hold one of My double gates open, but drove over it many years ago, breaking the anti roll bar.... I replaced the steel pipe with a large rock.... and i bought new rubber mounts for the anti roll bar plus stainless steel clamps with allen key bolts {I think?] but I haven't been able to fit the new clamps on.... maybe I will have to use the original type of roll bar clamps...?? My Wife drove My Beetle yesterday 30 klms and return, with a large crack in the windshield from a stone.... I fitted a new laminated windscreen in 2005 as I don't like the shatter type safety glass that was originally fitted... I Can remember having a few of those break and the total windshield glass going all over Me.... When driving about 100KMH and the windshield breaking from a stone usually from another vehicle going in the opposite direction, the wind blows the Glass all over the driver and passenger, which resulted in a lot of tiny glass cuts on My face and forehead and a bit of blood tickling down.... Actually, it was worse when the windshield shattered as You could SEE Nothing until you were covered in glass... Back then our highways were narrow two lanes and very windy with lots of corners....
Laminated windscreens were a godsend.... but only legal with seat belts...

LEE in Australia

olgunc · 14 September 2017, 14:26

Lee I am sad to hear that you are thinking of selling your AS. I wish you were in Turkey. ı would buy your car with no hesitation,,, ı hope somebody dedicated to 2 pedals buys
best wishes,

68autobug · 06 January 2018, 08:31

Well I still have My Beetle and with temperatures around the 38c degrees mark it is just too hot to drive My beetle during the day. So, late at night or early morning driving at the moment.

But if all the steering and brakes and suspension etc are in as new condition then these cars do drive like they did straight out of the showroom when new, so it was no wonder so many were sold back in the late 60s and 70s.

Lee in Australia

68autobug · 07 April 2019, 13:51

Well, I still have My 1968 beetle. I have replaced the rear brake cylinders as one had leaked, along with the rear brake linings and then the fuel sender started to work, only sometimes.....so, needed renewing... and now one of the CV joint boots on the rear axle has to be replaced....
Also, I haven't driven My beetle for a few months as it was a very HOT SUMMER with temperatures over 40C degrees...
Anyway, there is an electrical problem.... an open circuit in a cable somewhere....
I am just about to have a knee replacement operation, so I will be away from My Beetle for at least 3 weeks.... before I can get the NEW Windscreen/windshield... too... as it has a big star shaped crack in front of the driver...

Lee in Australia... winter will be here shortly..

dreyes69buggy · 07 March 2020, 17:01

I've been reading your posts for years now and have learned so much. I was wondering if you still had your beetle and if you were still active on this site. Thanks for all the insight. I hope your doing well.

muirfollower · 09 March 2020, 20:23

Lee,

I haven't posted in long time on VWAR, but just saw this last round from you about your A/S and was wondering were you in any danger or distress during the Australia fires this last couple of months?

Andrew

68autobug · 11 March 2020, 08:15

Hi, No, I am in a small town, and there were not any fires close by... there were fires about 40 klms from here in many directions.
The smoke from the many BUSH FIRES in this state was everywhere. The hills behind Me had disappeared for many days at a time. It was worse down in the Cities.

I still haven't sold My Beetle. I have had medical issues and I have NOT driven My beetle since december 2018. I will be able to drive it shortly, and with the cooler temperatures that have arrived already.... 28c top at the moment... down to 10c at night... I will be able to drive My beetle around until the end of winter etc...
I do have to bleed the brakes and replace a CV joint BOOT on the rear axle too... I also have a cracked windscreen and I have bought a new windscreen but I will leave the old one in for as long as I can... Cheers

Lee in Australia....

68autobug · 30 March 2021, 14:15

Well, every thing is OK here... NO Fires closeby... No floods locally a couple of weeks ago but a lot of rain locally...
I drove My 1968 semi auto Beetle about 60 klms today [in the country] parked it under a tree...
it is going well. just replaced the spark plugs.. oil change.. and I have replaced the brushes in My starter motor.... it would start only once... and then wouldn't start until the battery was fully recharged,,, even bought another battery charger... battery is only about 8 months old... 4 years warranty.. everything else worked.... had it jump started by a large 4x4 in a shopping car park, but it took about 5 minutes before it started.... I think the brushes were worn down too far... although they were only slightly shorter than the new brushes.... but now it starts first time every time....No Covid problems in the country.... We did have to wear masks at one time.... all the covid cases come from overseas by plane....

LEE in Australia