Old bug as project car for daughter

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Daughter will be 15 in September. She really wants a classic bug, and frankly it fits her perfectly.
She isn't into the gnarly technical side of mechanics like engine work etc but is excited about body work, "fixing it up her way", painting and such.

Any tips? What am I getting myself into?
I need another pject vehicle like a hole in the head, but for my girl and the potential bonding I'm happy to jump in like a fool.

(the upside is wifey admits that this means we really do need a new garage to fit a 7th vehicle....)
 
I think that is cool, but not sure a classic bug is the greatest if she will sieve much time on the interstate. Or if she likes modern amenities in cars these days, like sound deadening and ac
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
I think that is cool, but not sure a classic bug is the greatest if she will sieve much time on the interstate. Or if she likes modern amenities in cars these days, like sound deadening and ac
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Agree.

I suspect what will really happen is that the bug will be a toy she'll just toodle around in and any real trips etc will be with our wife's mini or something else as she'll quickly learn its only fun for certain situations.
Luckily where we live there's not much need for interstate driving.

The Dad in me would certainly prefer she were in something with modern safety features
 
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Vice grip garage has recently posted some videos of a bug revitalization. Might give you some perspective into what you're in for.

I don't think they're known for their safety attributes either so may want to consider that for a young driver.
 
I love bugs, but a female friend of my wife had a low-speed collision in one, folded the bug & her legs badly...(speaking as a father of a 15 year old son who was given my '17 F150 for this very reason of a "safe" vehicle)

Apologies for the off-topic reply.
 
The safety side was my first concern. While I love the idea, other cars and drivers are the variable. People (like @doc) are giving their kids full size trucks for their safety that would easily crush a bug.

That said, when I went off to college, my parents sent me off with a ‘65 mini copper. It comes standard with handle rails that pop out on the side so that your pall bearers can go ahead and pick you up.

I love the idea, but be cautious. I still think it’s a good bonding and education though.
 
I'm with ya'll on the safety notes.
Hm... maybe the real argument is we definitely need that bigger garage so we can keep the bug as a project just-for-fun car and also plan to get her something modern. I mean once you have 7 cars on the lot, 1 more is hardly noticeible
And lets be honest, the way projects work around here she'll be finished w/ HS before it would be done anyway ;-)
 
jeepinmatt said:
but the newer Beetles still have a nice quirkiness to them. Plus you can get them with a diesel AND a manual!
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Valid point. I really hate the "new beetle" '98-'10 or whatever generation, know many people that had them and had so many problems.... but the final gen A5 gen may be worth considering, and are old enough now to be affordable.

It will be a hard sell to get a manual "for her".... although she's already committed to learning stick when I told hert he classics never came w/ an auto, so maybe.

Sight... yeah w/ infinite space and money the ticket would probably be an as-new-as-possible A5 as her daily and a classic for a project... lol

EDIT - wow I can't believe how much people are asking for those.
 
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Great idea!
Besides the bonding and all that mushy crap kids need to learn to suffer through their first years of driving like we did.
NO KID SHOULD HAVE A BRAND NEW (or even gently used) FIRST CAR!
They need to be able to say " back in my day...."!

Nowadays them ungrateful little snots get a brand spankin' new whatever and you end up with this ....

Carolina-squat-Silverado-1024x576.jpeg
 
Lizooki said:
Great idea!
Besides the bonding and all that mushy crap kids need to learn to suffer through their first years of driving like we did.
NO KID SHOULD HAVE A BRAND NEW (or even gently used) FIRST CAR!
They need to be able to say " back in my day...."!

Nowadays them ungrateful little snots get a brand spankin' new whatever and you end up with this ....

View attachment 438686
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We looked for a while for a safe sedan, etc...but my F-150 sat with no interest from my semi-attempt to sell it, plus my son has already outgrown the '01 Pathfinder we bought.

That said, it was explained, the truck is how it is, no suspension mods, no wheel/tire swaps, etc.

Besides, most of the squatty-potty trucks are driven by 5' nothing, flat-billers...my son is well past that.

But, again, I love bugs & badly want a baja bug one day.
 
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RatLabGuy said:
Daughter will be 15 in September. She really wants a classic bug, and frankly it fits her perfectly.
She isn't into the gnarly technical side of mechanics like engine work etc but is excited about body work, "fixing it up her way", painting and such.

Any tips? What am I getting myself into?
I need another pject vehicle like a hole in the head, but for my girl and the potential bonding I'm happy to jump in like a fool.

(the upside is wifey admits that this means we really do need a new garage to fit a 7th vehicle....)
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I actually have a friend who has one that she restored and it might be for sale. I'll ask her next time we talk.
 
R Q said:
I actually have a friend who has one that she restored and it might be for sale. I'll ask her next time we talk.
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Open to it.
If it's been properly restored then it's likely outside the budget we'd want, but happy to consider.
 
Hum. Turns out this guy is just up the road from me

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Went by and chatted w/ them, its perfect for us. Car is really solid, guy is a mechanic, he picked it up from another mechanic buddy that had it sittig for years, that guy replaced the heater boards, floors, pretty much every place that tends to be bad on these. Its pretty much in "could drive" condition, even brand new tires, just needs cosmetic stuff... which honestly I'm thinking thats all Delaney will want to get into anyway. And she open said she was really negotiable on price (I think they like teh idea of passing along as another teenager project car)

Still thinking about the "still prefer a real, modern car for commuting" issue. I suspect what will happen is this will be the toy for a few years, then up-traded for an A5 final gen (which should be more affordable by then) or it will just end up in the back yard w/ the other neglected things...
 
CasterTroy said:
What's really sad, is that in 3 more years the NEW beetle will be considered a classic 🤦🏾‍♂️
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Side note - this year MD changed the rules on Historic tags. It used to be "20 years old or more". Now its just "1999 and older".
...which means that a bunch of folks that had gotten them for their '03 Tacomas and such suddenly have to switch back to real plates.
 
Nice
As long as it's mechanically sound ..... I drive the wheels off of it just like it is!
 
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