Okay, so I know that some people have dubbed this as the ugliest car ever invented...but I just LOVE these cars! I have seen some that were restored, and some that have not at a couple of VW shows that I have been to. I am willing to get one that is ugly on the outside, but runs on the inside to start out. I am also in Germany right now. Any thoughts?
2007-03-27 08:34:26 · 6 answers · asked by Courtney 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Volkswagen
Courtney: If you can find one over there and bring it back to the US you will not have to worry about liking it or not.
I had one back in the 90's (painted 'ugly orange') and sold it.. (BAD mistake). It ran great and, aside from being a bit cold in the winter until it warmed up, it was the neatest car in the world. Easy to maintain (standard VW air cooled engine and drive train) and actually more stable and better handling then the VW bug.
I used it to run along the pacific coast, go diving, off road and on road and never had any more problem then a radio that actually wore out.
Be sure to get good windows and a good top while you are there. Those are significantly more expensive here.
BETTER still ... if you bring it back and you DON't like it you will prob. be able to sell it for a significantly higher price.
Check eBay for the going rate on sold (completed auctions) things, but I think that the typical rate for a decent one is between $5 and $15,000 and increasing.
have fun with it....
.
2007-03-28 09:08:19 · answer #1 · answered by ca_surveyor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know about Germany, but here in the U.S. they were only sold for three years '72-'74 and arent all that easy to find, they are either in realy bad shape or completely restored when I see them. But VW made them from '69-'83. I realy like them, but would love to have a Kubelwagon which was a vehichle VW made for WWII from which the Thing was derived. From my understanding Kubelwagon means bucket car in english. I realy like the fact that the front windshield folds foward on the Thing, like the Jeep, talk about wind in your hair.
2007-03-27 20:53:30 · answer #2 · answered by hotrodder 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That car was based on a WW2 German military vehicle for off road use. I've owned a few VWs, not the Thing, and they were pretty OK in the dirt. Back engine gives it good traction.
2007-03-27 15:44:49 · answer #3 · answered by the_skipper_also 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is the Wikipedia article on the Volkswagen Thing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_181
2007-03-27 18:49:56 · answer #4 · answered by Spee 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Assuming you're referring to the "Beetle" -- be prepared to pay a fair premium to get one -- they are all pretty much owned by collectors now, although I remember hearing somewhere that there still is a South American version that was still in production (at least until recently)
2007-03-27 16:08:42 · answer #5 · answered by Zee 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
dont bother they look as good as they go
2007-03-27 16:06:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋