is a standard beetle better than a super beetle?

Question

i want to buy a 1960sh super beetle to drive everyday, i told my friend who knows more about european cars than me an he said to get a standard (regular)because they're easy to fix, but couldn't the super b converted into a standard? if u can make a honda and a nissan fly y not a beelte to me the only diff is the dash, between the 2????? does any one know what my friend is trying to say ??

Answer 1

Ok.. after everyone finishes grumbling and pontificating here is MY take on it.

1) There is NO 1960's super beetle.. (they started in the 70's.) aside from some cosmetic changes the biggest difference is in the front end steering and suspension.

2) Either car makes a nice daily driver. The air cooled engine gets about 30mpg and just keeps running forever (as evidenced by the number of old beetles and bugs on the road after over 50 years)

3) Forget trying to make a race car out of a beetle. While it CAN be done, It is just not practical. The special thing about the VW is that it is NOT a race car. I own one and NO ONE ever drives by it or walks by it without smiling or striking up a conversation

4) You can not convert a standard into a super or the other way around (why would you want to?)

5) Yeah you can get a toyoto or whatever but in five years will it be worth MORE then you paid for it? You can pick up beetles for $500 that run and are easily repaired. (I know, mine cost $400 and another $200 to get it running just fine.. just needs a paint job now). I could sell it for an easy grand now, but won't.

6) You will have a LOT of fun in a vw.. trust me.

7) Yeah, the gas tank is in front and the engine is in back but then again their are huge airplanes flying overhead right now and they could crash too.. (life is full of so many what if's).

ok.. that's MY input...

you choose..........................


.

Answer 2

Hoping my experience will count for something here. I've owned 3 beetles - a 1972 1302S (Superbug), a 1955 standard beetle (oval rear window), and currently a 1964 ragtop sunroof standard beetle.
I had nothing but trouble with the Superbug, for the following reasons;
1. The MacPherson strut front end had a tendency to sag slower than the torsion bar rear, so the car sloped backwards - resetting the height of the torsion bars fixed this, but I don't recommend that to anyone - not a pleasant job!
2. The steering box is different to the standard bug - read rare, and expensive - a good 5 times the cost of a standard box.
You cannot convert one to the other, the suspension in the front is entirely different, and there's no room underneath to fit torsion bars on the Superbug.
One plus for the Superbug though - front disc brakes! All round drums can be a nightmare!

Answer 3

Either car has poor brakes by todays standards. Very unsafe in a crash and air cooled engine emissions are not good. The type 1 bug has stronger heavier torsion beam front axle and indirect steering box, late model super beetle has steering rack. both cars have 10 gallons of gasoline sitting above your feet. By the time you rebuild an engine and transmission replace the worn out parts and replace the floor boards. You could of had a brand new Nissan Versa or Toyota Yarus or Honda Fit.

Answer 4

Malcom has written a nice summary of good things and items to watch. In general they deal with all beetles. Specific to 72 and 73 beetles is the rust problem. He has mentioned the battery rot issue and that is easy to fix. BUT.... Some genius at VW decided to reduce vibration and air leaks by putting a piece of foam in the channel just below and left and right of the rear window. It can not be accessed or removed without 'surgery'. The problem lies when you get a leak in that area from the window and the foam gets wet. It STAYS wet and proceeds to rust out those model cars from the inside. THere is no cure for this except to cut out that rusted area, remove the foam and then repair the area Simple enough except that this is a structural element of the car and it weakens the roof to the point that it eventually buckles a bit. Check this area very carefully... look for repairs or waves in the paint or worse bubbles in the paint. If you find it ask about it and strongly consider passing no matter how nice the rest of it looks). Similiar problems in the door jambs at the base will cause the frame to rust out there.. pass on those for sure. (thats the bad news.. now re-read Malcom's post for the good part) .

Answer 5

The difference is in the suspension. In 73 they got the MacStruts on the SB."along with the curved windshield"
You don't convert suspension....buy another car-would be cheaper.
The regular torsion beam suspension is great for logging roads, jumps/ bumps/ boulders, ditches, or carry a ton of crap no prob. It could take a beating with no worries.
The struts were more "spidery"...looked easy to break. Also the CVjoints in the rear were more apt to wear out and the rubber boots ripped as compared to standard VW fare which didn't have that setup. I rebuilt a few of them(can you say "patience with black grease")
The none super is more of a rough and tumble car and parts interchanged between many years......not so for super. Super is in the name only.

Answer 6

As a current 1971 VW Bug and a 2005 VW Beetle driver I can honestly say that there are limited things you can do to a new beetle and unlimited things you can do to a bug except to put a modern front wheel drive engine into a rear wheel drive car trust me i had that idea and wasted 23 grand and 3 cars in the process.

Answer 7

.the Figurer deserves the nod for best answer here, also the super will have a curved windshield vs. flat.
as to whomever said a dub can't be a racecar is clearly in denial, I have a baja with bus boxes and have smoked every rice burner in town. not to mention most v-8's even a Porsche or two.
btw you'll need to weld a different clip to a super's frontend for it to hold the old torsion suspension.

Answer 8

ask paul mcnarnty he might know

Answer 9

no