VW Australia in for a right Screwing "Das Image" does - not match the reality.

[VYBerlinaV8]

I wouldn't buy a Honda or Toyota if you paid for it pieces of crap they are and live on there name not quality

What has your experience been with these makes? I've never owned either, but I would be curious to hear from someone who has, and has had problems.

[whitels1ss]

One very common problem on Audi VW and BMW is that the water pumps often have plastic impellers on the metal shafts,
with the heat and cool cycles, the plastic impeller cracks away from the shaft.

The pictures pasted here are from an Audi of mine with a genuine Audi water pump fitted 20,000kms ago.
My brother's BMW E46 had exactly the same problem a few years ago, very common problem.

Much better quality aftermarket water pumps can be bought with brass impellers

Water Pump 1.jpg
Water Pump 2.jpg

[Marco]

I don't know how old yours is but my '71 doesn't like the cold either. ​Clearly VW has had certain issues for decades...

OMG mine is a '71 as well, we should campaign for a recall of all '71 models

[Marco]

I've owned one Euro made car (a TS Astra), and it was really good, but once stuff started breaking or needed replacing (even stuff like brake pads) it all costs a bomb.

Personally, I don't think it's worth it. There are enough reliable cars that don't cost a fortune to choose from, so that's what I now do.

We're now finding that with our ZC Vectra - has been great for the most part in terms of reliability, but in the past year I have spent about $1500 on repairs and around $2k on regular servicing (bloody timing belt). I could cop this if it was an awesome car but it isn't, so it's just not worth it, and we have ruled out anything Euro for its replacement.

[Marco]

yep we have a beetle with the 1.8T engine, very nice motor.

my 60 year old beetle still runs original electrical system, original window and door rubbers etc, like to see a falcodore do that. but dont mention the war

Interesting trend here in this thread - how many of us LS1.com.au guys also own air cooled Beetles?

[team illucid]

Interesting trend here in this thread - how many of us LS1.com.au guys also own air cooled Beetles?

Not anymore, but I grew up with them (obviously) and we never had car problems that I can remember as a kid growing up - a simple car, that did what it needed to do - yours isn't a red one by any chance?

[jono0309]

2008 Golf 2.0L FSI Petrol. $1800 to fix a PLASTIC oil filter housing.

GTIs get plastic intercoolers etc which is thousands of labour and parts to fix. Rediculous.

[CLUBRED]

I asked a mate who has a new Polo Gti who he had the bottle of oil in the back for, he said no, it was for his car.... I thought those days were over back when we had the Kingswood.

[team illucid]

I asked a mate who has a new Polo Gti who he had the bottle of oil in the back for, he said no, it was for his car.... I thought those days were over back when we had the Kingswood.

The Audi used 1L per 1000KM - perfectly acceptable apparently

[Marco]

Not anymore, but I grew up with them (obviously) and we never had car problems that I can remember as a kid growing up - a simple car, that did what it needed to do - yours isn't a red one by any chance?

Nah mine is light green - easy to pick for Canberra members if you see it, it's the one with black trim instead of chrome in lots of places.

[VYSHSV8]

Interesting trend here in this thread - how many of us LS1.com.au guys also own air cooled Beetles?

My first car was a 62 beetle from memory can't remember exactly what yr but was around that vintage
But fitted 225 fronts and 245 rears back 25+ yrs ago and had a ball in the dunes

[Jag530G]

Interesting trend here in this thread - how many of us LS1.com.au guys also own air cooled Beetles?

Unlike VW's problems nowadays, the Beetle was very reliable. air cooled kept it simple. The Beetle made VW's name in America as a well made reliable economy car. VW have traded off the reputation of the Beetle ever since.

Cheers, Matthew

[Marco]

Yeah. I only bought mine a few months ago but the fact that I wasn't short of specimens to choose from says a lot about how reliable - and easy to keep running - they actually are. Even today they're surprisingly not a bad drive (well, a 1600cc Superbug with mac struts anyway) and reasonably accommodating too; I just don't want to crash one

[matthewfnorbert]

Interesting trend here in this thread - how many of us LS1.com.au guys also own air cooled Beetles?

you never know whats hiding in peoples sheds!

1954 type 1 http://www.shannons.com.au/club/enth...beetle-type-1/

[Ausmartin1]

you never know whats hiding in peoples sheds!

1954 type 1 http://www.shannons.com.au/club/enth...beetle-type-1/

That is one fantastic vintage beetle, love it when people keep the old ones in such fantastic condition.
Cheers - thanks for sharing.