http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/03-REG-FO...9752331?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5af9e7758b Brierley hill...I love my focus....prefer it to all the Golfs I've owned, and that's a fair few..... (not as good as my old 16v Jetta Syncro though)
I take your point about insurance and tax....but what you save on these, you may end up paying in welding and repairs...you're more likely to find an old beetle with a great engine and carp bodywork, than the other way round....welding is where the money goes....
I honestly think that you may have to bite the bullet one way or the other....either a fully sorted Tax exempt Beetle with classic insurance, or a cheap run about, with bigger premiums....i can see why it's a dilemma
If hes anything like i was when i was young, which before you say it , good looking and fast , then he will want a car to match
If he's anything like me when I was young "good looking and fast" is a description of the women I wanted to meet.
I have a Beetle as a daily, keep it simple, replace the points with electronic, go for disc front brakes, avoid lowered/fecked around with. Fit an alternator rather than dynamo and check replace all consumables before you start. Mine was sat for 5 months last winter and it still started without help, it's been used all summer after a cursory check over and I drove it today. Zero tax, cheapo insurance and cheap spares.
That is basically how simple it should be. I do exactly that with my van.except the alternator and points. I like dynamo and real points.
if u go on my resto page you l see all that needs looking at in a beetle , parts prices have gone mad too owen nw
@poptop2 don't listen to all these nay sayers!! My first car was a beetle, a 1302s... ok I had to dive in and do a full resto on it, but it taught me that things have to be earned and worked hard for!! There are quite a few good bugs out there for not a lot of money, considering what they've likely had spent on them!! Going back to your original question, things to look for/check: Avoid ones that have heavy/gloopy underseal on them, it hides all sorts of corrosional issues!! If someone has looked after their car, it'll just be light smooth coat!! Rust hides in all sorts of places on bugs, the main ones have been covered... Frame head bottom plate - this is on beam or 02/03 bugs Torsion bar shock towers 02/03 front inner wings around the struts Sill bottom plates - look for a edge where the pan meets the sill, as you could/can get a repair panel that welds the sill to the pan Sill end/closing pan by the rear torsion bar cover - a very common area for them to rot out Inner rear arches/chassis/body mount - again, another common area for rotting out Bumper mounts - front and rear Spare wheel well - all models Bonnet seal clip - can cause the front 1/4s to rot out underneath them! Front bulkhead - behind pedals Rear cross members - these make up the sill end closing panel Area behind back seat - leaky rear windows, and inner rear arches will cause rot, and even worse repairs in this area!! I think that pretty much covers it!!
I've just bought a beetle to keep my bus company and I love it - gets loads of attention, free tax, zero depreciation, insurance even cheaper than the bus. Couple of my mates with buses have bought beetles as well, and they love theirs. can't speak for the reliability as yet, but my mates have had no problems at all. Guarantee you'll have some fun with it as long as you find a rot-free one. I was lucky as I found a real nice one the last owners had since 85 and it was restored in 94 and still looks good (I think anyway). Good luck in your search.
Take your time and get a nice unmolested one if at all possible. My first car too was a 1974 1303s which I had for a few years and never went wrong, but this was over 20 years ago! I got it from my mates dad who had had it from new. I have owned a load of bugs in my time, in fact I have just bought a 71 1300 as a bit of a project, and I have to say that the 1303's are the best in the range, they drive and steer the best and are the most comfortable in my opinion. Some purists don't appreciate the bulbous front end styling but I love them and would have another as a daily now if I could find a descent enough one. Go for it mate, give it a good service upon purchase, and you should be good to go
