h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ooopps, I haven't forgoten you!

I was hoping my Dad would get her MOT'd before they went on Holiday, but it didn't happen. The work thing will go and get in the way

Still he says he will get it done soon after he comes back. Are you still interested?

Here are all the pro's & cons I can think of, It may be worth an ask on Ask H2G2 for other folks input re beetles?

Pros:
tax exempt
reliable mechanicaly
solid body
solid chassis
years mot
cd player & radio
bucket seats
alloy wheels
cheap to insure
had full service last feb (not much mileage since)
large washer water reservoir
consealed door handles.

Cons:
some cosmetic rust
alloys mean no room for spare wheel
small tear in roof lining
not fast
driverside window stiff

Other:
Unsure if leaded conversion? Probably not. I use unleaded with the Castrol additive. This is better for the car than using LRP. (and Cheaper.)
She has a metalic dash it may not be to your taste?
Heater may need some work, may just be a beetle thing.

Thanks, I'm still interested, despite all the disadvantages, I suppose if I was going on a really long journery i could always just put a spare wheel in the back seat!

Is her engine air cooled? a beetle fan told me to ask this.

I'll be online at home later tonight, (I'm at uni at the moment)

Erm, I though all Beetles were air cooled? It has a wapping big fan in the engine bay!

I keep a can of emergency tyre repair. It squirts foam into the tyre and reinflates it if you have a puncture, which should be enough to last long enough to get a replacement.

I am informed that the new Minis use the same stuff, as they have no room for spares. The other option is to sell the alloys, and there is room for a standard wheel under the bonnet.

Erm, I though all Beetles were air cooled? It has a wapping big fan in the engine bay!

I keep a can of emergency tyre repair. It squirts foam into the tyre and reinflates it if you have a puncture, which should be enough to last long enough to get a replacement.

I am informed that the new Minis use the same stuff, as they have no room for spares. The other option is to sell the alloys, and there is room for a standard wheel under the bonnet.

!
Just remembered. There is also a crack in one of the (widened) Fiberglass wheel arches.

Well that it's not life threatening, my flat mate has just said that thinks air cooling engines are what makes Beetles cool. A mature technical attitude of course

That all seems fine to me, but I'm not a car expert. Don't worry about the delay I haven't yet passed my driving test, though personally I think I'm quite close, I'm having intensive lessons.

I'm not sure how desperate the situation is for you, but if you're willing to wait until I have passed my test then it's great. If not then my ex stepmother is a Beetle fan who would love to Pootle-sit for a while, she's got masses of no claims bonus so it wouldn't be that much to insure her on it for a few months. However she doesn't live in a very nice area, (I moved up in the world when I went to University) so I would rather she doesn't as there's a bit of vandalism in the area, though I don't want to tell her this.

I sure say that I do have the funds available at the moment.. so don't worry about that.

No Rush on the sale. It would be nice to have her go to a good home.

She is safe enough at my folks. You can have plenty of time for a think & research, I shall try to sort some photos, and then once she is MOT'd and you happy (ready), I can bring her up to Brum.

If you like her, I will leave her there, if not, I shall just drive her up here to Glasgow!

Sounds like it will sort one way or the other eventually.

Thanks that takes the pressure off me, I need the time to pass my test, rather than to do the research, though I shall probably try and get a few books on car maintainace out of the library.

My ex stepmother, bless her, loves beetles but doesn't know much about the technical side of it all.

I think there maybe a bug club on H2G2. Worth a look?