Should I rent a bug?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I mean a real one! I'm going to Mexico in a few weeks and Hertz rents modern/original VW Beetles.

928ram · 04-28-2005, 04:09 AM

Only if it has A/C, kinda hot down there this time of year, no?
I didn't know they were still making Bugs down there, though production stopped a couple years back.....now if we could get them to make 914s....

TerryBPP · 04-28-2005, 04:44 AM

I would get an El Camino just for its Mexican Authenticity.

Jeff Higgins · 04-28-2005, 05:18 AM

By all means, rent a Bug! I may be a little biased (having gone through any number of them over the years and still owning two), but they are a hoot to drive. I think last August was when they finally shut down the line in Mexico. Anything in the rental fleet should be fairly new. Air conditioning??!! In a Bug??!! What will they think of next...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

hey, my '67 had factory AC. I had it disconnected since it ate up about half the horsepower, but bugs hve been "modern" at least since the 60s!

Jeff Higgins · 04-28-2005, 07:20 AM

My A/C always consists of rolling down the windows. Of course on big hills on the freeway you have to roll them back up to keep the speed up. Just having the windows down chops at least five mph off the top. You must have to keep 'em in third gear to run A/C on the freeway...

mattdavis11 · 04-28-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TerryBPP
I would get an El Camino just for its Mexican Authenticity.

I think he'd rather not want to walk back to Houston.

cowtown · 04-28-2005, 09:39 AM

What's that movie with Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini where he's driving around Mexico. "El Camiiiinooooo"

turbo6bar · 04-28-2005, 09:54 AM

I hear former Ryder trucks with 55-gallon drum toilets are popular in Mexico.

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

What's that movie with Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini where he's driving around Mexico. "El Camiiiinooooo"

It's called the mexican

chibone_914 · 04-29-2005, 08:17 AM

Go for it James. The AC blows cold and the interiors are much nicer than the old ones.

mikester · 04-29-2005, 08:24 AM

Awww yeah man.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Just remember not to use the windshield washer fluid or there will be no air in the spare tire when you need it.

No fat people in the back seat, or the battery will set the car on fire - springs touch the terminals. Good thing they used straw stuffing in the seats.

Oh, I remember my 1976 orange Beetle at the strangest times.

Jeff Higgins · 04-29-2005, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kach22i
Just remember not to use the windshield washer fluid or there will be no air in the spare tire when you need it.

No fat people in the back seat, or the battery will set the car on fire - springs touch the terminals. Good thing they used straw stuffing in the seats.

Oh, I remember my 1976 orange Beetle at the strangest times.

Yup, I cover the positive terminal with a plastic guard. Any excessive bouncing in the back seat, even with skinny people, can have the same effect. Ask me how I know. By the way, it's been a long time since I've been skinny...

gaijindabe · 04-29-2005, 08:52 AM

Ahhhh, the old bug... Youth truely is is wasted on the young...

Jared at Pelican Parts · 04-29-2005, 08:53 AM

I rode in one being used as a cab in Loreto..

the bugs they make (still making?) are actually pretty damn nice...

it's like they continued to improve them more and more. Like chibone said, they have cold A/C, the interiors are nice, they have (a more reliable) fuel injection. pretty sure they were still a 1600DP.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

They quit making them in 2003/2004. Car rental companies in Mexico do not replace the cars every year.

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

Red-Beard,
The Taxi's remove the passenger seat and allow two people to sit in the back. I'm not sure exactly where you're going, but renting a cr in Mexico may be a bad idea. I prefer to travel with a stack of Pesos and massage my way through. Reading their stret signs and getting directions is a major major problem. If you've been to the city before and are comfortable I might give it a try though. If it's Mexico City I wouldn't be caught dead, or maybe I would, renting a car.

John

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I drive in Mexico all the time. Usually, we drive in with our own car, but this time we're just in for the weekend.

I just thought it was funny that they offer the old/new Beetles.

We're going to Ciudad Chihuahua for a weekend, so no time to drive there. but I prefer us having our own wheels there to be dependant on the family or taxis.

K.B. · 05-01-2005, 04:39 PM

Went to Cancun 10 years ago. Told my travel agent I wanted to rent a bug. They told my they could only arrange a Ford Taurus. I sadly said OK. Got there and they said they only had bugs. Was the perfect vehicle for city driving as well as some out in the country bumpy roads. Can't imagine a better ride.
KB