Is the car worth keeping?

HardDrive · 02-04-2006, 09:35 PM

I have a 99 VW turbo beetle. 62k. Its in good condition, came with every option, including factory custom wheels. 99 was the first year they made the turbo. Long ago paid for. I use it as a commuter car.

I just sank another $800 into the thing, and it seems like its one thing after another these days.

Assuming I bite the bullet and get myself a new car, it this worth keeping long term? I only ask because I live in the city, and parking is a pain. I need to find a storage solution of some kind.

Questions:

1) Will this car every have any long term collectors value?
2) Is the car worth keeping as a SCCA solo car?
3) Why do I develop such a sentimental attachment to my cars?

Keeping it would be a pain....but letting it go....*sniffle*...I dunno....

onewhippedpuppy · 02-05-2006, 04:32 AM

1.NO
2.That might be kinda cool. You can get pretty good HP out of those with a chip. It would be fun to beat people at an auto X with a beetle.
3.Can't help you there, I buy and sell mine like they're stock. My wife told me I have to keep my 540 for a while or I'll be sleeping in it.

djmcmath · 02-05-2006, 06:35 AM

1 - Don't know.
2 - Beats me.
3 - You're a man. We like our cars. It's part of the male gene, I think. Ask me about my Vee-Dub sometime -- $10,000 and hundreds of hours put into the restoration, and she still isn't where I want her to be. But get rid of her? Over my dead body...

1-whipped -- have fun sleeping in that 540. A tip I've learned from sleeping in a Honda -- get a good sleeping mat, like the kind backpackers use. Set it across the front seat, stretch out. Works like a charm.

Dave L · 02-05-2006, 07:34 AM

I had a VW once, a 2000 GTI VR6, I had the car 27 months, the warranty was 24 months.

VW makes nice cars, I really liked mine but with well over 2 weeks in the shop it wasnt worth it. Build quality and reliability are garbage, look at some of the reviews.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

While some of the VW 1.8 Turbo powerplants can be modified for some mad horsepower the motor in the New Beelte isn't one of them. The turbo is smaller than the ones found in the Jetta or Golf, and there simply isn't room under the hood for stuff like a better intercooler...etc.

There's an article in a recent Grassroots Motorsports about modifications to the 1.8T - and they are the ones that stated the above.

Don't get me wrong - you can chip it, and get a better intake/exhaust, but don't expect anything north of 200hp at the crank.

My wife's daily driver is a New Beetle Turbo - it is a fun car. Even in stock form, it's got globs of power on the highway.

You said you 'sunk' $800 into the car recently - what was needed for the car? Compared to Porsche repair prices that I've seen, an $800 repair bill ain't too bad...

-Z.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Insurance is the killer on a new car, that is if you are comparing basic no-fault on your old car.

I read recently that real "car guys" are more likely to hold on to their old cars because they love cars. Non-car people treat cars a disposable items and exchange them every couple of years on lease.

Everytime I put money into my old Geo Tracker - it's more than it's worth. The options of going with something newer when I only put a couple of thousand miles on it a year is highly unattractive in my frugal mind set. Winter beater - why drive more?

tabs · 02-05-2006, 08:36 AM

I have a VW in the garage, its called a Porsche...

HardDrive · 02-05-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z-man

You said you 'sunk' $800 into the car recently - what was needed for the car? Compared to Porsche repair prices that I've seen, an $800 repair bill ain't too bad...

-Z.

pfffffftttt....hell, I've put $4000 into the P-car this year. No complaints.

Its not the $800. Its the $300. Then the $400. Then it won't start. Its in the shop every other month.

Whats the point of having a daily driver if you can never be sure its going to start?

I wish it was half as reliable as my 23 year old Porsche.....

onewhippedpuppy · 02-05-2006, 10:44 AM

Then sell it and use the cash to buy an old Honda, if all you need is a reliable beater. Use the money you save on payments to buy a 3.6 or something fun.

yellowline · 02-05-2006, 11:27 AM

He has another thread open on how he likes the Cayman. Hmm, I'm putting 2 and 2 together...

SLO-BOB · 02-05-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z-man
While some of the VW 1.8 Turbo powerplants can be modified for some mad horsepower the motor in the New Beelte isn't one of them. -Z.

Pshaw! Tell that to Tsuter (fellow Pelican who's not foolish enough to spend time in OT) here in Wis. He has a crazy Bug turbo parked next to his crazy SC turbo. He claims the bug is faster than the SC. He figures he's at 225 HP and the car will do about 160 MPH. Before you call bull*****, know that I've been in his turbo 911. It's scary fast. Why claim the bug is faster if it's not? Not to mention he put a 6 speed with lsd in it to let her open up a bit.

Answers to the questions-

1. Yes-if you take care of it. Any car 30 years old that is still on the road has collectors value-even a Pacer.

2. Why not? Is it the best? No. Is it good enough to have fun in? Yes.

3. Not sure. The bug is a chick's car.

onewhippedpuppy · 02-05-2006, 06:35 PM

A while back I saw a bug that had a modded engine and drivetrain from the Golf R32, including the AWD. It had somewhere north of 400 HP if I remember correctly.

HardDrive · 02-05-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellowline
He has another thread open on how he likes the Cayman. Hmm, I'm putting 2 and 2 together...

Naw....the new Lexus IS350. Fast as hell, paddle shifters, back seat to put the kid in......

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
1) Will this car every have any long term collectors value?

Every car has a depreciation/appreciation 'sweet spot' where it's value peaks.

For this car it happened some time in early 2000...