VW THING or similar CONVERTIBLES? Opinions??
gra...@seanet.com
Hi.
First off, hope I posted to correct groups on the subject.
I have been wanting a convertible for many years (never got over selling
my MGB 15 years ago). I currently own an 87 Turbo Volvo which is
overwhelming me repair, cost, etc wise.
I want to downsize, have a less expensive car to repair, a car that
doesn't spin out in snow and rain, a convertible and here's the hard part,
one that is fairly safe. Got stuck in the safe rut owning a Volvo.
Have loved VW Things for years--looks wise. Would anyone like to offer opinions?
Are they good cars? Death traps? Awful in a Seattle winter? Great as only
a 2nd car? Worth the money etc etc.
Also, any other suggestions for lesser-priced auto that convert and are
safeish and not a fortune to fix? I would adore a Miata but out of my
price range and too low and tiny. Price range would be $2500 to $3000 so I
could have money to repair and repaint etc.
Any opinions would be most welcome.
Thank You in advance
Please e-mail me back direct also if you would!
grace
--
gra...@seanet.com
There is an inverse correlation
between the quality of one's life
and the size of one's problems.
Stephen Westin
> Hi.
> First off, hope I posted to correct groups on the subject.
>
> I have been wanting a convertible for many years (never got over selling
> my MGB 15 years ago). I currently own an 87 Turbo Volvo which is
> overwhelming me repair, cost, etc wise.
>
> I want to downsize, have a less expensive car to repair, a car that
> doesn't spin out in snow and rain, a convertible and here's the hard part,
> one that is fairly safe. Got stuck in the safe rut owning a Volvo.
Well, I'm not sure you'll gain much in filthy weather by giving up your Volvo.
> Have loved VW Things for years--looks wise. Would anyone like to offer opinions?
> Are they good cars? Death traps?
Well, they never had to meet passenger-car safety standards. I think
this is a case where we can safely say that a VW Thing is less safe
than a Volvo.
> Awful in a Seattle winter?
I don't think of Seattle as having bad winters. But a rear-heavy
rear-drive car is likely to be less stable than your old Volvo.
<snip>
> Also, any other suggestions for lesser-priced auto that convert and are
> safeish and not a fortune to fix? I would adore a Miata but out of my
> price range and too low and tiny. Price range would be $2500 to $3000 so I
> could have money to repair and repaint etc.
VW Cabrio? I had 2 and loved them; both were bought new, however.
--
-Stephen H. Westin
swe...@ford.com
The information and opinions in this message are mine, not Ford's.
Mike Kohlbrenner
gra...@seanet.com wrote:
>
> I want to downsize, have a less expensive car to repair, a car that
> doesn't spin out in snow and rain, a convertible and here's the hard part,
> one that is fairly safe. Got stuck in the safe rut owning a Volvo.
>
> opinions?
Everyone here LOVES to offer opinions. The problem is that sometimes
we forget that they are only opinions... ;-/
> Are they good cars?
Yes.
> Death traps?
Relative to a VOLVO? Probably. The engine is in the back, and the
only things other than old sheet metal protecting you in a head-on
are the spare tire and gas tank.
> Awful in a Seattle winter?
With crappy tires, even, almost any rear-engine VW is great in the
winter, as long as you can handle the rear end stepping out on you.
> Great as only a 2nd car?
Perhaps the best situation...
> Worth the money etc etc.
Can't say -- that will have to be your call...
> Also, any other suggestions for lesser-priced auto that convert and are
> safeish and not a fortune to fix?
Now here is where you are justified in posting to the "watercooled"
newsgroup.
Look into the VW cabriolets (convertibles -- available in the Rabbit
and Golf body styles). Safer than a Thing. Good in the
winter with decent tires. Probably not as expensive to fix as the
Volvo, but you will have to keep on top of maintenance and repairs.
--
Mike Kohlbrenner
<kohl...@an.hp.com>
Al Denis
In article <graces-1302...@graces.seanet.com>,
on Thu, 13 Feb 1997 00:46:12 -0800, <gra...@seanet.com> writes:
>Hi.
>First off, hope I posted to correct groups on the subject.
>
>I have been wanting a convertible for many years (never got over selling
>my MGB 15 years ago). I currently own an 87 Turbo Volvo which is
>overwhelming me repair, cost, etc wise.
>
>doesn't spin out in snow and rain, a convertible and here's the hard part,
>one that is fairly safe. Got stuck in the safe rut owning a Volvo.
>
>Have loved VW Things for years--looks wise. Would anyone like to offer opinions?
>a 2nd car? Worth the money etc etc.
>
> Also, any other suggestions for lesser-priced auto that convert and are
>price range and too low and tiny. Price range would be $2500 to $3000 so I
>could have money to repair and repaint etc.
>
>Thank You in advance
>Please e-mail me back direct also if you would!
>grace
>
>--
>gra...@seanet.com
>
>There is an inverse correlation
>between the quality of one's life
>and the size of one's problems.
>
VW Thing is crude and slow.Unless they have the gasoline heater they lack
strong defrosters.It is so far removed from a Volvo Turbo you might suspect
they were built in completely different worlds.( in a way they were, 1973 or
74 minimalism vs a modern era luxo sedan)See if you can drive/ride in one
first before you plunk your cash down.Not to impose my views on you, but I
suspect you will be profoundly disapointed to switch to a VW 181 (Thing in the
USA, Safari in the rest of the world.)Just my zwei pfennig....
Al
R P W Richards
A great philosopher Al Denis once wrote:
: In article <graces-1302...@graces.seanet.com>,: >Have loved VW Things for years--looks wise. Would anyone like to offer opinions?
: >Are they good cars? Death traps? Awful in a Seattle winter? Great as only
: >a 2nd car? Worth the money etc etc.
: first before you plunk your cash down.Not to impose my views on you, but I
: suspect you will be profoundly disapointed to switch to a VW 181 (Thing in the
: USA, Safari in the rest of the world.)Just my zwei pfennig....
They are called Trekkers in the UK
--
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Al Denis
In article <5ejutu$k...@mercury.dur.ac.uk>,
on 21 Feb 1997 10:54:54 GMT,
Well... the reason they are not "Safaris" in the USA is that General Motors
already had that name trademarked for their station-wagons (estate cars?
shooting brakes?)I wonder if something similar is true in the UK?
Al
Aardwolf
Al Denis wrote:
> Well... the reason they are not "Safaris" in the USA is that General Motors
> already had that name trademarked for their station-wagons (estate cars?
> shooting brakes?)I wonder if something similar is true in the UK?
> Al
Used to be the Pontiac wagons, now that they're gone, the GMC vans.
Aardwolf.
Frank Kurucz
I lived in Mexico when the Safari was made there. Were they made anywhere else?
They were quite popular in the tropical regions. There used to be plenty of them
in Acapulco. Its been out of production for years.
In Mexico it was not marketed as a "jeep" like vehicle, but more as a spartan,
inexpensive vehicle that you wouldn't mind getting all dirty on a muddy road.
Everybody knew that it was a bug ("bocho") disguised as a jeep, and that it wasn't
as tough as a real jeep.
Frank