Not the new ones but the old ones!
Love them and am looking at changing my car soon and was wondering what they are like as a car. Do they run well etc?

Does anyone own one or has owned one that could share some info - good or bad!

Many thanks , Kate

Sorry but I have an old VW transporter.  It's great, but eats petrol.  For insurance purposes shop around CIS insurance is great with older vehicles.  They are quite an old fashioned company and come to your house but they've been a brilliant insurers.

We had one and my parents had one, i dont know the ins and outs of them but i loved our 'Herbie'!

My OH was Beetle mad as a teen and has owned several over the years.  Here are his immediate thoughts and oppinions:

1.  Look for rust as they rust like hell, especially ones made after 1970 (particularly check the sills).
2.  Anything older than 1970 have the older and more desirable features.
3.  Take rear seat out completely when looking at a Beetle and check carefully for rot in the floor.
4.  Make sure the heaters work properly and don't smell of exhaust fumes (as the heater works off the rear exhaust) - they are notoriously bad!
5.  Watch out for driving on ice and stick a sack of potatoes in the front to keep the weight there as they are really bad for skidding.
6.  They are incredible uneconomical.
7.  Engine wise, make sure it has been converted to run on unleaded.  An original engine may still be on leaded....
8.  From engine point of view the most desirable is a 1600 twin port.
9.  If you want that's modified, i.e. lowered, one-piece windows, nice wheels - then buy one that's already been done.  As it is expensive to modify.
10. Don't worry too much about the engine - look more into the condition of the body (as it's really easy to replace the engine).
11. Beetles are not fast.
12. Windscreens mist up very easily, so it's not great for winter driving.
13. Don't think about buying an old one to rennovate unless you really know what you're doing (or know someone who does).
14. Don't buy one of the later 'original' examples (i.e. the ones from Mexico) as the body work is poor quality and rusts even worse than the others.
15. The most desirable ones are the pre-1966 models; or the oval window models (these will command a much higher price).

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions he may be able to answer.
Helen

buy ear protectors like we have on our tractor.....you will need them!!!!

Can someone tell me if the new Beetles have had a change in the body shape.  when they first came out they were rather featureless half moons on wheels, but the recent ones I have seen seem to have more shape, or is it just that I have got used to looking at them?