Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:20:39 -0400
Reply-To: groundhogging@MAC.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Oliver Mueller-Heubach <groundhogging@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: VW's New Chattanooga Plant/Honda Element
In-Reply-To: <072820081324.19630.488DC895000B207200004CAE2215575114C9C9CDCB020E03020100@comcast.net>
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On Jul 28, 2008, at 9:24 AM, J Stewart wrote:
Yep- I've had my Beetle since October 98 and have a similar pile of
receipts. Do the timing belt asap- I've seen some go at 50-60k and
others be neglected but for oil changes get their first at 200k.
Fortunately, I think it is easier to TDI swap into a 2.0 from 98-99
than the later years if the water pump goes south. A lot of my Beetle
issues happened under warranty and the rest were mostly electrical.
Go to http://newbeetle.org/ and register- the forums can be a
lifesaver- and go ahead and pick up a Bentley. There is an early one
that covers 98-99 only that is usually a bit cheaper. All in all, I
still love my bug and at 250,000 miles I can't complain. I do go
camping in it fairly often- just take extra blankets to even out the
bucket seat bolsters. (for reference, I'm 6'4")
. This weekend I bought my daughter a 1998 New Beetle. Too good a
deal to pass up, 94K, in very good condition overall, for $1,000.00.
Got a folder of receipts from the seller, first thing I started searc
>
> hing for was one that said "replace timing belt". There isn't one.
> Pulled off the timing belt cover, and it "looks OK", but I still
> plan to replace it ASAP. Found the procedure for timing belt
> replacement-Holy Crap!!! I'd rather R&R my waterboxer in the
> Westy!!! Judging from the ton of receipts ( and $$$) I got on this
> car, I may be in for a fun time! Jeff
On the Chatanooga note, I wish they would build the 3L TDI Lupo and a
Microbus at the new plant. I will add the Rabbit to the "best ideas
VW has had of late," but the Lupo has the world mileage record and is
in the Guiness book- all it needs is an ad campaign and a dealer
trade-in option- "SUVs, etc. for biodiesel gallons" And, it is cute
and came ,at least until recently, with optional manual or electric
canvas ragtop sunroof that opened the entire roof of the car (I have
the manual one in my Beetle). I'm not surprised the factory will be
in the South. After all, cost of living is cheaper down there, so
they can get away a little cheaper themselves, and the "German
infrastructure" is in place with BMW in Alabama and Mercedes in South
Carolina (both making SUVs, though). Does anyone remember who got the
bunny plant in Westmoreland, PA after VW pulled out or who has it now?
Oliver Mueller-Heubach
groundhogging@mac.com
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