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  • ignorant

    May 19, 2008 5:15 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

    http://www.mvillemure.com/1972Beetle-forsale.htm

    A oldschool SCCA rally beetle, which along with the thoughts of a project I saw on the old board, has me thinking about one as a daily driver.

    How good would a vw baja bug do for a daily? mpg wise?

  • phillyj

    May 19, 2008 7:06 p.m. phillyj New Reader

    How good would a vw baja bug do for a daily? mpg wise?

    Thats what i been trying to find out since someone posted a baja bug on the other forum. It probably won't be too low b/c it is lightweight, i think about 2000 lbs at the most.

    its got no engine!! and 15k, i don't think most of us here can afford that

  • ignorant

    May 19, 2008 7:34 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

    still..

    Hot.

  • BajaGringo

    May 20, 2008 3:30 a.m. BajaGringo None

    Hot Baja! Having had various "Classic Beetles" as DD's I can recommend them if you are willing to give up the creature comforts of more modern cars. Shorter commutes (1/2 hour each way) were tolerable for me as a DD. Your exhaust and the amount of original interior and firewall sound absorption will have a lot to do with how long you can tolerate the interior. Don't forget no A/C and no interior heat with a set of "J-pipe" exhausts from the two forward cylinders. My Cal-Style 2180cc, dual 48IDF Weber beast got about 20 mpg IIRC. My mild cammed 1776 w/dual Kadron carbs & header probably got about 25 mpg. Overall the 1776 was more enjoyable in the long run because it only required the periodic maintenance of a standard 1.6L motor and provided adequate power. Both motors were in a full bodied sedan. A Baja would be lighter, but as you go higher and increase the wheel/tire weights and diameters economy and/or performance may suffer.

  • mad_machine

    May 20, 2008 5:12 p.m. mad_machine New Reader

    I may have to pick one up as a challenge car...

  • May 20, 2008 6:17 p.m. Nashco Dork

    2000 lbs would be a very heavy bug; they were around 1800-1900 lbs in stock trim, and for general hooliganry you can strip quite a bit of weight off of them (interior, fiberglass body panels, light wheels, aftermarket/aluminum suspension parts, etc). I've seen most guys around 1800 lbs race weight after putting a full cage into steel bodied cars. Considering how old they are, state of tune, gearing, suspension, driver, etc. can have a big effect on mileage but anywhere from 20 (mods) to 30 (stock) mpg is expected. They're stupid easy to work on and the aftermarket knows no bounds.

    Bryce

  • ValuePack

    May 21, 2008 11:11 a.m. ValuePack HalfDork

    Other than the paint scheme and lack of engine, that's about my ideal daily driver. Shame about the price, though, it looks great.

  • John Brown

    May 21, 2008 11:17 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    Is that 15,000 pesos?

  • beaulieu

    May 21, 2008 6:35 p.m. beaulieu New Reader

    1200cc bugs get GREAT milage 30-40mpg, but are real slow ,

    1500-1600 stock bugs get around 25 mpg stock

    if you build a big motor you will have your foot in it and milage will go down a lot ,

    A baja bug has the small anount of stock bug aerodynamics killed off , so its more of a brick.....

    But they are fun !

    Beaulieu

    down to only 4 VWs right now

  • mad_machine

    May 21, 2008 8:09 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

    I always wondered how efficent a Type 1 engine could be if you megaquirted it instead of running a carb?

 
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