Sold MoTd/usable yellow 2002 New Beetle 1.6 with sunroof, £350

[purplebargeken]

Modern Beetles are quite ace

 

I like the beige coloured ones, also yellow ones as well.

[r.welfare]

What are the wheel trims from? I'm thinking Transporter T5?

[Pillock]

I need to go and find one of these to have a test drive. I suspect it could fulfil the demands of "Not too small to be useless, not to big to be OMGMPG, something different" that my next daily will have.

 

Edit: Five minutes later, after a quick Autotrader trawl, here are my findings. They don't do a diesel automatic. 95.6% of Beetle owners have put pointless stickers of flowers and swirly things and butterflies on their cars. I wouldn't be able to resist handing over the cash, and then not removing the car from their driveway until I've peeled the stickers off. I do like the black with tan leather trim. I don't like the MPG.

[Bear]

The MPG are shit. I don't know why - the car isn't that heavy. Can only assume awful emissions and terrible aerodynamics.

[Pillock]

I'd agree with the aerodynamics. In fact the diesel MPG is also shit, thus giving it less of an advantage over the petrol engined versions. Except the people handing over the cash don't seem to know that, hence all the heavy fuel drinkers are 700 pounds or more than a petrol one with similar spec and miles.

 

My natty spreadsheet tells me that running a petrol Beetle will cost £230 more per year than a diesel one in fuel costs, and I suspect a lot less in catastrophic failures. 

[crapcarcollector]

Look, natty diesel vs petrol spreadsheet? Could I have copy?

[Pillock]

You could, but it's very me-centric! It just takes mpg, turns it into cost per mile and I put my commute in.

[Ghosty]

What are the wheel trims from? I'm thinking Transporter T5?

 

VW Fox.

[Bear]

Pinching the A-class's neglected Halfords HCB-013 seems to have been the perfect solution - Beetle sat overnight, not on charger, started first time. Drove around the yard to leave car in the sun* (just being outdoors and in light seems to help with battling condensation, as the way it mists up reveals) with the dehumidifier in the boot. Tried starting again, perfect. Some use and time on the conditioner will probably bring it back up to speed.

 

Now to obtain spare key/remote and work out how to get the remotes paired properly. Think I need VAG-com rather than trying the magic dances mentioned on forums.

[Bear]

I want really nice wheeltrims. Lots of chrome. Moondisc style maybe.

[DSdriver]

 

 

 (how the hell do you break the entire centre console. HOW?)

What with that and the rest of the interior carnage might I put forward a suggestion that the interior of this vehicle has, at some time in the past, been the scene of a rampant sex orgy involving BIG BRENDA. 

[Dave_Q]

You need vagcom to pair remotes, the keys are transponder chipped so you will need a new chip (£5 ebay) and your secret key code to program to the car (also vagcom.)

If you don't have the secret key code it can be extracted with VAG tacho.

Have been through this before so can advise, or even do it for you if you find yourself near Yorkshire.

If you give me the part number of the remote part of the key I might even have one knocking around somewhere.

[Alan_Green]

Someone on here managed to get a 2003 one of these on a £100ish p/y classic insurance policy. About a year ago. Bit of a loophole that.

[BorniteIdentity]

Place I used to work at had a 2.0i one in that kind of snotty green colour.

 

TBH, I loved it.

 

Top bombing.

[Pillock]

Someone on here managed to get a 2003 one of these on a £100ish p/y classic insurance policy. About a year ago. Bit of a loophole that.

Some insurers are flexible if it's a car with owners clubs, shows, branded fleeces, a free keyring with a year's subscription to a pamphlet etc etc.

[Bear]

What with that and the rest of the interior carnage might I put forward a suggestion that the interior of this vehicle has, at some time in the past, been the scene of a rampant sex orgy involving BIG BRENDA. 

 

That would at least be interesting. In fact, it's been the scene of a halfwit who couldn't trace a leak getting angrier and breaking parts instead of undoing them. Even so, kudos on actually snapping the console IN HALF.

[Bear]

Ludo got insured (£181 fully comp!) and taxed yesterday, and also got the first run out - a late night, rain-sodden trip to Nottingham and back. Epic paranoia regarding "will the battery behave" "what if I lock it? Will I ever get back in?" and so forth, in fact it was good on fuel, didn't wander (but alignment is out somewhere, can feel it) and seemed to air out nicely when the rain stopped and the sunroof could be opened. Some antibacterial cleaner will be going in, I think.

 

So today's progress is very small. I found that the era of radio I chose came ready to use the CD-changer connections for a straightforward aux in, and the proper connector was a fiver on Amazon.

 

 

Wire is long enough to come out through the bottom of the console and be fed, trapped in the grab handle, to one of those sticky rubber pads on the dashboard that will hold the iPod where I can grab it to change albums. If I get the Belkin iPod dock/line out adaptor I'll fit a second 12V socket into a new console and it'll be even tidier, with a dock connector and maybe a Brodit clip to put the iPod next to the grab handle and radio. Works well. Who needs USB/MP3/CD mechanisms - tapes for old-school, iPod for new!

 

Now to find the breakers. The key model I have is 1J0 959 753 DA - which seems to be available as a fresh blank complete for £35 sans coding/cutting. Desperately need to get spares - and want to reprogram so I can pop the tailgate remotely again. Not sure why that stopped working

[Bear]

Not much has happened with cars because I've been using them, and the Beetle has been testing my ability to do "bangers" properly.

 

So the last trip was up to Scotland. It celebrated by starting out (or not) with a tired battery (why? No lights on. WTF, car), then dumping more PAS fluid (which is now pissing out so it empties the bottle in 150 miles). A reconditioned PAS pump is £59, so I will replace it - it's spraying out of the pump "somewhere" but I can't tell where. Hopefully central hydraulic fluid is really good rustproofing for all the engine bits it is sprayed over.

 

Think it needs a thermostat, as it takes ages to warm up, and it also idles too low when cold.

 

Gearbox oil needs changing/topped up, some changes can be baulky, and it still smells horrid inside the car, though I think the leaks are sorted. And I must, must fix the locking module on the driver's door - can't have interior lights on at the moment as they stay on, and the remote won't open the tailgate and takes a few goes to lock/unlock the car despite new batteries (and the LED flashing to show it knows I've pressed the button).

 

Mostly, the car is great for what I want it for - just short runs, pottering about - but I forgot how cripplingly uncomfortable VW low-line seats are on long journeys. Ouch.

[Jim Bell]

If you need money to fund the bug, I'm sure I could find some money for that horrible old SLK you've got laid up. Winky emoticon face.

[Bear]

The SLK isn't for sale But it is getting fixed this weekend and back on the road. Been stalling too long on it, rain puts me off too much.

 

Ordered a reconditioned PAS pump, so should have the Beetle sorted for the main annoying issue - then I can get tracking down the undershield/inner wing parts that are damaged/missing. The next week should involve a lot of car work - Beetle fixes, new battery for the hearse, 406 droplinks... and then I can pay some attention to the CX.

 

Currently have an Audi 90 B3 visiting, which will no doubt involve some tinkering.

[spartacus]

I don't know if it's the same idea but my mk 3 Golf has a multi pin connector on each door/pillar, this had been wet at some point and was corroded which led to some odd issues, similar to the ones you describe.

[Bear]

I think the problem is with the lock module - it's had the keys locked in and there's evidence of AA "rescue" fuckwittery, and the modules are prone to dry joints too - but I will check the door connector when working on the rest of it.

 

Almost every issue on this car is down to some idiot bodging it in the past. Almost.

[spartacus]

I cleaned mine up, fixed a couple of corroded terminals then watched in wonder as I could use the central locking and the remote window closing.

If your car has these plugs I'd almost put money on them needing attention.

[Bear]

Done faffing about sticking things on the dashboard now...

 

 

iPod can be safely controlled whilst on the motorway!

 

 

(Well, as safely as a radio could be).

[andrew e]

What is that all that shite in there Richard? Christ on a bike!

[Bear]

Satnav stuck where it's not anywhere obstructing the windscreen (it's okay, it's 5 years out of date so I still get a challenge navigating places), iPod because music, yellow radio because I had it already, sunflower because yellow, and biohazard sticker to warn anyone who travels in the Bug of Eternal Stench that I've yet to de-mould the underlay and the car still reeks and probably will until summer and a lot of BAC-50. Yellow genuine mats because they were cheap (and it didn't have any, but did have a hole in the carpet), Bagpuss and Bat to dust the dashboard on fast corners.

 

Not visible because it's not in there, one of the assorted dashcams. I don't know if the way I drive the Beetle would really do me any favours with regard to the footage anyway.

 

The massive dashboard is one of the most bizarre features of any modern car. I kinda get it on an Espace, but on the Beetle it's crazy - and means any satnav stuck the traditional way is obstructive, out of reach and harder to see with my weird eyesight. I like that I can put it where it is and have the complete windscreen area clear, though!

[Bear]

I cleaned mine up, fixed a couple of corroded terminals then watched in wonder as I could use the central locking and the remote window closing.

If your car has these plugs I'd almost put money on them needing attention.

 

Mine looks like traditional rubber-tube-with-wires in, but I'll check. I'm 99% sure it's the door lock module though. Hoping fixing it will also make the 12v sockets go off when the doors are shut.

[scoobypete]

I'm glad it's not just me...I've been beetle mad since before I could walk and when these came out I said I would have one one day when they were cheap enough...

This fella turned up last year for 300 quid, had almost a years test on him and 4 new tyres but the oil seals in the turbo had gone so although he was quick he left an almighty smokescreen everywhere he went....

Duly dragged home on the trailer, spent 300 quid on a top job recon turbo and fitted it myself over the course of a couple of weeks between work, only to find the battery and alternator had given up whilst he had been sitting around, another 120 quid forked out and he's been (touch wood) amazing fun ever since, love the wolf in sheeps clothing aspect of it, he doesn't hang around if you prod the heavy pedal hard! Love that some of the original beetle is carried over, and above all he puts a smile on my face every time I get in it!

Plan was to have some fun then move him on but at the moment there's no chance of that!

 

 

 

 

Got a couple of tiny electrical gremlins, think the hazard relay is on its way out as every now and the the indicators freeze, common fault by all accounts and the boot electrical switch doesn't work....at the moment that's it....no leaks either

[Bear]

I would like to try a VR5 or 1.8T one, definitely. Still has to be yellow though.

[Bear]

One of the chaps in the CCW office offered me a Range Rover P38 2.5D with air suspension that works and a self-shifting gearbox. It is not yellow. It is, however, very roomy and has comfortable seats, whereas the trip to Scotland for Burn's Night reminded me just how incompatible I am with Beetle seats on long trips.

 

I think that whole "no more cars in 2016" thing is not going to go very well at all. Anyone want the yellow Beetle (which is now de-leaked, mostly de-stinked, comes with a sunflower and the yellow radio cassette with aux input, and a new power steering pump) before I try Gumtree/eBay/sticking posters on lamp-posts?