Volkswagen to Stop Making Original Beetle

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | June 6, 2003 | The Associated Press

[Conservative til I die]

I was in Puerto Vallarta on vacation two years ago, and no joke, between 30-40% of the cars were old-school VW bugs.

[Willie Green]

What a piece of crapola . Now wonder the Japs kicked ass in the 70's . The 70's had to be the lowest point in American history to date .

While there was certainly room for improvement of quality, continued nosalgia for American cars of the '60s is evidence that Detroit wasn't that far off mark. Yeah, the Pinto and Vega were crap. But one must consider that they were hurriedly rushed into production in response to the Arab Oil Embargo more so than simple market preference for Japanese quality. True, having time to work out the production kinks in their product, Japanese fuel-sippers were better positioned to take advantage of the market shift dictated by OPEC, and it took American manufacturers some time to regain lost ground.

I'm not trying to be an apologist for the Pinto or Vega, even though they do have a bizarre cult following among the frugal minded. Just trying to keep the market of the '70s in perspective.

[logician2u]

But one must consider that they were hurriedly rushed into production in response to the Arab Oil Embargo . .

Uh, Willy, you need to brush up on your car chronology.

The Ford Pinto came out in '71, and if memory serves the Vega first hit the market the same year.

The Arab oil embargo and gas shortages didn't happen until late '73 after the Yom Kippur War.

I had a Pinto, a '73 wagon, which served me well at the time even though it was underpowered to the point of having to join the 18-wheelers when going uphill with a passenger or two.

Earlier, I'd test-driven a VW Bug but it had serious legroom problems. The dealer offered to move the seat back a few inches but then the steering wheel was on my kneecap. And then any backseat passengers would need to be small children or midgets.

Fuel economy is nice. Getting to where you're going without need of a chiropractic adjustment when you arrive is better.

[Bernard]

On a related note, the Twinkie celebrated its 70th anniversary, with the manufacturer announcing that the second batch of the perennial taste-treat is now in production.

[Willie Green]

Uh, Willy, you need to brush up on your car chronology.
The Ford Pinto came out in '71, and if memory serves the Vega first hit the market the same year.

Well your memory is certainly better than mine.
A quick search showed Pinto introduced in '70 and the Vega in '71.
Oh well, how can I be expected to remember that?
Heck, I was trying desperately to nurse the odometer of a '63 Falcon past 175K at the time. Pintos and Vegas cost waaaaaaay more than my budget would permit.

:-(

[SevenDaysInMay]

The original beetle, made in Mexico, is the ~50 y.o. 2-door, rear mounted, air-cooled engine often used as taxis in Mexico City, the air pollution and kidnapping capital of the the Americas.

NEVER GET INTO THE REAR SEAT OF A TWO DOOR TAXI.

The front-engined Jetta/"Bug" is not the same thing.

I'd kinda like a new Bug rag top turbo-diesel, if I lived in Austin, Texas frequenting Lake Travis for sailing or bird watching at Hippy Hollow. Ahhhh, the summers of '69.

[sushiman]

It wasn't just 70's autos ...Quality control on just about all products took a nosedive into hell . Fashion sucked ( remember leisure suits ? ) . Rock music ( until punk came along in 1976 ) got boring . The list goes on .

[Constitution Day]

Market opportunity to reintroduce the Ford Pinto and Chevy Vega.

Not to mention the Chevy Nova!

;^)

[shaggy eel]

...I don't know of a VW 'Go' and my NB's chassis seems as identical as possible to a Jetta.

,,, it should read VW Golf. The Golf was the VW Rabbit outside the US market. The Golf/Jetta/Rabbit run the same platform.

[danmar]

......and AMC Pacer

Now,...let be nice to the all around,famous and study looking...Ladies and Gentlemen..."The Gremlin"!

If you ask me the "Vega", was actually a pretty good looking car, kinda looking like a little Camaro, IMHO, except the engine choice and relability was somewhat questionable.

Just take the body, do some reinforcements, drop a tweaked 350/TH350, get a decent rear end, and you've got yourself a good looking rocket. Never the less, do not forget about modifing the brakes. You need to stop that little monster, mind you.!