First Road Trip! We Drive to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb | Beetle Diaries Ep. 2
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- Опубликовано: 23 июн 2018
- ( www.TFLcar.com ) Volkswagen invited Mike to Pikes Peak to watch a special race car do some testing. We saw this as the perfect opportunity to see how the Super Beetle handles the open road on a 90 degree day in Colorado.
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I'm aware that you guys want a bone stock motor but two simple mods could add roughly 20 or more horsepower which is significant. A header system and dual Solex single barrel carburaters. Night and day difference and better mileage.
i agree 100 percent with the the above and would also be period correct
Don’t forget that Colorado Springs is at an altitude of 6000’ which will affect your mpg. Based on my owning a 1965 beetle from 1965 to 1970 and mostly driving in Texas at 65-70, the car’s average mpg was 29.9 at highway speed. Not to get nostalgic but gas in Texas was 29.9 cents per gallon. Just as an historical reference I never saw a beetle with a roof rack or flower vase on the dashboard.
Our Beetles all had roof racks because of limited trunk space.
As for the question of if a '70s beetle is a decent car in the modern world - I can answer that, very much yes! I've been dailying a '73 Super for almost 8 years now, gradually restoring, modifying, and customizing it in the process. Even delivered pizza in it for a while - it's turn radius was the Holy Grail of that job, could pull a U-turn on any street. Great car, easy to repair, parts are cheap, does pretty well if you take care of it. Wouldn't suggest for anyone, but for those willing to put in the effort, learn (it's great for learning, that was my main motive in getting it at 16) and decently mechanically inclined, it's great. A practical car in the '70s, and a practical car now. Probably one of very few cars of that vintage that would still be practical now. The lack of A/C is a bit of a problem this time of year - I'll overheat long before it will. Would be cool to see you drive it up Pike's Peak, would be slow but I have little doubt it would make it ... eventually.
As for the electric racecar - I was wondering when and where it would happen that an electric car would be able to out-perform gasoline competitors - not in a separate league or anything, but on a level playing field. Wouldn't have thought of Pike's Peak, but it totally makes sense, especially given the altitude hindering conventional engines.
I learned how to drive in a 1971 Beetle in Germany in 1976. My dad was military and we were stationed in West Germany at the time. The interior looks so ancient these days. But I really liked that little car.
Could be because it’s fifty years old
I had a teacher in high school that owned a 1966 vw beetle and drove that all year round. It did surprisingly well without snow tires
These Beetle videos are super cool
21 mpg in a 47 year old VW on lower than designed octane at high altitude seems stellar to me.
Very true. The manual actually suggests 91 octane
Not to mention, you are in Colorado (high Altitude)
Cool video! My first car was a white 1964 VW Beetle - fun memories!
My dad had a 71 super beetle, i loved that car.
While I can't stand the modern version, there's just something about that classic that puts a smile on my face. Nostalgia, I suppose, as I saw loads of these when I was a kid. Great vid and series, Mike.
I have never been a VW fan, i absolutely loathe the VW Golf, and as you say the modern version id much rather see it crushed. However, there is just something iconic about the bugs that makes one have to have one..
even my 5 year old boy, has a deep love for them.... so much so that i was forced to buy our own 76 standard. Worst best decision ive ever made.
the lock on the engine compartment was usually an aftermarket accessory to keep people from stealing engine parts, on a standard super or beetle it would just be a push to open
Our1970 Beetle had a lock on the engine lid but our 1975 Beetle didn't, cost cutting???
Great video, great car, I’ve always wanted a Super Beetle ❤️
The fuel economy numbers are actually quite good. One must remember that the majority of cars back then were getting roughly half that. One needs to take into consideration the era in which is was made.
Engine might need a tune,and adjust the valves req about every 3K mikes.
You defenitely need a tune up on your beetle including points and valve adjustment. Great beetle ...
yup, want more !
Great drive! And the hotel looked pretty legit too! Lol I would recommend you run premium gas for hot days at freeway speeds, at mile high altitude.
I have a similar '73 Super, and also live in Colorado. Ran premium for a while, but learned over time that it doesn't make any difference in terms of engine temperature or fuel economy, taking a lot of data. Just wastes money. Now I run regular, and it's totally fine. High altitude actually means less need for premium, not more, because there is less air going into the engine, which effectively reduces compression. Think the opposite of turbocharging.
Good job, it probably would benefit from a tune up and valve adjustment but not bad for a 47 year old car.
I was thinking it may also benefit from a total carb rebuild and re-jet, as well as having the timing checked to make sure it's set correctly (with the points, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs replaced.)
Nice video.
Great video with one tiny nitpick: you keep saying "frunk" but that's not quite right... VW themselves just called/calls it a trunk since there's only one and there's no need to differentiate between two trunks like in a Tesla.
It's still in the front, so it's sort of still a frunk. Frunk is just a slang term for "front trunk", so I'd argue that any cargo area in the front of the car can be called that, even if the manufacturer never used the term.
There is a second trunk behind the back seat.
i can watch this forever
You actually passed people!!!!
I had a 1973 Beetle in High school 25 mpg was great for that time , My mother car got 8/9 mpg in her Olds .
reginald burks mine lowered with cam and dual baby Weber carbs got 31+MPG....but 21-25 stock.
For a car that is 47 years old, that kind of gas mileage is indeed stellar. Don't make the mistake of comparing 47 year old technology to current technology.
Fun video
We have a 1963 with 6 Volts
Nothing wrong with air cooling, but it can be hard to tell when it's overheating without an oil temp. guage. There's a pass in the Rockies where I would quite often see boilovers and my Transporter with portals would just keep going...
Does the ID.R use a heat pump like prod. VW's?
You guys should get a beetle 5th wheel and do the ike gauntlet with it
21 mpg is pretty good , after you said you did have it up to 80 mph...maybe a test driving say 60, would be more true to life...
The one thing I learnt from this series is that Americans are pretty good at driving cars.
Cool :)
That’s in gunbarrel. I drove past there 5 min ago
Your 40hp beetle gets the same mileage as my 5 yr old F150
i had one in 1973 , the mpg was great for that time , my mother olds got 8 to 9 mpg at that time .
reginald burks was it a 98? 455? Massive and comfortable cars!
60 HP
60hp. And What did an F series from the same era get? Single digits.
With the engine properly tuned I got my '66 bug up to 40mpg. But I wasn't running it flat out on the highway all the time. Keep it at about 60-65 mph and the mileage is much better.
What was the oil consumption?
Imagine that lady from the movie norbit trying to get in the beetle, how you doin
I wonder if VW AG/Porsche ever sent any 918s up the hill.
That VW need a prostate exam, 21 mpg is HORRIBLE.
Think of it this way: That is over 3 mpg better than my family's old '96 Voyager would have gotten.
Hey, if you guys would like to do a full service on the car, we are in Arvada. We would love to have you to our place. I have a few videos on servicing a good friends '71 cab as well as a few of our 356. It would be fun! Franny
Thanks for the kind offer. Please send us an email with a link to your website. Info@tflcar.com
Yea! email sent.
Do you guys still have this car, or did you sell it?
Fun video... bugs were always fun little cars, small but never claustrophobic.... modern versions require more safety & rigidity... thicker doors & door panels, beefier dash with airbags, the front engine rear drive eats into the front firewall & transmission tunnel with driveshaft hump requires more space. It lost its charm with all its limitations... VW Thing could never make a comeback for the same reasons, gone are the days of fun utilitarianism, burdened by bureaucratic 16 page liability release form
"... gone are the days of fun utilitarianism, burdened by bureaucratic 16 page liability release form ..."
NAILED IT !
There is not a single car from that day that would be able to be produced and sold in the west. Not even a rolls Royce. The Beetle was a really good car in its day and still fundamentally good today.
Silly question: What’s with the 30 second and keep filling technique? Was always told not to overfill. Does the gas settle in 30 seconds?
Precisely. It allows most of the big air bubbles from filling to dissipate which gives you a truly filled tank. Never heard anybody say not to overfill personally, but I've done it for years and years and never had an ill effect to the vehicle. :)
the check engine light comes on and your mechanic says you need a new vapor canister
It can't break a sweat - that requires water... :-)
Regular unleaded... what octane? 85 or 87? Nice video man. I have a 74 as a daily driver. I'm still not sure on exactly what octane to use. People have said 91 octane n other said 87. I been switching between for all 3 octane levels and really can't tell the difference. But if you know to the exact science to this madness, please share. Thx
91 was a European rating. 87 is fine for a stock vw.
21 mpg is always good the people wanted a easy car well they got it
Needs a tune up
it would't do 80 if it needed a tune up...thats pretty much top speed
o look it's herby
He shouldn't have had so much trouble. Class 11 beetles go through far worse terrain and they are relatively stock beetles.
I never thought 85 octane was even available.
it is in high altitude areas.
I GUESS THEY USE HIGH OCTANE ELECTRONS
1,1L/100 km is not that bad for the 70's and for motorway speeds of 130 km/h
This electric car sounds just like electric razor
I was expecting a hill climb, not a road trip documentary.
Is it sad if I get better gas millage in a minivan?
Axillary Gaming the only sad thing is that you drive a minivan
david nelson Awwww.. but they’re so practical, and great people movers!
But is that minivan from 1971?
If you want to play that game, I get better gas milage in my electric car: no gas used at all.
Have you seen what Mighty Car Mods did to their Beetle? Here it is ruclips.net/video/hpb2Him9CUo/видео.html
He keeps saying voukswagen
the best sounding race car is the electric car...sounds like a jet while everything else was a fart can
It's fitting he is driving the beetle since he drives so slow in everything else.
How come I can film a smoother shot with my iPhone. C’mon guys get a chest mounted gimbal or something. The shaky Blair Witch thing was so 2000...
So much for an "Honest 25"
Just push it down pikes peak and end the misery for us all
That's not a super beetle......
Ahhhhhhhhhhh, do you even know what a super beetle is?
TFLnow yes, I've owned several beetles. Super beetles have a different hood, a curved wind shield, different front suspension, and a different dash.....that is a regular bug. Kinda pathetic for a car channel not to know the difference...
This is a 1971 model. From a little online research, it doesn't look like the curved windshield and different dash started until 1973. Do you have evidence otherwise, Jesse? If not, the pathetic accusation may have been a little premature.
The spare tire is the giveaway. It's a super
It's pathetic for someone to be rude to a car channel when they are the one that is wrong. The hood is different, the front suspension is different. The 1971 and 1972 Super Beetles had a flattish windshield and an unchanged dash from the standard Beetle. He's clearly shown the front of the car and the trunk being different.