Market Backlash against Detroit?

[mtnbkr]

Actually, the bug is a HECK of a lot better than 12 seconds 0-60. It did as well as most 6 cylinders in that respect. That was a 4 speed, though. That funky automatic clutch thing was another story. Have you ever DRIVEN one? I may be a "young pup" at 50, but these days a 12 second 0-60 trying to enter the expressway is like a death wish.  As for top end, there they are comparable. That wasn't a worry, though. 90 is fast enough for me. Mine would do that all day long after I rebuilt them.

Actually, I drove one all through HS and College, putting over 100k on mine.  I had the full manual clutch system, not the crappy auto-clutch.

As for 0-60, mine was not a good comparison because it was a custom 1700cc engine with rejetted Weber Progressive carb and header exhaust.  However, a quick google search shows the early 25hp Beetles doing 0-60 in about 30 seconds and the 71 Beetle with 1600cc engine doing 0-60 in 18 seconds, hardly better than the Smartcar and certainly not better than any V6.

I've gotten onto highways with cars that couldn't do an honest sub 15sec 0-60.  A friend of mine had a 25hp Beetle he used as a daily drive.  The key is to not pull out in front of vehicles going faster than you.

Here's mine.  Pic is from 1996:



Chris

[charby]

I've gotten onto highways with cars that couldn't do an honest sub 15sec 0-60.  A friend of mine had a 25hp Beetle he used as a daily drive.  The key is to not pull out in front of vehicles going faster than you.
Chris

I had a 1987 Suzuki Samauri in the 1990's. I was lucky if I could get to 45mph at the bottom of the ramp. I had to keep the accelerator to the floor to cruise at 65mph.

Thing was fun in the woods though.

[Teknoid]

Actually, I drove one all through HS and College, putting over 100k on mine.  I had the full manual clutch system, not the crappy auto-clutch.

As for 0-60, mine was not a good comparison because it was a custom 1700cc engine with rejetted Weber Progressive carb and header exhaust.  However, a quick google search shows the early 25hp Beetles doing 0-60 in about 30 seconds and the 71 Beetle with 1600cc engine doing 0-60 in 18 seconds, hardly better than the Smartcar and certainly not better than any V6.

I've gotten onto highways with cars that couldn't do an honest sub 15sec 0-60.  A friend of mine had a 25hp Beetle he used as a daily drive.  The key is to not pull out in front of vehicles going faster than you.

Here's mine.  Pic is from 1996:



Chris

Perhaps it's the way you drive a clutch. Even the weak sister 5 speed saturn I use as a spare does better than a 12 second 0-60, though it is close to 10. Of course you have to downshift the thing every time you hit a hill (like a bug). I had 2 '68's and a '72 super beetle. The '72 was only slightly better, but both did 0-60 in 8-9 seconds (timed). As this was real life, I believe this stat more than what a magazine article might state.

There are ramps around here that are fairly short. Failure to get up to speed by the time you reach the end of
them can be hazardous to one's health. The fact that the ForTwo takes 12 seconds, uses premium fuel, and gets two mpg less (36) than the four cylinder Saturn I own (38) fails to impress me a whole bunch.

I never checked the mpg on the Beetles, but I vividly remember driving around town all night on a quarter's worth of regular. Of course, that was in the seventies, so YMMV 

[coppertales]

My wife and I both have F150 pickups, a 1996 and a 1995.  Her 1996 has 147k miles on it and has had zero problems.  Mine has 110k miles on it and I have had to change out the transmission and rear end.  The former owner beat those parts hauling a trailer load of household goods from OR to TX.  It only has a 300 6.  Otherwise no problems.  I would like to buy a new truck but neither of us wants to give up their truck for a new one.  Besides, the prices of new trucks are much too high for my blood.  Who can afford a vehicle that costs more than my first three houses did.  The American auto industry is still in the "it only needs to last three years mode".

Back in the 70s, I switched to foreign cars because American cars were crap.  The only Crysler cars I have owned were old slant 6 small cars, which ran along time.  The GM cars I have had were all money pits.  I guess we will see what happens with these socialists auto companies....chris3

[BryanP]

The American auto industry is still in the "it only needs to last three years mode".

My personal (and therefore anecdotal, of course) experience is that this is not the case.  My previous two cars, both American, a Ford and a Chevy, each reached (or surpassed) the quarter million mile mark.  My current American car, an 03, has about 60K on it and is still running great.  But then I drive conservatively, don't do jackrabbit starts, and make sure the maintenance is done.