I'm out.

[redpoint5]

I don't recall the last time I've seen a Bug on the road. Used to be all the time, and now never.

Last clear memory of those vehicles was 2008 when I met up with a girl I was dating in Mexico, and they were still making new examples of those old cars. Mexico City was a smoggy heck-hole of a city. It was as backwards as the cars they drove. Corrupt to the core and lacking all honor.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

The worst car I ever owned was a '69 Beetle. Yeah, it was simple to fix, but the thing sucked and required constant fixing... or maybe my Dodge Ram 2500 pickup is the suckiest vehicle I've owned. Things that tell you what the problem is are easier to repair than things that don't tell you what the problem is.

For maintenance worst car I ever owned was a 1961 Buick Skylark. After struggling the electronics on a "modern" car (90's Ranger that was a franken truck from 3 donors) I decided I wanted a simple car as a daily driver. The Buick was simple and the wire harness had about 15 wires. Everything could be fixed / adjusted with a crescent wrench, screwdriver, and hammer. BUT it constantly needed fiddling. Ended up parting it out and then cutting up the body and selling it for scrap. Never again. Give me a "complicated" car that doesn't actually break down over a "simple" car any day.

The best cars I've owned long term for maintenance where my 2nd gen Prius. (2005 / 2009). Nothing but routine maintenance for both with the exception of the 3 way valve for the coolant thermos. That was a $100 fix at about 110K miles on each.

My Bolt has required basically no maintenance but it is only 8 year old with 70K miles. No car that young should require any repairs.

Same with motorcycles. Every bike I've owned with carbs has needed fiddling. None of my EFI bikes have needed anything.

[freebeard]

What was the Skylark body style. I always liked that convertible.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I don't recall the last time I've seen a Bug on the road. Used to be all the time, and now never.

If you drive through downtown Eugene and keep your eyes peeled, usually these's at least one (but mostly Westfalia Vanagons. ). The Bug-Run at Woodburn dragstrip is May the 30th.

The most trouble-free car I recall was the 1959 Rambler station wagon. IIRC I put a set of tires on when I got it and a bracket in the clutch linkage snapped and was welded, but I only drove it two or three years.

The one that got the most unnecessary work was the Notchback -- dual Weber 40s, five speed, stainless steel oil lines to the external cooler, etc.



Grateful Dead sticker on the front of the hood.

[JSH]

Mine was a coupe in red - very similar to this one. Had the 3.5L all aluminum V8 that GM later sold to Rover with a 2 speed auto.