Karman Ghia!!!

[Ghettochild]

Any ideas?

[Xavier]

It has Two Ns...

http://www.serve.com/bacani/kg.html

[Ghettochild]

hehe oops. I freakin love these cars. I want to get one what should i know?

[Em7add11]

Looks sporty.

What is it that you like about them?

[Ghettochild]

I like the look mostly but they just seem different they seem to match my personality i think. Best of all there was one on kill bill! starsky and hutch! catch me if you can! they come stock with like 30 horsepower but i think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread

[elysian]

Any ideas?

You looking to buy a Karmann Ghia? And no my Dad won't sell his. They are getting exceedingly rare at least here in the rust belt. If you're a student you can't afford it. My Dad turned down $16,500 for his that he bought originally (unrestored) for $2500. You will pay at least $4500 for one that is driveable and restorable, $8500 and higher for restorations and more for :teeth: modified :teeth:

For younger motorheads unfamiliar with air-cooled VW's other than Type 1's (the old Beetle) here's a link (http://www.serve.com/bacani/kg.html) that gives some good descriptions and pics.

[Ghettochild]

NICE!!!! i have only about $2000 to spend and I have seen a few around for that price at craigslist.com (local classifieds here.) My uncle is a huge VW guy and thinks that it would be a great first car, my father on the other hand wants me to buy some cheap import.

I would rather push a ghia than drive a honda

looking for a ghia what should i know? what parts go bad quickly?

[elysian]

NICE!!!! i have only about $2000 to spend and I have seen a few around for that price at craigslist.com (local classifieds here.) My uncle is a huge VW guy and thinks that it would be a great first car, my father on the other hand wants me to buy some cheap import.

I would rather push a ghia than drive a honda

looking for a ghia what should i know? what parts go bad quickly?

I don't know where you live, but here in the rust belt states you need to look for rust damage to the body and frame. The front ends especially tend to rust out as well as the front control arms. None of the older VW's have terribly good brakes, though Ghias do have front discs, the rear brakes are NOT self adjusting, and you will need to have them adjusted frequently.

Type I engines (identical to the engine in the Beetles) are notorious for oil leaks. Leakage from the rear main seal and pushrod tubes is incredibly common, both are costly repairs unless you are a techie yourself. Even if you are a techie this is not a Chevy 350 or even remotely close to a conventional L4 engine you will find in most of today's cars. The air-cooled engines are truly a specialty of their own, and if you don't find a techie who has learned how to work on them you will be very sorry.

If you live in a cold climate any air-cooled VW may be a poor choice if you like heat in the car. Even with working heat exchangers the amount of heat you get is minimal and concentrated around the ankle area. I had 2nd degree burns on one ankle and frostbite on the other from driving my Super Beetle in the winter. The Ghia uses exactly the same heat set-up. If you live in a hot climate there is no AC either, and it can get pretty hot especially on those black vinyl seats.

Another common breakage is the accelerator cable. Don't laugh, if this cable breaks and you're on the freeway (happened to me in my Super Beetle) you will need to think very fast- you need to shut the engine off and coast to the side of the road. Some people who play with air-cooled VW's keep an extra accelerator cable for just such an emergency, but I've never had any success in installing them myself. So take the cell phone and call AAA.

Another fun, fun part of dealing with an older car is that the Ghias are not fuel injected and they have no electronic engine controls. They have carbureators and anywhere you have a carbureator you have a pain in the rear especially in climates (like Central Ohio) where it is constantly damp and the temperature fluctuates a lot. They don't like dampness or cold, which we get plenty of around here. Carbureators have to be adjusted (often) as well as idle and timing manually. They also have to be cleaned out occasionally. This can be hazardous as you have someone start it up as you're doing it. I had my eyebrows burned off once when I was spraying carb clean down one, (which is what you do to clean them if the butterfly valve sticks) and my Dad went to start it and it backfired. And did I mention the most common carbureator failure is the choke? The choke adds extra fuel to the mix when it's cold, but they seldom work properly. I have sprayed starting fluid down carbureators more than once on freezing cold mornings (and had someone hold the valve open) due to non-working chokes. You don't have an ECM to control your fuel/air intake, nor do you have an ignition module to time the spark. You have a lovely old fashioned distributor with points (that periodically have to be cleaned and gapped) and condensor instead. No computers.

In a newer vehicle with fuel injection and electronic controls (1990 and newer) the sensors and computers constantly adjust fuel/air mix and timing to increase efficiency. Electronic controls and fuel injection also help prevent hard starts when it's cold- so even if it's 20 below your car should start and run. The computer will maintain the high idle as long as necessary, then gradually decrease it as the engine warms.

If I were to recommend a reliable first car I would lean toward a Corolla (1993-97) or a 4 cylinder Camry (1992-96.) I know, they might look boring but I take boring and reliable over funky/cool and tempermental, at least in the car I drive every day. Both of these cars are relatively trouble free and if maintained properly will go 200,000 miles+ easily. If I were to recommend a fun car to play with yes I enjoy air-cooled VW's but not as daily drivers unless you are very technically inclined.

[Fideist345]

NICE!!!! i have only about $2000 to spend and I have seen a few around for that price at craigslist.com (local classifieds here.) My uncle is a huge VW guy and thinks that it would be a great first car, my father on the other hand wants me to buy some cheap import.

I would rather push a ghia than drive a honda

looking for a ghia what should i know? what parts go bad quickly?
They're unreliable. They go much faster if you install a Porche engine and transaxle. They're obscenely expensive for what you get. You'll freeze to death in any cold climate. You'll die if you hit anything head-on. You're way better off with a Vespa. They're just as warm, just as safe, get way better gas mileage, and in their own weird way, are just as eccentric to own. :teeth:

[elysian]

They're unreliable. They go much faster if you install a Porche engine and transaxle. They're obscenely expensive for what you get. You'll freeze to death in any cold climate. You'll die if you hit anything head-on. You're way better off with a Vespa. They're just as warm, just as safe, get way better gas mileage, and in their own weird way, are just as eccentric to own. :teeth:

Playing with VW's is a culture all its own. The Central Ohio Vintage Volkswagen Club (http://members.tripod.com/covvc/) is likely the largest assembly of vintage VW owners in the Midwest. I haven't had one to play with in a number of years (not enough cash, not enough time, and I'm not able to work on them myself anymore) but it's fun if you have the cash, time and mechanical ability.

For their day the older VW's were very reliable, it's just that you can't hold a 35-40 year old vehicle to the same standards we are accustomed to today. The old Beetles got about 25 MPG which for early 1970's was fantastic mileage- now we have midsize SUV's and large cars that do as well. With these older cars you are relying not only on old technology and mechanical vs. electronic operating systems, but you're relying on very old parts in many cases as well that will fail due to stress, use and age.

It's a fun hobby and a great time, but it gets old in the dead of winter. Hot water heat is a beautiful thing.

[Ghettochild]

well in california the winter isnt so bad but there is a lot of hills, how does the really really small engine do with inclines? i am currently learning to drive an automatic and will have to learn to driive a stick but i cant imagine driving anything but one of these beautiful cars.