Both were great driving in the winter. The camber of the wheels allowed us to let go of the steering wheel and it would "track" around nicely banked curves free handed! We often drove in deep snow with no problem. Yes it would "snow plow" but we could go through most snows. Lived in western and northern MI where "Lake Effect" snow meant deep accumulation. Of course our road commissions knew how to deal with lots of snow.
We had a'71 Squareback Sedan, 12 volt, ran just great, heated fine. We had an auxiliary heater and a fan for the windshield defroster. Didn't have much problem with fogging or heat. Our '66 Squareback, 6 volt, had no aux. heater and no fan. It was not warm all the time especially on short trips. Windshield did fog up. Ours were garaged and still on our '66 we had to heat the oil pan with cans of sterno to assist the start. Often we pushed it to the top of the hill in our drive to "pop"
Agreed on the heater. The heaters were more than adequate. Mine melted a cassette that was lying on the floor near a vent. Problem was that the ducts were in the floor boards, and when they started to rust, the heat went outside.
@CoasterBeach Don't worry, drive what you love, but accept the fact that the VW Bug model was one of the most successful models ever. The German version of the Model T, in fact. To paraphrase an old saying; "50 million drivers can't be wrong".
Every single winter I put the good snow tires on my Beetle, and I go up hills that are of exceptional grade. And I laugh as I swerve around and pass car after car after car after car. My tires don't even come close to spinning. They all look at me in complete disbelief as I motor right by them. I love winter just because of that.
Germany never gave up the fight for world control. With the US stuck in Afghanistan and Irak wasting its wealth making new enemies, Germany made a large leap forward. Having lost two open wars to become the dominating power on earth, Germany reverted to the tactics used before 1914 and between1918-1939: Infiltrating other countries with snitchers, manipulating them and draw as much wealth as possible from these victims of German greed. My brother Markus Bott was murdered because of our homepage
@wwwtotalitaerde LOOOOOL,perfect descriptionof the US-politics (economics). Anyhow, half-true, the EU does the same. And China too. Victims:Third world countries.
@Lightningchase1973 I doubt very much that other states are running around abroad using their brainwashing equipment to sell products of their industry. They have to be competitive. Not so the Germans. Did you notice that during the automobile crisis a few years ago the US government payed a large amount of tax money to stabilize GM? BMW, Merc., Porsche, I think even Audi, were saved with arab money. I guess there must have been an awful lot of German brainwashing equipment around, harvesting $.
Sorry but Beetles were not reliable in the snow and the heaters were awful at the best of times and needed constant maintainance. I personally rescued two VW beetles in deep snow in Kings Lynn in '65. I was driving a standard (U.S. version) Hillman Husky. Once the air-vents ice over, Beetles are useless. VW were always good at marketing and mythology. They were an old-fashioned air-cooled car that were lousy in comparison to most other cars of the day. The rest is good old Nazi propaganda.
Anyone who thinks aircooled VW's had inadequate heaters has never been in one that's actually in good repair. The heaters are so good they'll get intolerably hot extremely quickly, and the heating system is easy to repair. The only reason they have a reputation for terrible heating is due to stupid neglectful owners.
So sad that I sold my old white 69 bug. The heater always worked great and she was a beast in the snow. Always had a bag or two of salt(50 to 100 lbs.) in the bonnet and she grabbed the road well. Oh well, at least I have my vw vanagon.
/watch?v=ABcckOTVqao is the American version of this commercial.
I may be wrong, but I would swear I remember a later, color version, of basically the same ad, from around the 1967-71 pre-SuperBeetle era, with a different voice-over - more like I described.
Oh well, VW always made a great car, and equally great commercials.
I still haven't found the, "No matter how hard they try. They just can't kill the Beetle.", ad.
Please check out the original US version: /watch?v=ABcckOTVqao
I think the text there (as well as the text timing) is much better and more subtle as in the german clone. After all, back in the sixties ad habits were not as absolutely reduced as they became after Brasilians 'invented' textless ads because people couldn't read
I installed two gel batteries than an inverter so i could plug my old shop heater in. works amazingly i start to sweat in the car even when its 30 out!
I have a 1976 Bug and it puts out plenty of heat! The trick is to ensure that the ducting and heater channels are all tight and intact. Every piece of sheetmetal around the engine affects the heater, too. Nothing can be missing.
Too many people modify their Bugs, thinking they can improve upon it. The best Beetle one can own is a totally stock Beetle, as VW engineered it to be.
76 is one of the newest ones. We had a couple when I was a teen in the 70s. I don't remember them ever getting very warm. I'm glad yours works though.
@mipmipmipmipmip Please check out the original US version: /watch?v=ABcckOTVqao
I think the text there (as well as the text timing) is much better and more subtle as in the german clone. After all, back in the sixties ad habits were not as absolutely reduced as they became after Brasilians 'invented' textless ads because people couldn't read
I'll admit there are differences between the original American ad copy and the German edition, and the one I'm familiar with doesn't QUITE translate into the dialogue heard in this version. I do appreciate your telling me the actual translation, 'drei'.
my dad has one of these...the heater gets so HOT i kid you not you could fry an egg on it...this is an hell of an car for hundreds of reasons...one the transmission is made of smaller thicker gears so it lasts longer..and 2 there so damn cool!!!
to really beef it up just put an pinto engine in one...hehehe demon from hell then lol
I loved my Super Beetle, and it was really good in the winter, as long as you had decent tires. Only downside was that it was a little tricky to drive and scrape at the same time, it was best to carry a co-pilot for the frost removal duties.
My beetles were the most fun 2 wheel drive vehicles I have ever driven in the snow. They could easily traverse snowy inclines that a similar car (Ford Escort, Honda Civic, etc) couldn't dream of. The usual reason for flipping one in the snow(or in a downpour) is lifting in a turn, same as a 911 lift off the gas and the center of gravity wants the back to be in front and over you go. Just a case of people not knowing how their cars behave near or at the limit.
when you say flipping, do you mean spinning the back end out?
just thought i would clarify as i have visions of a bug rolling on it's side when you say 'flipping' lol which i have never experienced when inducing lift-off oversteer with it
to be fair, i found the bug quite good at dealing with sudden weight changes due to lift off or braking as the engine over the back usually kept the back wheels in check. I had a lot more issues with understeer..
I did mean spinning out, just didn't have enough room left to explain how the 165/80 series tires fold under and can let the wheel rims "dig in" once they hit soft dirt with the outside rear wheel camber at an extreme angle (at least on Swingaxle cars). I had a LP/SA 64 with empi 8 spokes 195/50 and 205/60 tires, it handled OK, was a "cal look" car so the rake was important. With 135 and 165s on my steelies, it wouldn't even do a rolling donut cause the front tires couldn't hold!
Of course those of us who live in areas where it snows a lot will tell you that VWs were the worse winter cars in the world. The snow in the commercial wasn't very deep, otherwise the "Bug" would have plowed snow in front of it until it stopped. Did they mention it hasn't a decent heater/defroster?
Anyone who thinks aircooled VW's had inadequate heaters has never been in one that's actually in good repair. The heaters are so good they'll get intolerably hot extremely quickly, and the heating system is easy to repair. The only reason they have a reputation for terrible heating is due to stupid neglectful owners.
Yeah, the heater is actually pretty good in the Bug. Admittedly mine is held together with heat-resistant duct tape, but it does very well, and gets the car warm enough to fog up my windows within 10 minutes of driving it.
Unfortunately most of them today have rotten heat exchangers and the cable controls near the parking brake are usually broken and the hoses under the hood leading to the windshield are gone so in those circumstances it just wont work.
I had mine working pretty decent but even with everything together well it was a far less efficient heater in Maine at 15 below than my watercooled cars.
But my VW was the best car I've had in the snow. Way better than my FWD small cars or my FWD minivan...
@hypnolobster Yeah, my dad saw one putting along in the snow when everyone else on the road was having trouble. I suspect he'd have bought one, but when you have five kids, it's a bit small! (wouldn't mind driving one myself! )
@hypnolobster thats sad but true, people thought "hey this car runs forever so why sould i give it the love it deserves??" as there beetle was slowly wearing down........
@hypnolobster Yes but the concept of a reliable car is not one that has to be "kept in a good state of repair". Reliability means low maintenance, not "blame the owner". Anyone who has owned a Beetle knows that the heaters were either scorching or off altogether.German cars in general have never lived up to their image, neither technically or for reliability. Having owned 7 BMW's 3 Audi's (as well as various Saabs) German engineering is old-fashioned and solid in places, comedic in others.
@kaferere That doesn't hold true when you're talking about a 30 year old car that's been neglected. Take a reliable car like a mid 90's Civic and drive it for 30 years and tell me if it doesn't need maintenance.
Plus we're talking about a car from the 60s and 70s when every car on the road required knowing how to tune a carb, what to do when it flooded, knowing how to adjust points. It was a different era and a BMW 7 doesn't even remotely compare. Reliability only means FORESEEABLE maintenance.
@hypnolobster I didn't mention a 7 series BMW, I said I have owned 7 Bmw's over the years. If people would put the German Hype and marketing to one side and tell the truth about owning these vehicles, the German reliability/technical superiority myth would die. BMW were still using worm and roller steering boxes when Ford had ditched it for rack and pinion years earlier. BMW rear suspension was a joke that ate tyres. When you've owned and worked on enough cars you'll know.
@kaferere Ive seen a Mercedes being soldusing brainwashing techniques. After a crash it had to be repaired. An independent offer was 2500-3000 Euro. Brainwashing was used again, so Mercedes got the job. The bill was 12700 euro. Mercedes and BMW being in business is due to superiority of German propaganda and brainwashing techniques.
@kaferere Talk about cars...: German (European in general) cars are somewhat old-fashioned. Some brands reliable, so you need little repair, low maintainance, others cheap, but requiring lot of maintainance. Tecnically the best carsby far are Japanese ones. Low maintainance, all gadgets, little fuel consumptions, nice drving. The worst cars are Standard US cars. Comfortable - on a straight road with slow limits, nothing more.
@Lightningchase1973 I agree totally. Anyone who thinks German cars are technically superior has never owned them. I've only ever owned German cars and I'm sick of pretending. They are good to drive when they work, but they are so unreliable. The flagship Audi A8 (which I now own) uses a plastic selector switch to inform the trans computer which gear you select. It's tagged onto the outside of the trans as a complete afterthought. They all fail around 70k. This is my 9th (& last) German car.
@hypnolobster the gas fired heaters were passible but the exhaust heaters were terrible especially when the exhaust rusts out. I live in Saskatchewan and it hits -40 for a week or two every year and I hate my friends vw in winter. If you think thats bull my city has the record for the 4th coldest place in Canada -56ish without windchill just google prince albert coldest record
I've owned several Beetle's, while I loved each of them, I beg to disagree they'll get intolerably hot extremely quickly. I even owned one brand new Beetle, I feller could freeze before the heater worked. Once they warmed up the heater works fine. JMHO
As for the 23 thumbs up, I question any of them having owned a Beetle.
@hypnolobster Exactly. After about a half an hour of driving you need to open the window because it gets so hot you start sweating. And your ankles are red as a lobster.
@hypnolobster I bought a new Squareback in '72. In the winter my feet would roast and my ears would freeze, and lets not forget the obligatory towel to wipe the inside of the windshield. But regardless of the quirky heater and ineffective defogger I loved that car. Put 300K miles on it before it got stolen.
They were designed to be maintained. Do the maintenance and they last forever, as evidenced by the fact that people are still driving the original Beetles :)
They were very easy to flip over. I remember one trip from NYC to Rochester in January and seeing VW Bugs and vans off the road, some flipped over. Some of the owners were hurt, and all of them surprised at how badly the VWs handled in the snow.
I'm 25. My first car was a 69 Beetle. I lived in Maine and drove it in the harsh winters up there on bad roads. That Beelte was HANDS DOWN the best car I've ever driven in the snow.
It far surpassed my FWD Toyota Corolla, FWD Plymouth Voyager and other FWD cars I've driven in winter.
The VW Bug is THE best car for going up hills in the winter. I would challenge all my friends for steep hill climbs on snow and ice. The steeper the grade the more traction on the rear!
oh thanks so much! i'm so glad you just said that because i'm getting my driving permit this coming school year and my dad is starting to look for some cars for me and i for one love vw beetles! my dad just might get me one!
One of the all-time great commercials. One those was low-key (or low-fi) but got its point across just the same. I believe the English version of the commercial had the narration that went like, "Have you ever wondered how the guy who drives the snowplow gets to the plow? Simple. He drives a Volkswagen."
Shoulda had a plow on the beetle. Actually, most old VWs were fine in the snow....going straight. turning was a bit of a problem since there is so little weight over the front end....
nah, just unbolt the bumper and bolt the plow and the bumper in the same holes.the hard part would be making a plow that was small enough and brackets that fit. a bus would work better cause more weight...
First off, yes Beetles were great in the snow. The amount of snow in the ad isn't very challenging. Bumper deep with drifts even higher would have been impressive.
"Have you ever wondered 'how does the man who drives the snowplow, drive to the snowplow?' This one drives a Volkswagen. So you can stop wondering." Thats what the original english version said...I know for a fact, I own it.
cool!! my grandfather was telling me about this ad. hey one question, where do you find these ads? and how do you get them on the computer? just curious. peace
There is software available to rip DVD's. Some video's were on VHS. I put them on my computer using special software to convert analogue signal into digital (MPEG). With the correct compression, you can esily post them on youtube. I also put them on a DVD on which more than 100 are available now. It's for sale...
um...actually, never mind, working fine now. This is a great commerical, by the way. It reminds me of my own car which is just as reliable in harsh winter weather.
This was the first ad for a motor car that told a story and didn't advertise specific specifications. Apparently the narrative goes along the lines of "What does a snow plough driver use to get to work.."
I have a 1968 bug and travel 90 miles to work, in the past 10 years during the worst snow storms my bug alway go me to work, yes I am a snow plow driver :)
never mind your height driving a beetle. it was designed for germans, and germans are not just said to be tall, they are. i'm 1,85 m and i have absolutely no problems driving mine.
I remember this commercial as a kid,it was great then and a joy to watch again.I never forgot this commercial throu all the years.thou it was in english.Can't remember the year that it came out.
The original English version -- in black and white, as opposed to this colorized version -- came out in 1963 and started a run of smart VW ads. The spirit of those ads, this one in particular, was revived with the ones run with the VW bug's 1990s revival.
I drive my '71 Beetle for 6 years now and on a couple of occasions I came across heavy snow. It behaved exactly the same as the car in the ad. Magnificent cars these Volkswagens!
I owned and drove a 66 Bug for 4 years, and 2 of those winters I drove around happily on my ageing, balding, all-weather tyres in the snow, while SUV 4x4 owners waited on the side of the road to be rescued!
it isnt 100% correct, it says if you wanna drive to work before the snowplow man starts his work, why dont you try it with an volkswagen too? sorry for the english.
the clutch to get it started.
Both were great driving in the winter. The camber of the wheels allowed us to let go of the steering wheel and it would "track" around nicely banked curves free handed! We often drove in deep snow with no problem. Yes it would "snow plow" but we could go through most snows. Lived in western and northern MI where "Lake Effect" snow meant deep accumulation. Of course our road commissions knew how to deal with lots of snow.
whammond511 1 month ago
We had a'71 Squareback Sedan, 12 volt, ran just great, heated fine. We had an auxiliary heater and a fan for the windshield defroster. Didn't have much problem with fogging or heat. Our '66 Squareback, 6 volt, had no aux. heater and no fan. It was not warm all the time especially on short trips. Windshield did fog up. Ours were garaged and still on our '66 we had to heat the oil pan with cans of sterno to assist the start. Often we pushed it to the top of the hill in our drive to "pop"
whammond511 1 month ago
@CoasterBeach You poor thing I guess you're used to the best of everything.
auaiao9 3 months ago
Agreed on the heater. The heaters were more than adequate. Mine melted a cassette that was lying on the floor near a vent. Problem was that the ducts were in the floor boards, and when they started to rust, the heat went outside.
melvoid 4 months ago
The voiceover is worthy of mention:
"How does the man who drives the snowplow get to the snowplow?"
"He drives a volkwagen"
ForbinColossus 4 months ago
I love my beetle :)
Sum0nelse 7 months ago
@CoasterBeach fuck you the old vw beetle is the best car ever made
DaDuttFire 7 months ago
@CoasterBeach Don't worry, drive what you love, but accept the fact that the VW Bug model was one of the most successful models ever. The German version of the Model T, in fact. To paraphrase an old saying; "50 million drivers can't be wrong".
budgienation 8 months ago
Every single winter I put the good snow tires on my Beetle, and I go up hills that are of exceptional grade. And I laugh as I swerve around and pass car after car after car after car. My tires don't even come close to spinning. They all look at me in complete disbelief as I motor right by them. I love winter just because of that.
murcielago06gt 9 months ago
Y2kse you just have no class
webbcreativearts 10 months ago
Do modern beetles drive well in snow? @jaredthompsn
voteforjt 1 year ago
Germany never gave up the fight for world control. With the US stuck in Afghanistan and Irak wasting its wealth making new enemies, Germany made a large leap forward. Having lost two open wars to become the dominating power on earth, Germany reverted to the tactics used before 1914 and between1918-1939: Infiltrating other countries with snitchers, manipulating them and draw as much wealth as possible from these victims of German greed. My brother Markus Bott was murdered because of our homepage
wwwtotalitaerde 1 year ago
@wwwtotalitaerde LOOOOOL,perfect descriptionof the US-politics (economics). Anyhow, half-true, the EU does the same. And China too. Victims:Third world countries.
Lightningchase1973 11 months ago
@Lightningchase1973 I doubt very much that other states are running around abroad using their brainwashing equipment to sell products of their industry. They have to be competitive. Not so the Germans. Did you notice that during the automobile crisis a few years ago the US government payed a large amount of tax money to stabilize GM? BMW, Merc., Porsche, I think even Audi, were saved with arab money. I guess there must have been an awful lot of German brainwashing equipment around, harvesting $.
wwwtotalitaerde 11 months ago
@bryanwill03 agreed.. Lame.
alucard608 1 year ago
i just wasted 0:59 of my life
bryanwill03 1 year ago
vw beetles are the best
lrpracer123 1 year ago
i hope we have snow in Asia!!!hahaha
volksman2010 1 year ago
Sorry but Beetles were not reliable in the snow and the heaters were awful at the best of times and needed constant maintainance. I personally rescued two VW beetles in deep snow in Kings Lynn in '65. I was driving a standard (U.S. version) Hillman Husky. Once the air-vents ice over, Beetles are useless. VW were always good at marketing and mythology. They were an old-fashioned air-cooled car that were lousy in comparison to most other cars of the day. The rest is good old Nazi propaganda.
kaferere 1 year ago
@kaferere I'll just repost someone else:
Beetles are actually pretty great in the snow.
Anyone who thinks aircooled VW's had inadequate heaters has never been in one that's actually in good repair. The heaters are so good they'll get intolerably hot extremely quickly, and the heating system is easy to repair. The only reason they have a reputation for terrible heating is due to stupid neglectful owners.
richardmaudsley77 1 year ago
ell oh ell hitler
AnotherDayInTheNJ 1 year ago
I love it. And, yes, I think I have also seen it with English info years ago.
wordreet 1 year ago
wait whaaaa
DRTubbytanner 1 year ago
Done that. only the temp was so cold the heater didn't work. they are fun cars.
kowz4u 1 year ago
So sad that I sold my old white 69 bug. The heater always worked great and she was a beast in the snow. Always had a bag or two of salt(50 to 100 lbs.) in the bonnet and she grabbed the road well. Oh well, at least I have my vw vanagon.
TheCactusjack1 1 year ago
Clever ad, simply yet very effective
SatansFloater 1 year ago
How does the man who drives the snowplow drive to the snowplow? This one drives a Volkswagen. So you can stop wondering.
Thats what the German guy is saying at the end. I've seen this in English before.
trebdude1 1 year ago
@trebdude1 That IS how the English copy read. The actual German here is a little different:
"This man drives to work in a VW. His work is snowplow driver. If you have to drive to work before him, why don’t you try it with a Volkswagen too?"
Just FYI
dreiSchlangen 11 months ago
@dreiSchlangen
I seem to remember the voice-over in the American version saying:
"You ever wonder what car the man who drives the snowplow drives?"
Then the word, "Volkswagen" would appear at the bottom of the screen.
It was true, though. Snow, mud, or sand. Nothing stopped a Beetle.
skeilak 11 months ago
@skeilak
I didn't think SatansFloater had it perfect either—guess we should have checked YouTube—
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m /watch?v=ABcckOTVqao&feature=related
Regards - mgh
dreiSchlangen 10 months ago
@dreiSchlangen
You are absolutely correct, Sir. Thanks!
/watch?v=ABcckOTVqao is the American version of this commercial.
I may be wrong, but I would swear I remember a later, color version, of basically the same ad, from around the 1967-71 pre-SuperBeetle era, with a different voice-over - more like I described.
Oh well, VW always made a great car, and equally great commercials.
I still haven't found the, "No matter how hard they try. They just can't kill the Beetle.", ad.
skeilak 10 months ago
WHAT IS THIS ? TELL ME TELL ME !
diego8rojo 1 year ago
rolls royce coppied this commercial idea for the phantom. what douche bags.
koobose1 1 year ago
@koobose1 Unoriginal and unreal. They can do better.
TraustiGeir 1 year ago
So that's how state workers get to their plows when it comes a big snow.
Lex5576 1 year ago
Nice to see old Volkswagens
hohnercorso 1 year ago
This commercial was also aired in English. I had a Beetle and they were incredible in the snow.
bbxx44 1 year ago 2
Wait, whats the point of this commercial? It's stupid.
Espeelover 1 year ago
Great ad, i drive a 68 beetle daily, even in all the snow last winter, no problems at all.
38KDF 1 year ago 3
It was a brilliant ad.......................
equinoxranch 1 year ago 2
Please check out the original US version: /watch?v=ABcckOTVqao
I think the text there (as well as the text timing) is much better and more subtle as in the german clone. After all, back in the sixties ad habits were not as absolutely reduced as they became after Brasilians 'invented' textless ads because people couldn't read
highflyer0123 1 year ago
I installed two gel batteries than an inverter so i could plug my old shop heater in. works amazingly i start to sweat in the car even when its 30 out!
Hearseguy88 1 year ago
An old friend of my said that the heat in a Volkswagen Beetle was like an old lady breathing on your knee.
at90percent 2 years ago
I have a 1976 Bug and it puts out plenty of heat! The trick is to ensure that the ducting and heater channels are all tight and intact. Every piece of sheetmetal around the engine affects the heater, too. Nothing can be missing.
Too many people modify their Bugs, thinking they can improve upon it. The best Beetle one can own is a totally stock Beetle, as VW engineered it to be.
InfiniteMushroom 1 year ago
76 is one of the newest ones. We had a couple when I was a teen in the 70s. I don't remember them ever getting very warm. I'm glad yours works though.
at90percent 1 year ago
It had to be freezing the that air cooled bug!!
boBSerroneVideo 2 years ago
I'm amazed how much ahead of the time this car was.
SEThatered 2 years ago
my dad is a black beetle
bige70chevy 2 years ago
@bige70chevy
so you're an insect?
Christoph1988 2 years ago 5
Sorry to hear that!
beestube76 2 years ago 2
This commercial would have been better without any text at all. The images tell enough.
mipmipmipmipmip 2 years ago 27
@mipmipmipmipmip
I couldm't agree more!!
beetlejuice150 2 years ago 6
This has been flagged as spam show
@mipmipmipmipmip Please check out the original US version: /watch?v=ABcckOTVqao
I think the text there (as well as the text timing) is much better and more subtle as in the german clone. After all, back in the sixties ad habits were not as absolutely reduced as they became after Brasilians 'invented' textless ads because people couldn't read
highflyer0123 1 year ago
Magic Vw!N.1!
ClassicRockVw 2 years ago
cool video!
LoveOldBugs 2 years ago
I'll admit there are differences between the original American ad copy and the German edition, and the one I'm familiar with doesn't QUITE translate into the dialogue heard in this version. I do appreciate your telling me the actual translation, 'drei'.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
the snow is not that deep.. Look closely.
2shacks1house 2 years ago
aucttly they handle great in snow, so do older civics THe smaller the tire the better you are
nuzuk 2 years ago 2
Rolls Royce stole this and red did it
TechForThought 2 years ago
Translation:
"Have you ever wondered how the man who drives a snowplow, drives TO the snowplow? This one drives a Volkswagen...so you can stop wondering."
fromthesidelines 2 years ago 8
That was pretty much the American copy.
This German actually translates:
This man drives to work in his VW.
His job is snow plow driver.
If you have to drive to work before him, why dont you also try it with a Volkswagen?
Corrections welcome!
dreiSchlangen 2 years ago 2
my dad has one of these...the heater gets so HOT i kid you not you could fry an egg on it...this is an hell of an car for hundreds of reasons...one the transmission is made of smaller thicker gears so it lasts longer..and 2 there so damn cool!!!
to really beef it up just put an pinto engine in one...hehehe demon from hell then lol
spatchycat 2 years ago
Take a listen at :23, I love hearing the roar of that little engine as the VW plows across the field of snow.
quirpco 2 years ago
i love beetles
gaggle707 2 years ago
I loved my Super Beetle, and it was really good in the winter, as long as you had decent tires. Only downside was that it was a little tricky to drive and scrape at the same time, it was best to carry a co-pilot for the frost removal duties.
ironflange 2 years ago
My beetles were the most fun 2 wheel drive vehicles I have ever driven in the snow. They could easily traverse snowy inclines that a similar car (Ford Escort, Honda Civic, etc) couldn't dream of. The usual reason for flipping one in the snow(or in a downpour) is lifting in a turn, same as a 911 lift off the gas and the center of gravity wants the back to be in front and over you go. Just a case of people not knowing how their cars behave near or at the limit.
racrdave 3 years ago 4
was wondering about that. Thanks!
pinkpoodle1963 3 years ago
when you say flipping, do you mean spinning the back end out?
just thought i would clarify as i have visions of a bug rolling on it's side when you say 'flipping' lol which i have never experienced when inducing lift-off oversteer with it
to be fair, i found the bug quite good at dealing with sudden weight changes due to lift off or braking as the engine over the back usually kept the back wheels in check. I had a lot more issues with understeer..
might just be my driving though!
HeathwoodStudios 2 years ago
I did mean spinning out, just didn't have enough room left to explain how the 165/80 series tires fold under and can let the wheel rims "dig in" once they hit soft dirt with the outside rear wheel camber at an extreme angle (at least on Swingaxle cars). I had a LP/SA 64 with empi 8 spokes 195/50 and 205/60 tires, it handled OK, was a "cal look" car so the rake was important. With 135 and 165s on my steelies, it wouldn't even do a rolling donut cause the front tires couldn't hold!
racrdave 2 years ago
It can sure take you fast to the snow plow.
eros20V 3 years ago
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Of course those of us who live in areas where it snows a lot will tell you that VWs were the worse winter cars in the world. The snow in the commercial wasn't very deep, otherwise the "Bug" would have plowed snow in front of it until it stopped. Did they mention it hasn't a decent heater/defroster?
Bullettube 3 years ago
Hey, the clip is not a documentary. It's a commercial!
beetlejuice150 3 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Which makes it all the more irritating to see it considered a classic advert. An advert to make you believe a complete falsehood so you'll buy a car.
Bullettube 3 years ago
"An advert to make you believe a complete falsehood" :O SURELY NOT!? Think of the children!
johnnye87 3 years ago 2
Beetles are actually pretty great in the snow.
Anyone who thinks aircooled VW's had inadequate heaters has never been in one that's actually in good repair. The heaters are so good they'll get intolerably hot extremely quickly, and the heating system is easy to repair. The only reason they have a reputation for terrible heating is due to stupid neglectful owners.
hypnolobster 3 years ago 34
Yeah, the heater is actually pretty good in the Bug. Admittedly mine is held together with heat-resistant duct tape, but it does very well, and gets the car warm enough to fog up my windows within 10 minutes of driving it.
1972volkswagen 3 years ago
Unfortunately most of them today have rotten heat exchangers and the cable controls near the parking brake are usually broken and the hoses under the hood leading to the windshield are gone so in those circumstances it just wont work.
I had mine working pretty decent but even with everything together well it was a far less efficient heater in Maine at 15 below than my watercooled cars.
But my VW was the best car I've had in the snow. Way better than my FWD small cars or my FWD minivan...
OnenessGodhead 2 years ago
@hypnolobster Yeah, my dad saw one putting along in the snow when everyone else on the road was having trouble. I suspect he'd have bought one, but when you have five kids, it's a bit small! (wouldn't mind driving one myself! )
pheenix42 1 year ago
@hypnolobster thats sad but true, people thought "hey this car runs forever so why sould i give it the love it deserves??" as there beetle was slowly wearing down........
102Help 1 year ago
@hypnolobster Yes but the concept of a reliable car is not one that has to be "kept in a good state of repair". Reliability means low maintenance, not "blame the owner". Anyone who has owned a Beetle knows that the heaters were either scorching or off altogether.German cars in general have never lived up to their image, neither technically or for reliability. Having owned 7 BMW's 3 Audi's (as well as various Saabs) German engineering is old-fashioned and solid in places, comedic in others.
kaferere 1 year ago
@kaferere That doesn't hold true when you're talking about a 30 year old car that's been neglected. Take a reliable car like a mid 90's Civic and drive it for 30 years and tell me if it doesn't need maintenance.
Plus we're talking about a car from the 60s and 70s when every car on the road required knowing how to tune a carb, what to do when it flooded, knowing how to adjust points. It was a different era and a BMW 7 doesn't even remotely compare. Reliability only means FORESEEABLE maintenance.
hypnolobster 1 year ago
@hypnolobster I didn't mention a 7 series BMW, I said I have owned 7 Bmw's over the years. If people would put the German Hype and marketing to one side and tell the truth about owning these vehicles, the German reliability/technical superiority myth would die. BMW were still using worm and roller steering boxes when Ford had ditched it for rack and pinion years earlier. BMW rear suspension was a joke that ate tyres. When you've owned and worked on enough cars you'll know.
kaferere 1 year ago
@kaferere Ive seen a Mercedes being soldusing brainwashing techniques. After a crash it had to be repaired. An independent offer was 2500-3000 Euro. Brainwashing was used again, so Mercedes got the job. The bill was 12700 euro. Mercedes and BMW being in business is due to superiority of German propaganda and brainwashing techniques.
wwwtotalitaerde 1 year ago
@kaferere Talk about cars...: German (European in general) cars are somewhat old-fashioned. Some brands reliable, so you need little repair, low maintainance, others cheap, but requiring lot of maintainance. Tecnically the best carsby far are Japanese ones. Low maintainance, all gadgets, little fuel consumptions, nice drving. The worst cars are Standard US cars. Comfortable - on a straight road with slow limits, nothing more.
Lightningchase1973 11 months ago
@Lightningchase1973 I agree totally. Anyone who thinks German cars are technically superior has never owned them. I've only ever owned German cars and I'm sick of pretending. They are good to drive when they work, but they are so unreliable. The flagship Audi A8 (which I now own) uses a plastic selector switch to inform the trans computer which gear you select. It's tagged onto the outside of the trans as a complete afterthought. They all fail around 70k. This is my 9th (& last) German car.
kaferere 11 months ago
@hypnolobster Me beetle isnt good with snow. :'( She doesn't like it. :P
sweeter1900 1 year ago
@hypnolobster the gas fired heaters were passible but the exhaust heaters were terrible especially when the exhaust rusts out. I live in Saskatchewan and it hits -40 for a week or two every year and I hate my friends vw in winter. If you think thats bull my city has the record for the 4th coldest place in Canada -56ish without windchill just google prince albert coldest record
OriginalSamsquatch 11 months ago
@hypnolobster
I've owned several Beetle's, while I loved each of them, I beg to disagree they'll get intolerably hot extremely quickly. I even owned one brand new Beetle, I feller could freeze before the heater worked. Once they warmed up the heater works fine. JMHO
As for the 23 thumbs up, I question any of them having owned a Beetle.
y2kse 11 months ago
@hypnolobster Exactly. After about a half an hour of driving you need to open the window because it gets so hot you start sweating. And your ankles are red as a lobster.
murcielago06gt 9 months ago
@hypnolobster Here, here! I never had a problem with the one in my old 1968 Fastback, either. Damn good car. I still miss it....
budgienation 8 months ago
@hypnolobster I bought a new Squareback in '72. In the winter my feet would roast and my ears would freeze, and lets not forget the obligatory towel to wipe the inside of the windshield. But regardless of the quirky heater and ineffective defogger I loved that car. Put 300K miles on it before it got stolen.
geargemartin 7 months ago
@hypnolobster
They were designed to be maintained. Do the maintenance and they last forever, as evidenced by the fact that people are still driving the original Beetles :)
luminaeus 6 months ago 3
@luminaeus Exactly :)
hypnolobster 6 months ago
no kidding , some people don't get it !
kilo54 3 years ago
I liked the US version of this more.
A really gruff, almost unfriendly voice said (wording may not be 100% accurate)
"Did you ever wonder how the man who drives the snowplow drives to the snowplow?
This one drives a Volkswagen.
So you can stop wondering".
Very funny closing line...
verwoerd 3 years ago
Cool! Love my Bug.
websmithy 3 years ago 2
I've got a 54 oval "oh yeh!"
gekiryudojo 3 years ago 2
My dad flipped one over somehow when it was snowing(probably wasnt too sober)
Redgrant80 3 years ago
They were very easy to flip over. I remember one trip from NYC to Rochester in January and seeing VW Bugs and vans off the road, some flipped over. Some of the owners were hurt, and all of them surprised at how badly the VWs handled in the snow.
Bullettube 3 years ago
Yea right!
I'm 25. My first car was a 69 Beetle. I lived in Maine and drove it in the harsh winters up there on bad roads. That Beelte was HANDS DOWN the best car I've ever driven in the snow.
It far surpassed my FWD Toyota Corolla, FWD Plymouth Voyager and other FWD cars I've driven in winter.
The VW Bug is THE best car for going up hills in the winter. I would challenge all my friends for steep hill climbs on snow and ice. The steeper the grade the more traction on the rear!
OnenessGodhead 2 years ago 5
oh thanks so much! i'm so glad you just said that because i'm getting my driving permit this coming school year and my dad is starting to look for some cars for me and i for one love vw beetles! my dad just might get me one!
sma9401 2 years ago
FWD being four wheel drive, or front wheel drive. People write it both ways. Just curious.
JasonsCabin1000 2 years ago
Front Wheel Drive.
OnenessGodhead 2 years ago
One of the all-time great commercials. One those was low-key (or low-fi) but got its point across just the same. I believe the English version of the commercial had the narration that went like, "Have you ever wondered how the guy who drives the snowplow gets to the plow? Simple. He drives a Volkswagen."
poughkeepsiejohn 3 years ago
atually mine doesn't like bad wether !
gekiryudojo 3 years ago
I love OLD BUGS!!!!
smartbrunesrock3223 3 years ago
Shoulda had a plow on the beetle. Actually, most old VWs were fine in the snow....going straight. turning was a bit of a problem since there is so little weight over the front end....
Shaggyshadric 3 years ago
don't put a plow on it, it'd ruin it!
LeviMan2001 3 years ago
nah, just unbolt the bumper and bolt the plow and the bumper in the same holes.the hard part would be making a plow that was small enough and brackets that fit. a bus would work better cause more weight...
Shaggyshadric 3 years ago
love the droll voice
bugz4me 3 years ago
First off, yes Beetles were great in the snow. The amount of snow in the ad isn't very challenging. Bumper deep with drifts even higher would have been impressive.
pef286 3 years ago
"Have you ever wondered 'how does the man who drives the snowplow, drive to the snowplow?' This one drives a Volkswagen. So you can stop wondering." Thats what the original english version said...I know for a fact, I own it.
trebdude1 4 years ago 2
cool!! my grandfather was telling me about this ad. hey one question, where do you find these ads? and how do you get them on the computer? just curious. peace
devchev78 4 years ago 3
There is software available to rip DVD's. Some video's were on VHS. I put them on my computer using special software to convert analogue signal into digital (MPEG). With the correct compression, you can esily post them on youtube. I also put them on a DVD on which more than 100 are available now. It's for sale...
beetlejuice150 4 years ago
How can I buy your DVD? I live in Sweden.
godanli 3 years ago
Why does the video stop loading at :15?
quirpco 4 years ago
The video works the full 1 minute. Something wrong with your connection?
beetlejuice150 4 years ago
um...actually, never mind, working fine now. This is a great commerical, by the way. It reminds me of my own car which is just as reliable in harsh winter weather.
quirpco 4 years ago
I was just wondering what is the lighest beetle shell you can get? (i know the 1303 and 1302 beetle shells were the heaviest. thanks.
joshKoRnage 4 years ago
Voted the Best Commercail in the past 50-Years by GQ Magazine. It's what advertising is all about. Classic.
spweather 4 years ago
Hello Spweater,
That's interesting. Was this commercial recently awarded by this magazine, or was this long while ago?
beetlejuice150 4 years ago
Latest issue of GQ with Ryan Gosling on the cover. The Best of the Past 50 Years. Sports Movie, Chef, Commercial, etc.
spweather 4 years ago
Thanks for your info. I'll try to get my hands on a copy.
beetlejuice150 4 years ago
This was the first ad for a motor car that told a story and didn't advertise specific specifications. Apparently the narrative goes along the lines of "What does a snow plough driver use to get to work.."
coasten 4 years ago
it is....
"what is his job?
"his job is a snowplower"
it does not translate well, but simple and to the point.
great commerical
ps3master33 4 years ago
great commercial.
ps3master33 4 years ago
Cool ad, thanks for posting
fersilvajr 4 years ago
I have a 1968 bug and travel 90 miles to work, in the past 10 years during the worst snow storms my bug alway go me to work, yes I am a snow plow driver :)
skywolfnj 4 years ago
never mind your height driving a beetle. it was designed for germans, and germans are not just said to be tall, they are. i'm 1,85 m and i have absolutely no problems driving mine.
maurermeister 4 years ago
I did own a 73 volkswagan and for 4 years, it never gave me any problems. Wish I'd kept it.
1runnynose 4 years ago
How tall are you?
slaporte 4 years ago
I remember this commercial as a kid,it was great then and a joy to watch again.I never forgot this commercial throu all the years.thou it was in english.Can't remember the year that it came out.
1runnynose 4 years ago
Thanks for your kind words. Really makes ther efford worth while...
beetlejuice150 4 years ago
The original English version -- in black and white, as opposed to this colorized version -- came out in 1963 and started a run of smart VW ads. The spirit of those ads, this one in particular, was revived with the ones run with the VW bug's 1990s revival.
schmoop14 4 years ago
I drive my '71 Beetle for 6 years now and on a couple of occasions I came across heavy snow. It behaved exactly the same as the car in the ad. Magnificent cars these Volkswagens!
Sunseeker888 4 years ago
The classic 'snowplough ad'
wfreeve 4 years ago
I owned and drove a 66 Bug for 4 years, and 2 of those winters I drove around happily on my ageing, balding, all-weather tyres in the snow, while SUV 4x4 owners waited on the side of the road to be rescued!
knkav 5 years ago
I want to get a beetle, but I'm 6'4". is that a problem?
slaporte 4 years ago
classic!
Bill bernbach is the master
masakianne 5 years ago
The translation is:
This man drives to his work in his VW
His work is driving a snowplow
If you have to drive to your work
Why don't you also try it with a Volkswagen?
beetlejuice150 5 years ago
it isnt 100% correct, it says if you wanna drive to work before the snowplow man starts his work, why dont you try it with an volkswagen too? sorry for the english.
sharpanator 4 years ago
One of the best ads EVER. From the genius mind of Bill Bernbach.
tinchowww 5 years ago
great commercial.
I'm wondering if it is available in English...
scappomaresto 5 years ago
If this is anything like the English version, what the announcer is saying is something like this:
"Have you ever wondered how the snowplow driver drives to the snowplow?"
"This snowplow driver drives a Volkswagon."
"So you can stop wondering."
Inyarear 5 years ago