FI mpg question

I have come to the conclusion that my '73 SB does not like me. I am
currently thinking of selling her and buying something that needs less
work to restore. I don't have the time to commit right now to a
restoration. My question is I'm looking for a Bug that has good fuel
economy and reliability for a daily driver. I've been leaning towards
the '75 and later models with fuel injection for the added mpgs. I
read in a book that the mpg in '75 went from about 25 mpg to 34 mpg
(Super Beetle Handbook).

Can I get some feedback from people with personal experience about the
estimates mpgs of carb vs FI? Is the FI system more or less
reliable?

Thanks.

Scott

Houdsie wrote:

> I have come to the conclusion that my '73 SB does not like me. I am
> currently thinking of selling her and buying something that needs less
> work to restore. I don't have the time to commit right now to a
> restoration. My question is I'm looking for a Bug that has good fuel
> economy and reliability for a daily driver. I've been leaning towards
> the '75 and later models with fuel injection for the added mpgs. I
> read in a book that the mpg in '75 went from about 25 mpg to 34 mpg
> (Super Beetle Handbook).
>
> Can I get some feedback from people with personal experience about the
> estimates mpgs of carb vs FI? Is the FI system more or less
> reliable?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Scott
>

The FI did get good mileage. Reliable? Hmmmmmmmm The stuff is
30 years old.

I had a Karmann Ghia I used to squeeze 40 MPG out of
fairly consistently on the freeway. I went to some
extremes but it was better than anything a Beetle would do.

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

"I have no use for a car which has more spark plugs than a cow has teats!"
Henry Ford, when advised that Chevrolet was introducing a 6-cylinder engine.

I vote that you keep it simple surely! (The KISS philosophy)
The Fuel Injection WILL make repairs more expensive. Can you still find all
of the stock exhaust components for the 75-79 Beetles?

Or are you talking about a Mexican Beetle? Parts may be tricky to get for
those too!

I got good MPG out of most of my Beetles including my '76 FI Beetle.
I have only owned Beetles (years 1969 Auto Stick, 1967, 1976, 1966 to name a
few that I kept for years) and never Super Beetles!
Not sure if the FI made a super large increase in MPG than my other Beetles
since gas was a LOT cheaper back them and who really cared. My 1976 FI
Beetle might have made 3-4 miles per gallon (32mpg) more than my non-FI ones
that were getting about 28-29 MPG.
BTW The '69 with the auto stick did not get that much! ;-)

Remember that the Super Beetle is a little heavier than the Beetle and you
may use your right foot a little more with them. ;-)

JMHO
--

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)



"Speedy Jim" > wrote in message
. net...
> Houdsie wrote:
>
>> I have come to the conclusion that my '73 SB does not like me. I am
>> currently thinking of selling her and buying something that needs less
>> work to restore. I don't have the time to commit right now to a
>> restoration. My question is I'm looking for a Bug that has good fuel
>> economy and reliability for a daily driver. I've been leaning towards
>> the '75 and later models with fuel injection for the added mpgs. I
>> read in a book that the mpg in '75 went from about 25 mpg to 34 mpg
>> (Super Beetle Handbook).
>>
>> Can I get some feedback from people with personal experience about the
>> estimates mpgs of carb vs FI? Is the FI system more or less
>> reliable?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>
> The FI did get good mileage. Reliable? Hmmmmmmmm The stuff is
> 30 years old.
>
> I had a Karmann Ghia I used to squeeze 40 MPG out of
> fairly consistently on the freeway. I went to some
> extremes but it was better than anything a Beetle would do.

Thanks for the replies so far. I found a nice '75 super beetle in my
area. It looks to be in great shape, but I do worry about the
difficulty of working on the engine myself. I would definitely keep a
nest egg in the bank to let a professional handle problems if they
arise.

I tend not to drive aggressive. I do 65 tops on the highway right now
in my '73. I get about 25 mpg in my '73. That's a rough estimate
since my odometer doesn't work.

I have a 77 with FI. I don't see great gas mileage , but I could have it
adjusted wrong.
As far as the parts...
New aftermarket parts are pricey. Check CIP's or JCW's catalogs. What I've
done is basically bought spares at the swaps. For instance, I bought a
couple a fuel pumps at $20 each, the air flow meter about $15, the 'black
box" about $15 and other parts. Some parts you may be better off buying
new, but none are more than $50-60.
As long as there's someone ripping out the stock FI system, there will
always be spare parts available.


--
Mel P.

77 Bug - stock FI
70 KG Cabrio

"Houdsie" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks for the replies so far. I found a nice '75 super beetle in my
> area. It looks to be in great shape, but I do worry about the
> difficulty of working on the engine myself. I would definitely keep a
> nest egg in the bank to let a professional handle problems if they
> arise.
>
> I tend not to drive aggressive. I do 65 tops on the highway right now
> in my '73. I get about 25 mpg in my '73. That's a rough estimate
> since my odometer doesn't work.
>

I agree that the mileage is not great with the stick FI. I get around 25 in
my 79. Parts are available as Mel says. You just have to take your time
and build up a few spares.
David
"Mel P." > wrote in message
...
>I have a 77 with FI. I don't see great gas mileage , but I could have it
>adjusted wrong.
> As far as the parts...
> New aftermarket parts are pricey. Check CIP's or JCW's catalogs. What
> I've done is basically bought spares at the swaps. For instance, I bought
> a couple a fuel pumps at $20 each, the air flow meter about $15, the
> 'black box" about $15 and other parts. Some parts you may be better off
> buying new, but none are more than $50-60.
> As long as there's someone ripping out the stock FI system, there will
> always be spare parts available.
>
>
> --
> Mel P.
>
> 77 Bug - stock FI
> 70 KG Cabrio
>
> "Houdsie" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Thanks for the replies so far. I found a nice '75 super beetle in my
>> area. It looks to be in great shape, but I do worry about the
>> difficulty of working on the engine myself. I would definitely keep a
>> nest egg in the bank to let a professional handle problems if they
>> arise.
>>
>> I tend not to drive aggressive. I do 65 tops on the highway right now
>> in my '73. I get about 25 mpg in my '73. That's a rough estimate
>> since my odometer doesn't work.
>>
>
>

Truthfully though, engine work is about the easiest part of working on old
cars like these. Body work, transmission seals, and other stuff tends to be
less straightforward.

--
KWW
'65 Beetle (Jenny the IOC)
'64 Beetle (TBD the Blue Wave)
"D&LBusch" > wrote in message
...
>I agree that the mileage is not great with the stick FI. I get around 25 in
>my 79. Parts are available as Mel says. You just have to take your time
>and build up a few spares.
> David
> "Mel P." > wrote in message
> ...
>>I have a 77 with FI. I don't see great gas mileage , but I could have it
>>adjusted wrong.
>> As far as the parts...
>> New aftermarket parts are pricey. Check CIP's or JCW's catalogs. What
>> I've done is basically bought spares at the swaps. For instance, I
>> bought a couple a fuel pumps at $20 each, the air flow meter about $15,
>> the 'black box" about $15 and other parts. Some parts you may be better
>> off buying new, but none are more than $50-60.
>> As long as there's someone ripping out the stock FI system, there will
>> always be spare parts available.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Mel P.
>>
>> 77 Bug - stock FI
>> 70 KG Cabrio
>>
>> "Houdsie" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>>> Thanks for the replies so far. I found a nice '75 super beetle in my
>>> area. It looks to be in great shape, but I do worry about the
>>> difficulty of working on the engine myself. I would definitely keep a
>>> nest egg in the bank to let a professional handle problems if they
>>> arise.
>>>
>>> I tend not to drive aggressive. I do 65 tops on the highway right now
>>> in my '73. I get about 25 mpg in my '73. That's a rough estimate
>>> since my odometer doesn't work.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Yeah but the '79 had a lot more extra HEAVY metal with reinforcement rails
and that convertible top.
That could be a reason why your '79 Super Beetle Conv. did not get the
higher mileage that a Standard Beetle Hardtop with FI could get. :-)
Not sure exactly what the '77 is though. Some call the Super Beetles Conv.
'Bugs' too! lol

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


"D&LBusch" > wrote in message
...
>I agree that the mileage is not great with the stick FI. I get around 25 in
>my 79. Parts are available as Mel says. You just have to take your time
>and build up a few spares.
> David
> "Mel P." > wrote in message
> ...
>>I have a 77 with FI. I don't see great gas mileage , but I could have it
>>adjusted wrong.
>> As far as the parts...
>> New aftermarket parts are pricey. Check CIP's or JCW's catalogs. What
>> I've done is basically bought spares at the swaps. For instance, I
>> bought a couple a fuel pumps at $20 each, the air flow meter about $15,
>> the 'black box" about $15 and other parts. Some parts you may be better
>> off buying new, but none are more than $50-60.
>> As long as there's someone ripping out the stock FI system, there will
>> always be spare parts available.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Mel P.
>>
>> 77 Bug - stock FI
>> 70 KG Cabrio
>>
>> "Houdsie" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>>> Thanks for the replies so far. I found a nice '75 super beetle in my
>>> area. It looks to be in great shape, but I do worry about the
>>> difficulty of working on the engine myself. I would definitely keep a
>>> nest egg in the bank to let a professional handle problems if they
>>> arise.
>>>
>>> I tend not to drive aggressive. I do 65 tops on the highway right now
>>> in my '73. I get about 25 mpg in my '73. That's a rough estimate
>>> since my odometer doesn't work.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

On Feb 2, 9:22 am, "Houdsie" > wrote:
> I have come to the conclusion that my '73 SB does not like me. I am
> currently thinking of selling her and buying something that needs less
> work to restore. I don't have the time to commit right now to a
> restoration. My question is I'm looking for a Bug that has good fuel
> economy and reliability for a daily driver. I've been leaning towards
> the '75 and later models with fuel injection for the added mpgs. I
> read in a book that the mpg in '75 went from about 25 mpg to 34 mpg
> (Super Beetle Handbook).
>
> Can I get some feedback from people with personal experience about the
> estimates mpgs of carb vs FI? Is the FI system more or less
> reliable?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Scott

Three points:

34 mpg may have been at the speed limit in '75 (i.e. 55 mph). My 77
gets over 30mpg at 55mph but drops to mid 20s at 75mph.

Check smogs laws for your state. In CA, '75 model year and newer cars
have to be smogged. Every 2 years. You may view this as a plus if
you are an environmentalist and like to drive "green", but it can get
to be expensive getting it to pass, and some emissions parts are hard
to find.

The FI VW's don't FWEEM.

Ted

On 2 Feb 2007 09:22:21 -0800, "Houdsie" >
wrote:

>Can I get some feedback from people with personal experience about the
>estimates mpgs of carb vs FI? Is the FI system more or less
>reliable?

Just finished a cross-country banzai run in a low mileage Squareback
with an untouched engine and FI system. I averaged 25 mpg at 70-75
mph. The D-Jet is known to be a bit thirstier than the L-Jet supplied
with your later bugs. A well-tuned bug, thoughtfully driven, can
easily give you 26-28 mpg. Remember too that cold ambient temperatures
will give you seasonally lousier mpg.
Colin