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Fri Jul 10, 2020 3:16 pm

Hi Samba folks

Been away from the air cooled stuff for a while but I keep seeing a bright Orange VW Super running around my town...looks fairly stock but the fellow seems to be having fun driving it....so it gets me thinking again about one...

The last Super Beetle I drove was in 1979 and it was a well worn 1971 model...a couple years back I had a 1968 Beetle...it was in decent shape too...I sold it when I almost got run over in town traffic...

I cant remember how that Super Beetle rode back then....I know the 1968 was ok to ride in...nothing great but it was 50 year old car too...

So do the Supers ride any better than the Standards do??...

Thanks for any insight...

MikeC

Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:10 pm

It’s personal opinion, but all things being equal, a stock Super rides and handles “better”due to the front strut suspension. Others may have a different opinion on it, but that’s mine. I use the term stock, since aftermarket modifications can/will change the stock ride/handling characteristics of both types.

Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:20 pm

My friends 74 Super rides like a Cadillac since it has new struts and 165-15 tires.

My 74 rides like a go kart since it's lowered 3" in front, 1" in the rear, has upgraded sway bars, low gas pressure shocks, additional engine and tranny mount.

I like the way mine rides better.

Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:32 pm

Stock vs stock, the Super rides and handles better on good roads while the non-super is better on rough roads.

Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:54 pm

https://youtu.be/TBFENsA0qos

Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:49 pm

There is a noticeable difference in the ride of a stock Standard Beetle, as opposed to the ride of a Stock Super Beetle. Of course, that’s assuming that both cars have properly-functioning front ends.

There’s also a good reason why modern cars have McPherson struts. The ride is far smoother compared to a 1930’s-designed torsion bar front end system. Even so, my daughter refuses to ride in the back of my ‘74 Super, since the time I barreled through an intersection that had French drains. Her head hit the ceiling when I hit one of the dips, so that was it for her. Apparently, the ride in the rear of a Super isn’t much different than in a Standard. Or, maybe I was going too fast through that one intersection.

Watch the VW video and see what you think.

Tim

Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:33 am

I like my supers ride but cannot compare since i have never driven a standard.
Smooth ride with a touch of gokart.

Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:42 am

They both ride well when stock and in proper condition. If its been modified or not maintained, who's to say? My stock 1966 VW rides better than my stock 2015 GTI on Chicago's awful streets in my opinion. A Super will ride and handle better than a standard of the same era, as it is on a slightly longer wheelbase and has the strut front suspension, but honestly both ride quite well-again, when things are set up as they were from the factory. If a VW rides harshly, its been modified, something is worn out, or out factory tolerances.

Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:03 am

If you're pushing it really hard on the street a standard stays firmer in the cornering than a super. Supers do washboard really well.

I've only owned 2 supers - a bunch of standards. I prefer driving the standard front suspension because of the nutty way I sometimes drive, kind of go kart style. Currently driving a super with the street version KYB's. It's bouncier over stuff than oil shocks when you're going slow, but takes potholes and stuff smoother when you're going fast(er).

Sat Jul 11, 2020 8:56 am

chicagovw wrote: They both ride well when stock and in proper condition. If its been modified or not maintained, who's to say? My stock 1966 VW rides better than my stock 2015 GTI on Chicago's awful streets in my opinion. A Super will ride and handle better than a standard of the same era, as it is on a slightly longer wheelbase and has the strut front suspension, but honestly both ride quite well-again, when things are set up as they were from the factory. If a VW rides harshly, its been modified, something is worn out, or out factory tolerances.
I agree with all of this.

The Supers get a bad rap that they don’t deserve. Basically, nobody likes change, and they want all beetles to be 1938 prototypes. I get that. But if the question is, which rides and handles better, then the question is not about nostalgia. The Supers have suspension, front and rear, that is equivalent to Porsches and BMWs of the era.

Obviously these days you have a high chance of driving a Super that is all screwed up (same with any 50 year old car). I test drove a 74 once that would wander all over the road. I had to constantly fight to keep the nose pointed forward. In turns, somehow it leaned over so far I thought the door handle would scrape. My 71 drives straight and true, and I actually wish it would lean a little more than it does.

Sun Jul 12, 2020 11:28 pm

As has been stated above, the ride is a case by case basis, even simple things like tyre pressure dramatically affect the ride since the car is so lightweight.

You might also find the shocks haven't been replaced in 10 years or the seat cushion is worn...

However, by design the super was a superior ride:

Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:38 am

Never drove a standard beetle... but I can say my '71 Super drives awesome.

It's lowered and has 7/8" front + 3/4" rear sway bars, along with a strut tower brace. It handles like a go-cart and drives straight as an arrow down the highway. At 65mph I can take my hands off the steering wheel.
I wouldn't change a thing.

Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:07 am

Wow...lots of great replies

Now that I have this information I can make a lot better decision on a future purchase...

I often thought about how most all little SUV's every body has these days are equipped with the McPherson style struts on them...and the Super Beetle started the whole revolution back in the early 1970s...

MikeC

Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:58 pm

I’ve never owned a “Super Beetle” To me the regular car rides well enough and definitely better off-road. The Super was another marketing attempt like Autostik to appeal to the broader base of consumers.

Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:47 pm

Zundfolge1432 wrote: I’ve never owned a “Super Beetle” To me the regular car rides well enough and definitely better off-road. The Super was another marketing attempt like Autostik to appeal to the broader base of consumers.

Except, if you've never owned one...how would you know it's just a marketing attempt? The super does have some advantages, and in some respects it does handle better...but the stock setup (height) negates a lot of the advantages.

I've got a 1971 Super, 1973 Super, 1975 Standard Beetle, 1969 Beetle, and a 1958 Beetle (K&L). Driving a stock super beetle vs a stock standard beetle is different. But as previous posters have stated, where each excels is slightly different. From a daily-driver perspective, in stock form, the standard beetle is probably a little more desirable...for one reason only. The super beetle shimmy can be quite annoying to address, unless you're willing to "do the whole front end", properly with high-quality components. The standard beetles don't have any common wear issues that greatly affect driveability, where-as the super certainly does. If both are maintained to the same high standard, however, they are interchangeable from a daily use perspective. If one wishes to modify the beetle, though, the story changes. Both can be made to handle excellently. The super beetle lends itself quite well for street performance, or track modifications. They can be made to handle extremely well. The standard beetle can also be modified for street or track use, and can be made to perform exceptionally well. The beam suspension, however, will limit things like camber and alignment possibilities. In order to get my German Look standard beetle to handle as well as my super beetle (in tarmac form), I've had to go with a much stickier tire setup on the standard beetle. Off road, the super beetle makes a very capable gravel rally racer...but is not well suited for baja-style of racing, or crawling style of modifications. If anything outside of gravel forest roads is of interest, a standard beetle is a better choice.

So, in short:
Daily Driver? - Either
Street / Track? - Either, with an edge to the Super
Rally - Either, with an edge to the Super.
Offroad - Standard

Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:05 pm

Well, I guess the obvious ride differences, shown in the video a few posts back is just a “hoax”?

Tim

Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:57 pm

I remember back in the day when our neighbors got a new ‘68 bus. We owned a ‘67 bus. The first ride in theirs I will never forget. It was like riding on a cloud. Later a friend of mine got a ‘75 Super. I remember the first ride. Yep, you guessed it...like riding on a cloud. Stock standard is very firm and direct. The super so different...it floats more. But IMO the standard is a much more robust front end.

Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:14 pm

Would be curious to see what the motoring journalists of the time would have said in their reviews. They would be driving them as they were new, comparing them to standard beetles that were new, and also comparing them to the market at the time.

I tried to look some up but wasn't successful all I can find is people's modern reviews of the classic beetle :roll:

Tue Jul 14, 2020 7:27 am

I can say that driving an old super with worn out, hard rubber bushings and overinflated tires was miserable, and almost terrifying.

Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:41 am

A stock super provides a smooth ride for your groceries.
A modded super provides a better ride for actually enjoying beetle ownership.
A stock regular beetle provides enough fun to make you wonder if you should upgrade to a modded super.