what kind of gas milage do the bugs get?

im thinking of getting a bug but what kind of gas milage should I expect???

I had a 63 beetle in which I would consistently get 32 mpg on my long commute, and about 30 mpg if it was more town driving. I normally cruised at 55 on the level, and took my time going up hills.
My only modification was to use the smaller diameter pulley, so the fan wasnt being driven so fast. I had radial tires.
On a slow trip from Buffalo NY to Pittsburgh PA (at 45 mph due to fog) I got 36 mpg.

I take it the '63 had a 1200 engine it, for that kind of mileage.

There's a series of articles in Hot VW magazine, where they built an engine strictly for fuel mileage. They used a 1776cc base, and with tweaking and tuning the best they could muster was around 36 MPG. Even using a tuned FI system, they could only pull about 32.

For a stock 1600cc, plan on around 16-18 around town, and maybe 20-22 on the highway, if you keep the speed reasonable. Remember that these cars aren't the most aerodynamic vehicles on the road.

These cars were great on gas, for their time, when other cars were getting 8-10 MPG and gas cost 25 cents a gallon.

But technology has advanced to the point that even non-hybrid compact cars now can pull up to 40 MPG or more.

If you're looking strictly for fuel mileage, you can do a whole lot better than a Classic VW Bug.

But if you're looking for the nostalgia factor, and want to watch little kids pounding each other on the arms every time you drive by, then the Bug is the car for you. :grinyes:

If you're really looking for a good gas mileage bug and you're not looking to do any hotrodding, then something with a 1200 is the way to go. Those old 40 horse motors last a long time and do get pretty good mileage. Plus, you'll be supprised what a 40 horsepower can do in an old bug if tuned properly.

I take it the '63 had a 1200 engine it, for that kind of mileage.

There's a series of articles in Hot VW magazine, where they built an engine strictly for fuel mileage. They used a 1776cc base, and with tweaking and tuning the best they could muster was around 36 MPG. Even using a tuned FI system, they could only pull about 32.

For a stock 1600cc, plan on around 16-18 around town, and maybe 20-22 on the highway, if you keep the speed reasonable. Remember that these cars aren't the most aerodynamic vehicles on the road.

These cars were great on gas, for their time, when other cars were getting 8-10 MPG and gas cost 25 cents a gallon.

But technology has advanced to the point that even non-hybrid compact cars now can pull up to 40 MPG or more.

If you're looking strictly for fuel mileage, you can do a whole lot better than a Classic VW Bug.

But if you're looking for the nostalgia factor, and want to watch little kids pounding each other on the arms every time you drive by, then the Bug is the car for you. :grinyes:


what non hybrid gets 40mpg?? and is under 5k??

what non hybrid gets 40mpg?? and is under 5k??

The Honda Civic is rated 36 city and 44 highway.

But you're right. Not for under 5 Gs.

January, this year.

This is kind-of a continuation of my "runs fine" thread over @ http://www.acoa-tpa.com/forums/index.php , I finally figured out the culprit of my intermittant running problem. After having replaced, inspected, cussed at just about everything under the sun,,,,,,,, I decided to look at the carb .

This is a Bocar 34 pict 3, which is estimated to be around 8-10 years old, I bought the complete engine from a buddy in GA, off of his wrecked bug.

Anyway, after removing the carb and an exterior visual once-over, I decided to rebuild it. I had already bought a few rebuild kits from Chris @ Aircooled Autohaus. By-the-way Chris, the more expensive carb kit has ALL the stuff, while the less expensive one is basically a gasket kit. I bought 2 thinking I'd use one for the German 34/4 carb I bought for Leanne's bug (better than the progressive), and the other for my Bocar. I still wish I had the OG 34/3 carb for my car.

I took about a day and a half to completely go through everything twice, and let the carb top and bottom halves sit in the carb cleaner for 24 hours. Still had what looked like red GA clay in the float bowl, I figured it was just the superfine particles of tank rust that had slipped through the fuel filter. A toothbrush and a few q-tips took care of that. I used another day putting it back together, making sure the linkage worked properly and all the rubber diaphragms had their proper placement. Installed and ran it for a few days, no more of that intermittant stumble/die off at stops. Perfect. Then I rechecked the valve clearance and re-timed, felt even better driving it. Then I put my Pertronix back in the 010 dizzy and re-time again. For me, perfect. I'm set. Then I feel something wierd with the steering. I take the tank out and see that a wire from my horn install has wrapped around the steering column, Before looking I thought I needed a steering coupler thinking that's the only thing on the steering that hasnt been replaced,,,, It was fine.

I get a call from a friend in Atlanta, he tells me that another friend's father has passed. With Leanne's permission, I get to drive my bug to ATL. Keeping in mind that I still need to have an oil leak fixed and the engine seal replaced, I leave with my car full of tools, just in case. I leave at 4:30 am Sat morn.


The mileage to and back was 982 miles. The amount of fuel bought was 42.532 gallons, 91-93 octane only as the car seems to run better/cooler with the good stuff. The least amount of fuel USED was 33.689, I figure I actually used about 35-36 gallons. keeping that in mind, the WORST fuel milage would have been 23.089 MPG, the best would have been 29.148 MPG, I suspect MPG was closer to 25-27. I tried to stay in the slow lane ALL the time and tried to stay at or near the posted speed limit of 70 MPH, with occaisional bursts up to an indicated 80 MPH to avoid the everpresent highway D/A. All highway, except for 15-20 miles on surface streets in Clearwater and in East Point, GA. Only about a half quart of oil total added for the trip.

Even if 23 MPG is the worst, it's still consistant with many of today's cars with all their computers and fuel injection and such, and most of them are much heavier, to boot.

Pertinant specs -

1974 std Sedan Type 1
Stock (?) 1600,,, bought from a wrecked bug, PO had it built, but didnt know what cc size.
" " airbox and filter
Ceramic coated j-pipes
" " " std header
POR-20 prepped A-1 muffler
010 distributor with Pertronix

14x6" aluminum wheels
Hankook HR714 195/70-r14 radial tires, stock pressures for the trip up (18 lbs front, 29lbs rear), 2lbs added to all 4 for the trip back.