Volkswagen Club of Pakistan (VWCOP)

[Storm]

Thank you sir,

Another query, not to you sir, but to VWCOP members ... what is " Paid VWCOP members"
I read this on google groups
"Petromin Oil Offer for VWCOP members"

there is an annual fee which is to be paid to the club, one of the benefits of paying the fee is to get oil at a cheaper rate. this also applies to parts from canada etc.

in the long run it worls out cheaper to be a paid member adn it also helps maintain the club by minimizing financial burdens on nasir and romano (who have been paying for all this over the years from their pockets).

[ShahJee14]

there is an annual fee which is to be paid to the club, one of the benefits of paying the fee is to get oil at a cheaper rate. this also applies to parts from canada etc.

in the long run it worls out cheaper to be a paid member adn it also helps maintain the club by minimizing financial burdens on nasir and romano (who have been paying for all this over the years from their pockets).

Oh this is really sweet ! So whats the procedure to become elite ?

[aliusman2]

@hassanazeem, nmshaikh and Storm
Thank You Thank You Thank You for your valuable time and suggestions, I'm happy that there are still people who help others without even knowing that who they are..!!
as for sir nmshaikh, i will follow your guidelines and i'm starting a hunt for any nearby VW's, and as for the parts, i have many relatives in UK and USA who can get them available for me..!! now i just need a clean car to start with..!!

[mus1]

hello there happy campers - just checking in to see how everyone is doing.

its been a while and living in canada i sometimes forget of all the wonderful things left behind in pak

i currently drive a 740i which i love to no ends... but its legacy is deep rooted in my foundation which was and always will be the beetle ....

German technology rules!!

all the best and remember - always drive safe!! life is precious, you only get 1 take!!

[shakeel]

[Storm]

Oh this is really sweet ! So whats the procedure to become elite ?

in order to become a fully paid member of the VWCOP you must contact romano and he'll guide you best on how to go about it. you will recieve a reciept for your payment and we are also working on a metal VWCOP club badge which can be displayed on/in your car.

[reezvaan]

This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden.

[reezvaan]

This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden.

[MSKhan18]

:o Is that a Type 356 next to Malik's 1960 or what? If yes, can someone share any details on her?

... looks like a Nissan Figaro ...... 356 is a different beast altogether.

[nmshaikh]

I have started a new thread to cover Billo's past and future adventures.

I hope you enjoy reading.

https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/cool-classic-cars-latest/165463-billo-1960-truck-art-beetle-pakistan#post2784639

I would appreciate if any of you can share pictures of her prior to her transformation

Best

Nasir.

[shakeel]

:o Is that a Type 356 next to Malik's 1960 or what? If yes, can someone share any details on her?

@Reezvaan:
Rizwan Bhai, its not a 356. Its a NISSAN Figaro with a convertible top. This car came all the way from Karachi to Lahore...
It does not belongs to a classic category but due to its classic look, this guy bought it.

[Xulfiqar]

@hassanazeem, nmshaikh and Storm
Thank You Thank You Thank You for your valuable time and suggestions, I'm happy that there are still people who help others without even knowing that who they are..!!
as for sir nmshaikh, i will follow your guidelines and i'm starting a hunt for any nearby VW's, and as for the parts, i have many relatives in UK and USA who can get them available for me..!! now i just need a clean car to start with..!!

Find yourself a Golf mk1 or mk2 - parts are cheaper and abundant elsewhere in the world and that car is an ICON itself..

[shakeel]

[aliusman2]

Find yourself a Golf mk1 or mk2 - parts are cheaper and abundant elsewhere in the world and that car is an ICON itself..

but i love the Beetle..!! and i dont think that there are many golfs in pakistan

[reezvaan]

This post was flagged by the community and is temporarily hidden.

[usman703]

my car isnt starting uhu uhu

[usman703]

want to join the group

[nmshaikh]

Over the years, spare parts for VW's have become harder to find but they haven't completely dried out. I don't know of any VW's that have had to be parked for non availability of spares. A few of us have tried to arrange parts for the VW's and to help keep them on road. Moqeem, Romano, Shahzeb and I have tried do our bit in Islamabad while Asad manages to come up with old stocks from importers godowns quite regularly. However the availability is not the same as if you went out to buy parts for a Suzuki Mehran or the like. There is no shortage of parts in North America where it is a multi million dollar industry still. You can go online and look for new and used parts. getting them over however may be an issue. (shipping costs are ridiculous) If you have relatives in the US or Canada you can always ask them to relay the parts to you thru someone who is flying out to Pakistan, saving you a bunch on the shipping. You won't have to do it on a regular basis. Once you have your car fixed properly it won't need a lot of parts on a regular basis so for most new VW owners it is a one time exercise.

As for Romano's help, I have to warn you..he can be quite grumpy at times but does not have a mean bone in his body. It all depends on the time you approach him. Sadly I cannot give you a forecast of his mood swings but you will have to take your chance. If he wants you to call back in an hour do that. If you make an appointment, keep it. You'll be in his good books.

As regards the actual buying of the car, look around you first. There may be a distant relative or family friend who has one parked in his garage for the last several years. There always are advantages of buying from someone you know than buying from a total stranger..duh!

Next step is to determine what you are willing to spend. (or what is your budget) This amount can then be divided into two parts roughly 75-25 ratio. 75 would be the amount you pay the seller of the car and 25 you keep to spend on the car after you have bought it. Its highly unlikely that you would not have to spend anything when you bring the car home. It could be something by choice like a stereo and speakers, floor mats and seat covers or something that calls for your attention, like worn tyres, old battery, an oil leak or a dent on the fender.

When you negotiate the price with the seller you keep both amounts in mind (75-25) If you see that the car has a good solid body, a good paint job etc and you won't have to spend any money on the paint you can always transfer some of the 25 to the 75 section. This is where you need to draw on the experience of the person you take along. Sadly there are a lot of people who would shine the car just to mask its defects and to an untrained eye a combination of a shiny paint job, alloy wheels and new seat covers or stereo seems like a good condition car but there could be areas that need urgent (and expensive) attention.
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The above division (75-25 ) is not carved in stone but just to give you an idea on how to proceed. I have flipped the %age the other way round in some cars that I bought over the years..I bought for 25% and spent 75% on its restoration and I don't suggest you do that. I hope you get the picture.
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There are other considerations when buying a used Volkswagen in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:country-region><st1:place>Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the number one is the status of the registration papers. For years, Volkswagens were not considered cars and while the owners would regularly pay annual tax for other cars they conveniently ignored paying the road tax for the VW's. Its not unusual to find a good car with 10 plus years of pending tax. I suggest you get a quote from the ETO office and use the figure to determine the buying price of the car. Getting the papers in order can cost a pretty penny itself as there is the tax plus the penalty to pay (plus the palm greasing at the ETO office). You will also find cars being sold with an open transfer letter. While I cannot comment on the legality of this practice it may be a problem when you go for the transfer of ownership. To give you an example, it was fine for a buyer to take a complete set of papers to the ETO (Excise and Taxation)office, pay the transfer fee at the National Bank and deposit the papers for transfer. The changed rules in <st1:place>Punjab</st1:place> require the seller as well as the buyer to appear in person for transfer (at least that was the case when i left <st1:country-region><st1:place>Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 2007) This can be a problem as the seller you are buying the car may not be the owner of the car in government records. If the documents are doubtful, i'd suggest you walk away..regardless of the condition the car is in. It is too much of a hassle and I am not sure you can afford to get involved in the running around required to get the papers in order.
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..to be continued. <o:p></o:p>
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[nmshaikh]

Hopefully by now we have found a car with proper paperwork at a price that won't leave you bankrupt and in a condition that won't prompt your parents to put that little ad in the newspapers disowning you from all their "manqoola ' and 'ghair manqoola jaidad' for bringing shame on the family, seen driving something worse than the horse drawn carriage your milkman drives..<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o:p></o:p>
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The next thing to consider are the mechanicals. You need the car to stop. Some might argue that its important to see how the car moves / runs. I say its important to first check how the car stops. Check the brakes and feel the brake pedal with your foot. It should not be spongy. If you have a mat or a piece of carpet in your car. use that to lie down on and inspect the underside of the car. There should be no traces of brake oil on the inside of the brake backing plates. Any leakage can easily be spotted as the brake fluid collects and drips at the bottom of the drum maybe even an oily splatter on the inside of the tyre itself. Brake jobs can cost you anything from 2000 to 10,000 rupees depending on what you need. The car needs to have at the very least a set of non leaking wheel cylinders, brake shoes with plenty of meat and a non leaking master cylinder. Once you have bought the car I recommend the brakes be looked at by your trusted mechanic, regardless of the condition you bought them in. It would give you the peace of mind for the next year or so.<o:p></o:p>
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The condition of the cars engine is the next important thing to consider when buying a car and the determination of its price. Engine rebuilds can put a big dent in your economy so be careful in that area. Its best to take a trusted mechanic or an experienced VW owner along. It is a common belief that its OK if a VW leaks oil. They say VW’s don’t leak oil…they just mark their territory. This is fine as a joke but there is no reason a VW should leak. Period. (no pun intended) A leak could just be plain messy in your driveway prompting your mother to include mopping the driveway as part of your daily chores or a more serious condition resulting in purchase of extra lube oil to top up what was lost every few days.<o:p></o:p>
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Do ask questions from the seller about the mileage, when the engine was rebuilt and who rebuilt it. Pull the dipstick out of the engine and check the condition of the oil. The engine oil tells you a lot about how the engine has been looked after. If the oil looks black and dirty and the seller has not bothered changing it thinking he is selling the car anyway it should be a concern and a reflection of how other areas may have been neglected just because the owner had made up his mind to sell. Similarly ask the seller to start the engine and run for a while..maybe ask to go for a spin around the block so the engine warms up. A cold engine with the lube still thick and viscous masks a lot of tell tale signs of engine wear. VW engines are pretty long lasting beasts if they are well looked after. However don’t ignore the fact that their life depends on how well they were rebuilt and if corners were cut. I have seen kabarias in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:City><st1:place>Rawalpindi</st1:place></st1:City> put together engines from scrap parts that run and sound beautiful when new. How long would they continue to run and sound nice is anybody’s guess and your luck. Anyone with basic engine rebuilding skills can put together an engine and even get it to start but it takes the finesse of an experienced mechanic to rebuild a VW engine that is expected to perform. I have driven engines rebuilt by Khalid in <st1:City><st1:place>Rawalpindi</st1:place></st1:City> for more than 100k and even then they sounded and performed like new just by regular oil changes and using common sense. More on that another time.<o:p></o:p>
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The transmission of a VW is another area that needs to be checked. The sellers could try and mask the problems but really, a short drive around the block can give you a fair idea of the condition.<o:p></o:p>
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Then comes the body shell. It would be good to buy a car with clean fenders, hood and decklid, rust free doors that close with a solid ‘thunk’ but it may not be the case. Good unmolested cars are becoming rarer by the day. There was a time you could go to a used parts shopkeeper and actually try find a fender or hood the same colour of your car saving on a respray..those days are gone. These days you are lucky if you find a clean dent free fender or a hood at all. Getting them from abroad is difficult though not entirely impossible but the cost (due to the sheer size of the part) prevents most from going down that road.<o:p></o:p>
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However these areas should not concern you too much. You need to check the shell of the car and ensure it has not had a major accident. You can replace the fenders or get them repaired to a certain degree by a good panel beater (dentors as they are called even though they do just the opposite…they remove dents!) but its difficult to reverse the effects of a major accident especially if the lines of the body have been disturbed. A rusted floor pan may look bad but is easy to fix. (College students have been known to use their VW’s with a wooden plank covering the hole in the floor.) It is possible but I wouldn’t recommend you to undertake that task just yet. If you see a bashed up car even if it has a shiny new coat of paint…walk away… This is another area where you can benefit from the experience of another VW owner or if you have a trusted mechanic who would be willing to come along. There are very few mechanics / ‘dentors’ I would recommend that you buy a car from. They can mask the defects better than a person on the street so even an experience person can be fooled at times.<o:p></o:p>
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Lets sum up what we have discussed. <o:p></o:p>
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Find a car preferably owned by someone you know or get a good reference. Check that the paperwork is in order. Ask an experienced VW owner or mechanic to accompany you when you go to inspect the car. If you are going to bring them later in the picture do check the brakes, engine condition (if it leaks or is encrusted with layers of greasy dirt) and the body shell..front back and sides. Better to find a simple looking plain Jane than a shiny and done up sexy Suzan. If you stay with the VW, you’ll have a good platform to put in the hard work and restore your car when you have the time and resources. <o:p></o:p>
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The above is a quick guide I have put together and while my recommendations may be different for someone else in a different situation but not too different.<o:p></o:p>
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Good luck<o:p></o:p>

[aliusman2]

@nmshaikh
Sir thanks a lot for your valuable suggestions and tips, will keep every bit of them in my mind when I'll go to inspect a car. Sadly, i do not personally know a VW expert or anyone in my family who owns a Bug but I'll try my best what i can possibly do. There is one problem I'm facing whenever I discuss with someone about VW Bug, many people are saying that it is very uncomfortable to drive and it will give me a big headache combined with the stories that it is very slow and often heats up. I need help in this matter as I'm constantly being bombarded with various thoughts and ideas which are against VW Beetle.