The Volkswagen Thing Is Slow, Old, Unsafe. and Amazing
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Date: 2019-10-25
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Comments and reviews: 9
bademeister
If you have the chance, compare the VW 181 to or with the fourwheel-driven DKW Munga that the Federal German army had in service from the 1950s on. When the 2-stroke Mungas became obsolete the army bought a number of 181 and later the improved version Iltis. The 181 was actually very popular with foresters, gamekeepers and hunters. It is very tolerant to dirty boots, hair-shedding dogs and dead animals and it was cheap. Its drawback was that only the rear axis was driven. When the Russian Lada Niwa appeared on the German market a cheap 4x4 alternative was there.
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If you have the chance, compare the VW 181 to or with the fourwheel-driven DKW Munga that the Federal German army had in service from the 1950s on. When the 2-stroke Mungas became obsolete the army bought a number of 181 and later the improved version Iltis. The 181 was actually very popular with foresters, gamekeepers and hunters. It is very tolerant to dirty boots, hair-shedding dogs and dead animals and it was cheap. Its drawback was that only the rear axis was driven. When the Russian Lada Niwa appeared on the German market a cheap 4x4 alternative was there.
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Ibrahim Sued
This Thing is so cool it's been a dream to many, many youth. It's very sturdy suspension, very light weight, rear traction with 15 wheels and air cooled engine make it an incredibly efficient low priced vehicle for rustic, muddy roads in the country side. Yet kinda funny convertible in the cities by the beaches. It's mechanics are extremely simple, reliable and cheap maintenance. It's nothing else than a version of the Volkswagen Beatle that sold 23mi+ units, an unbeatable (pun unintended, lol) world record. Your review is not smart.
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This Thing is so cool it's been a dream to many, many youth. It's very sturdy suspension, very light weight, rear traction with 15 wheels and air cooled engine make it an incredibly efficient low priced vehicle for rustic, muddy roads in the country side. Yet kinda funny convertible in the cities by the beaches. It's mechanics are extremely simple, reliable and cheap maintenance. It's nothing else than a version of the Volkswagen Beatle that sold 23mi+ units, an unbeatable (pun unintended, lol) world record. Your review is not smart.
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Michael Girouard
The Thing, originally called Kubelwagen in the war, and there was an amphibious version called Schwimmwagen (I love the German language, makes perfect sense as a rental vehicle in places like Hawaii, where it doesn't need a heater and it can comfortably navigate beaches and back roads, like any Beetle. Not weird at all. You know what's weird? Chevettes. The things you call weird were actually based on specific design or engineering requirements that made sense at the time.
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The Thing, originally called Kubelwagen in the war, and there was an amphibious version called Schwimmwagen (I love the German language, makes perfect sense as a rental vehicle in places like Hawaii, where it doesn't need a heater and it can comfortably navigate beaches and back roads, like any Beetle. Not weird at all. You know what's weird? Chevettes. The things you call weird were actually based on specific design or engineering requirements that made sense at the time.
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April Cole
I know you've probably already been corrected. this is a '73 THING, NOT a '74. The '74 had air vents on the sides in the back since it was an air cooled engine. The '74 also has the side view mirrors attached to the body, not the doors. I've owned one of each. And, you missed showing off something REALLY FUN - the doors coming OFF They were VW answer to the Jeep craze back in the '70s. They were actually safer than the Jeep as far as rolling over.
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I know you've probably already been corrected. this is a '73 THING, NOT a '74. The '74 had air vents on the sides in the back since it was an air cooled engine. The '74 also has the side view mirrors attached to the body, not the doors. I've owned one of each. And, you missed showing off something REALLY FUN - the doors coming OFF They were VW answer to the Jeep craze back in the '70s. They were actually safer than the Jeep as far as rolling over.
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Driessenator
So, it is an VW Beetle squared, decapitated and even more stripped. It weighs as much as a sugar cube and it is slow and Spartan. In good weather it is great fun Not so much when it rains or is cold though. You can however, tweak it nicely by putting in a 2 litre bus engine, some double Weber carburators, disk brakes up front, nice stereo, oil cooler etcetera. Because. it is his a Beetle. There are lots of things to get for your thing.
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So, it is an VW Beetle squared, decapitated and even more stripped. It weighs as much as a sugar cube and it is slow and Spartan. In good weather it is great fun Not so much when it rains or is cold though. You can however, tweak it nicely by putting in a 2 litre bus engine, some double Weber carburators, disk brakes up front, nice stereo, oil cooler etcetera. Because. it is his a Beetle. There are lots of things to get for your thing.
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Tennison Tower
It's probably already mentioned somewhere, but he is wrong about the Gas. The vehicle does not have a minimum gas of 91 by the American system, which I do not know the name of. It needs 91 RON, which is how the EU measures gas ratings. 91 US is the same as 99 RON. Really, this Thing can take quite garbage gasoline as a minimum.
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It's probably already mentioned somewhere, but he is wrong about the Gas. The vehicle does not have a minimum gas of 91 by the American system, which I do not know the name of. It needs 91 RON, which is how the EU measures gas ratings. 91 US is the same as 99 RON. Really, this Thing can take quite garbage gasoline as a minimum.
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44 Hawk
I don't know how you said it doesn't have safety equipment I happen to know for a fact it has brakes and seat belts. Hydraulic brakes are the signal greatest safety device ever devised on Modern automobiles. Hydraulic brakes have saved more lives than all other safety devices on automobiles.
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I don't know how you said it doesn't have safety equipment I happen to know for a fact it has brakes and seat belts. Hydraulic brakes are the signal greatest safety device ever devised on Modern automobiles. Hydraulic brakes have saved more lives than all other safety devices on automobiles.
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PABLO CALLE
It's like a beetle with a diferent body. It's very nice for driving in a very hot weather but ussing always the windshild up to reduce the risk the hit your eye by a bug. I recomended use a safety glass for driving. I agry with you because it's very fan to drive and makes me smile.
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It's like a beetle with a diferent body. It's very nice for driving in a very hot weather but ussing always the windshild up to reduce the risk the hit your eye by a bug. I recomended use a safety glass for driving. I agry with you because it's very fan to drive and makes me smile.
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David Edward
In the late 70s my brother and I had an AFX slotcar track layout. We used the Thing as a jam car that we set at half speed that would intersect the regular layout. The VW Thing was slow and tough and we loved it. I would love to get a chance to drive a real one.
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In the late 70s my brother and I had an AFX slotcar track layout. We used the Thing as a jam car that we set at half speed that would intersect the regular layout. The VW Thing was slow and tough and we loved it. I would love to get a chance to drive a real one.
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