Thinking about a 2002 as a daily driver

[motormike40]

Hello, Im sitting on the fence where to buy a 2002 as a daily driver, are these cars reliable, or will it die on me every other day. Thanks.

mike

[Madvibes]

just like anything, you get what you pay for. do some research and you can certainly find something to fit your needs. there are plenty of daily drivers on this forum.

[motormike40]

I tried you pay for what you get and now im stuck with a beetle I payed 6 grand for and runs less then half the time. Do these cars run on the point and condensor style ingnition system? Are they hard or expensive to keep on the road? I though at the time that Id be able to take my bug 500 miles 1-2 miles a month, would a 2002 be able to do that?

[jakeb]

An 02 does have points but that can be changed for under $100. It is worth the change.

An 02 is not a 2004 Honda....so there is always a chance something could happen. But if you have one that has been mantained and you feel comfortable working on an older car you should be able to drive it anywhere.

Remember the newest 02 is 30 years old.

I just rebuilt the engine in mine and getting to the point where I would drive it anywhere but it has went through a lot of work to get it there.

We just sold a 76 that before we had it was mantained very well and I would have no problem driving it anywhere.

[Madvibes]

well you can't exactly compare a VW to a BMW, can you?

do some research. look through our forum archives and you'll find a wealth of information that can help you come to an informed decision.

[Napes]

I've been driving my ' 75 ' 02 daily for the past 26 yrs. and my wife's been driving her ' 76 daily for the past 8 yrs. Sure, things need to be done, but that doesn't mean I'd hesitate to take off for anywhere in the country @ the drop of a hat.

Bob Napier

[motormike40]

What are the key things that need pay attention to before I buy it.

[Guest]

How much time do you have available, How much money do you have available, how much mechanical aptitude do you possess, etc.etc?

mac

ps. you sure you want to drive around in a thirty year old car/"the old rust bucket"? Best of Luck.

[72BMW2002TII]

My dad has had 6 2002s over the years and not one 02 left him stranded on the road. I daily drive my tii and i have no problems with it at all except that its kind of hot right now and im better off driving the WRX with ac for hot days =P

Ryan

[TobyB]

and will need more routine maintenance than anyone's used to.

However, if you're clever and motivated, some Volvo brakes, a 318 EFI setup, 320 rad and 5- speed, and an R&R of the heater box... oh, yeah, and rear window defogger... and a good stereo and some more sound deadening... and 14" wheels...

well, you get the idea- either way, you do some work, but if you don't mind doing the upgrades, the car can be really reliable and a lot of fun.

my '02 isn't all that reliable, but tons of fun...

t

[SteveJ]

If you were to drop $6k into an 02, you would have a VERY reliable car that I would put up against many modern cars. One of the nice things about an 02 is that they are basically simple machines. No computers setting a fault code because the gas cap was not fitted tightly, no diagnostic codes to have the dealer read only to tell you to change your fuel filter. Most 02 owners are somewhat mechanically inclined (or at least willing to try) and will carry some common fail items. This is why most 02s will be delayed at the side of the road and not stranded.

My 72tii is my daily driver right now. It has rattles and squeeks and drips a little oil and the door brakes are broke and the only A/C is when I open the windows and drive quicker. All stuff I can live with becuase I would rather not drive an appliance everyday. Fine for other people, just not my taste.

You have to figure what it is you want in a car.

Sportiness versus Utility

Reliability versus sheer fun

Inexpensive to run versus paying college tuition for some mechanics' child.

02's are a good balance of all these characteristics.

A pumped out 914 or 911 is more sporty, but you can't load 4 people into it. A Honda Accord is super reliable, but have you ever gone to the annual Honda Accord Fest West gathering and drive? (Is there such a thing?)

Knowing where to get parts and information (like here on the FAQ) can make all the difference in what costs will be involved.

PS:

Hey Ryan, what is the VIN on your tii? Mine is 2761534. Where abouts in Milpitas are you? I grew up there.

[motormike40]

I mean im pretty good with mechanically, remember I do drive a beetle, so im used to the oil drips, but its just everyother day it will run, I cant even tel you how many things ive replaced. Im just looking to see if this is a car that all I do is gap my points, swap condensor, fuel filter, put oil and gas then go. I dont mind the regular small things, but I just need another car that leaves me to call my friends to come pick me up. thanks alot for the responses, I found a really nice one for 3000. So thats in the cards now.

[motormike40]

So what exactly is needed to make this car really reliable, so for on my 73 bug, I have a point replacement kit, hotter cool, misc cooling items, and a new carb, and it still gives me every other day problems.

[SteveJ]

Basically all the things you mentioned.

Just going through the car and replacing the things that normally wear out before the actually break/fail.

Ignition- new cap and rotor, new plug wires and plugs. Make sure the coil and distribuitor are in good shape. Maybe do the Pertronix upgrade.

Fuel- All new flexible hoses, new filter, verify the output of the pump, verify that the carb is in good order and jetted by someone who knows what they are doing. Possibly upgrade to a newer carb for more performance.(If the car is a tii, you will have more items to check/verify in the fuel department)

Brakes- replace the flexible lines with stainless steel ones, flush and bleed the system, check and replace as needed the calipers or rear wheel cylinders.

Electrical- Verify alternator output, replace alternator bushings, replace drive belt, keep a spare voltage regulator with you, start cleaning and checking ALL electrical connections- dirty grounds are the big enemy.

Cooling- check the age/condition of the water pump, replace all coolant hoses & thermostat if you have any question of their age, possibly upgrade to a 3 row radiator.

Suspension/steering- check/replace any bushings that are questionable, tierods & control arms/ball joints as well. Many upgrades are available, but get it all in decent shape first before you run right to the poly-urethane or delrin bushings and monster sway bars.

Sounds like a bunch of stuff, but these are all things that once you do them, you can mostly forget about them, at least for a long while. ALL of these are DIY type repair items, and since you have owned a beetle, you should have no problems. Just ask here on the FAQ if you need specifics on which ever repair you are doing.

[DavinSF]

...it will give you nothing but problems.

If you buy a car where everything has been maintained properly, and replaced when it wears out, it will treat you very well every single day.

At 30+ years old, almost everything on a 2002 that was actually used over its life can and will wear out. The key is buying a car where the important stuff is done. If you choose wisely in your $6000 range you can get a 2002 that is completely done mechanically. Then all you need to do is stay on top of the normal maintenance stuff like you'd have to do with ANY car, and it will run great every day.

If on the other hand you buy a car without doing your homework: compression and leak-down tests for the engine, oil consumption, coolant consumption, leak inspection, hydraulic systems (brake & clutch), transmission & driveline wear, fuel system health (carb or injection), ignition system condition, suspension condition, steering components, structural rust (these are unibody cars), etc... Then you're asking for trouble driving it every day.

Do the research if you want a reliable car. They're out there, and in the case of the 2002 they're reasonably priced.

If you're not into research, daily driving an old car is probably not the thing for you. And if you buy a mystery car, be prepared for anything...