VERY strange turn of events.
update:
so the beetle made it. ran fantastically. climbed hills like a champ, only had to downshift maybe once to get to the very peak of one of the many long slow uphill climbs I had to make.
the drive was nuts though. very strong winds, lots of fog and brutal rainstorms. between having no heat and the water finding it's way in here and there, I was freezing my jewels after 5.5 hours of occasional terror.
very thankful for brand new 3-point seatbelts, bright at all get-out H4 headlights, new wiper blades and the thing that finally saved me from the nasty interior glass fogging - my Windex wipes. I was using an old towel now and again to clear the fog from the inside glass, when I finally wiped it down with a Windex wipe I realized the fog stopped. The next little break I took I did all the inside glass with it and it stayed nice and clear the rest of the way.
grabbed the end of the dipstick nice and tight after the first 90 minutes on the road and it was just warm. didn't lose much of any oil to speak of and got around 25 MPG from Eureka to San Francisco - around 240+ miles and it took me about 5.5 hours to make the trek.
I had been coming down with a bit of a cold before I left and that long freezing and wet drive down didn't seem to help, I was feeling it on Saturday. of all strange things I happened to run into a neighbor of my buddy who was selling a 92 Ford Explorer with 76,700 original miles on it. had paperwork, was willing to make a hell of a deal after just buying a new car the day prior. we have been wanting something to haul the dog and kid around in together over the winter months while I pull the Vanagon motor, so I parked the Beetle in my buddies garage for the winter and on Sunday took the 92 Ford Explorer all the way back to Eureka.
Ran great. Tons of heat, very comfortable seats adjustable every which way, and oodles of uphill power. (MPG were similar to the Vanagon) - Picked this baby up for less than half of the KBB. Took it to get the oil changed, smogged, and wouldn't you know it the VW gots apparently took offence to my leaving the beetle in the SF and I lost the transmission in the Ford.
2 days of ownership of my first American made vehicle in over 15 years and it's already left me stranded.
damnit. I used to know better. I have Reverse, but no forward gears. this is going to turn from an amazing deal to a total clusteryouknowhat.
doh.
I can't wait to get my beetle back.