A Beetle, A Hog, And A Monkey … Is This Members’ Rides, Or Members’ Pets?

Last time on Members’ Rides, we looked at a Viper, and several other awesome V8s in addition to a do-it-all all minivan. This week, it’s my privilege to introduce Drew. Drew is a physician living in the Tampa Bay area. His garage has us again looking at some awesome trucks, but then talking about some EVs and motorcycles as well. In addition to the below, he had a Nissan Leaf and a Harley Livewire previously that we’ll talk about briefly as well.

What’s currently in the garage?

• 1976 VW Beetle
• 1977 F-250
• 2021 F-250 Diesel
• 2021 Honda Monkey
• 2021 Tesla Model 3
• 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide

How did you get into cars?

I have always loved cars, but I have no idea why. No one in my family likes cars, so I don’t know where this interest came from. I just like vehicles, I guess? I don’t have an interesting car enthusiast back story. Sorry.

How did you end up with the Beetle?

I bought this car from an out-of-state consignment dealer based on photographs, so the story of me purchasing it isn’t all that interesting.  I had just moved into a house with 5 garage spaces (and outdoor parking for several more vehicles) so I finally had the space for more vehicles. Before buying this car, I looked at several Beetles locally and never found one I liked for a price I was willing to pay.

This car looked good in pictures, with some obvious flaws disclosed by the seller. I really liked the color, the price was reasonable, the condition was adequate, and I was feeling impatient after not finding something locally, so I bought it. Fortunately, the seller honestly represented the vehicle. It was not a great idea to buy this car without at least getting it inspected, though. I probably will not do that again.

As a long-time dream car, does it meet expectations?

In many ways it has exceeded expectations. It is more fun to drive than I expected. I am used to driving large, lumbering vehicles with numb steering, so the Beetle feels agile by comparison. Somewhat paradoxically, I like that it is underpowered and the brakes require a lot of effort to stop. This is a prime example of how it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than vice versa. Additionally, I find the car surprisingly roomy. The shape of the Beetle gives me more than enough headroom. I can even fit somewhat comfortably in the back seat. I didn’t expect that.

My appreciation of the Beetle probably has something to do with low expectations, though. While I have always loved Beetles, I am aware that at heart they are subcompact economy car designed in the 1930s. They are the polar opposite of a luxury car. It is better I didn’t buy a Beetle until later in life when my expectations were realistic.

My only major complaint is that the windows do not allow much airflow when rolled down. This car isn’t great to drive on hot days, which is not ideal since I live in Florida.

Has it given you any old car issues?

Nothing too severe, but it hasn’t been perfect. Since I have owned it, the clutch and carburetor have been replaced, and a few minor oil leaks were fixed. I haven’t had a problem that rendered the car inoperable, so I could have driven the car to a nearby shop if one were available. Of course the nearest VW air-cooled shop is 30 miles away. The shop is also busy and I have to set appointments weeks in advance.

Between the distance and my work schedule, the car ends up sitting in my garage for several weeks when something breaks. I want to learn how to fix things myself, but this car is too nice for me to feel comfortable learning on it. I’m looking for a Beetle project to build some confidence before trying to handle repairs on the ’76. Unlike many readers featured on Member Rides, I am not mechanically inclined. I’m just some yahoo that buys a lot of toys.

How’s the 1977 F-250?

I used to refer to it as a mini monster truck because it is a ridiculous vehicle to use as a daily driver. It was lifted and rode on 37 inch mud tires when I bought it. It also had no sound insulation, no carpet, and a straight pipe exhaust. The truck has had a lot of repairs and modifications since then. Including a suspension that is near stock ride height and smaller wheels. It is far more civilized today.

You said it broke down on you for a while, what happened?

The truck degraded to the point where daily driving was no longer feasible. It was drivable, but only adequate for short, low-speed trips. I didn’t have the ability to fix it myself nor did I have the money to pay someone else to fix it. Despite that, I wasn’t ready to part with it, so I put it in storage when I moved out of state for a year to delay having to make a decision about the truck’s future.

I ended up moving out of state three times over the next three years so the truck stayed in storage. Prolonged storage isn’t great for any vehicle, much less one that was marginal when put in storage. Fortunately, I had space to work on it when I bought my current house. I was able to get it running on my own without too much difficulty. I then brought it to a restoration shop to fix it up. It now is mechanically excellent, although that left my wallet a lot lighter. I now drive this truck several times per week.

Any additional plans for it?

I want this truck to look as good as it runs. I plan to take it to a body shop to fix the rust and get it repainted. After that, I plan to have the interior redone. I want it to look mostly stock, although I might opt for bucket seats or at least a bench with a headrest. Right now, the rear window doubles as a headrest I doubt that would end well in an accident.

What’s your favorite thing about this beast?

This might sound trivial, but I love the exhaust note when this truck is cruising down the road. The exhaust exits to the side behind the cab and it sounds great. It is loud enough to be heard but not so loud that it is annoying to me or those around me.

This truck also has also led to some great social interactions. I used this truck as a daily driver for several years when I first got it. Quite a few people rode in my truck, many of whom had absolutely no interest in vehicles. Their reactions were almost always positive. It is a unique experience to ride in a 40-year-old lifted pickup with a big block and straight pipes.  It was also fun pulling up to a valet stand in this truck, which I did a few times. I got some weird looks. If you have a chance to daily drive something ridiculous, do so. It is fun!

What led to the 2021 F-250?

A 3/4 ton diesel pickup has always been one of my dream vehicles so it was nice to have an excuse to buy one. It is still not the most practical vehicle for me, particularly considering it means I will keep a second vehicle for local daily driving. If the upcoming Ramcharger PHEV doesn’t suck and isn’t too expensive, I could see swapping the F250 and Model 3 for one of those.

Any plans for it?

I made a few minor changes already. First thing, I swapped the enormous front air dam for the smaller air dam that comes with the Tremor package. I also replaced the stock wheels with aftermarket wheels and had a leveling kit installed. It looks much better than it did in stock form, although the modifications reduced my highway fuel economy by around 2 mpg.

Any idea how long you plan to keep it?

I’m not sure. The F-250 and my Tesla are co-daily drivers. I drive the Tesla locally and use the F250 for longer trips and truck stuff. Ideally, I would replace both with a PHEV pickup. I don’t need the capabilities of a 3/4 ton diesel. I bought this truck out of preference and also because it was cheaper than a half-ton truck at the time due to the crazy pandemic vehicle market.

Now before we talk Tesla, how was the Leaf?

It is a car. It is cheap. I guess that sums it up? Surprisingly unshitty, though. Battery capacity was still good. Estimated capacity was 78%, which was down from 84% when I purchased it. The car had a real-world range of around 55 miles when I sold it, although I drove it as far as 70 miles between charges in some situations.

What was great about it?

I liked that it was so very ordinary. At the time, EV options were limited to Leafs and Teslas. I was a Tesla skeptic because of their quirks. Since this was my first EV, it was nice to have one that felt like an ordinary car. I also liked the sounds the car made. It was quiet, but there was some whirring from the electric motor and a few other subtle mechanical noises.

So then what led to the Tesla?

It is a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. It was a former rental car I bought from Hertz when they sold off a lot of their fleet earlier this year.

Anything you miss about the Leaf?

I miss the ordinariness. The Leaf accomplishes its intended mission of being reliable, comfortable, efficient local transportation. I like a car that excels in its intended purpose, even if that purpose isn’t exciting.

Everyone assumes they are useless given the low range and rapid battery degradation seen in early cars. I averaged around 10,000 miles per year in this car, which shows how useful they can be. DT’s Leaf was not representative of what these cars can do.

What is your favorite thing about the Tesla?

The performance. This is the slowest Model 3, but it is quick. It also handles well. Steering is precise and has appropriate feedback. I also like the interior. Minimalism isn’t for everyone, but I like that aesthetic. I also like the center-mounted screen. I do not like dashboard lights directly in front of me, so this setup is appealing.  Also, the center-mounted screen allows you to adjust the seat and wheel to any position without obstructing necessary gauges.

Do you think the center tablet concerns are overblown?

I found the control setup annoying for about two days. Now that I am used to the controls I like them. The vast majority of necessary functions can be accessed through the scroll wheels or the stalks. I almost never need to use the touch screen while driving.

Now tell me about the Monkey!

I bought this new in May 2021. I like old Honda mini bikes, particularly the Z50 and CT70. This bike takes styling cues from the old Z50 but in a larger package with a modern drivetrain. I absolutely love the styling of this bike. I’m too big for a Z50, and I am not sure a CT70 would be any better. The Monkey is big enough that I can ride it, although it is best for a smaller rider.

What is the furthest you have ever ridden this at one time?

Around 120 miles. An improbable road trip might be fun on this bike. My back hurts just thinking about that, though, so maybe not.

What made you want this?

Mostly because it looks cool. Large or fast bikes are a lot of fun, but small bikes are also a lot of fun in their own way. They are effortless to ride. Also, it is fun to use every ounce of performance a bike has available, but without breaking traffic laws.

It hardly uses any gas, I have averaged 112 mpg. The fun-to-dollar ratio is very much in your favor on a bike like the Monkey.

Ok now let’s talk Livewire.

I bought it new December 2019 and traded it in last July. Range was highly variable. With the cruise at 75, I could expect around 70 miles of range. Less at higher speeds. Yet when driving on city streets, I got around 140 miles of range. I used to frequently ride on urban highways where speeds fluctuated between 55 and 70. That was enough regenerative braking to increase range to around 110 miles.

What appealed to you about it?

The completely ridiculous acceleration. One of my favorite things was going full throttle away from stoplights when the light turned green. Acceleration was so fast I could often exceed the speed limit while still in the intersection. I also liked how completely effortless acceleration was. You are always in the right gear and at the peak of the power band. It always felt stable and easy to control, even at full throttle. I have ridden many gas-powered sport bikes, and it is far easier to ride a Livewire fast than an ICE sport bike. While I had mine set for maximum acceleration, this bike is appropriate for a beginner in tamer settings.

H-D did an excellent job with the regenerative braking. I had mine set for maximum regeneration. This bike achieves “one pedal” riding in most situations. I also like how H-D included normal motorcycle brakes that are entirely separate from the regenerative braking system.

It is much more engaging auditorily than people expect. The bike sounded cool. It has various sounds that occur in specific situations. I have yet to find an audio recording that captures the experience of riding a Livewire, but it is distinctive and adds to the experience. However, while the sound is engaging to the rider, it is still quiet. You do not attract police attention on a Livewire, which is a bonus.

I could say a lot of good things about the Livewire. Unfortunately, my back hated that bike so I couldn’t ride very long without having to stop. I would have kept it if I could ride it comfortably.

How’s the Road Glide?

I really like it so far. It is very comfortable. It handles quite a bit better than older Harley-Davidson touring bikes. The center of gravity feels lower, which greatly improves low-speed handling. It has enough torque that you rarely feel you are in the wrong gear. Downshifting is usually not required to pass or to accelerate after traffic briefly slows down. The engine also vibrates substantially less than older H-D touring bike engines. There is still enough vibration that it feels like you are riding a Harley, but not enough to make your hands go numb or to make the mirrors useless.

Overall, H-D has made a lot of improvements to these bikes, even if they aren’t obvious by looking at the bikes or the spec sheets. Also, I like the stereo. This is the first time I have had a bike with a sound system; having something to listen to makes riding more enjoyable.

Thanks, Drew!

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