I am road tripping to texas from ohio, can an old car make it?

Me and my friend are road tripping to kerrville, texas (2 hours from san antonio) from columbus ohio. I am thinking about buying this car for the trip:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/76-Super-Beetle-Convertible-Nice-Driver-CA-Car_W0QQitemZ330314271908QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item330314271908&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

do you think it could make it there and back?
what would go wrong with the car?
is it a bad idea?
what should i worry about?
do you think purchasing that car is a good idea?
Is the price reasonable for that car?
how long do you think it will last?

so many questions, but thank you!

also, i am either getting that old bug, or i recently have thought about purchasing an old 65'-66' mustang convertible

would that be a smarter idea to drive from ohio to texas?

like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Ford-Mustang-Convertible-289-4V-auto-barn-find_W0QQitemZ300300809399QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item300300809399&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A7%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308#ebayphotohosting

(which is not as "pristine" as that bug)
(it might not be that specific mustang, because that one is a little too expensive and has some rust, but i doubt i can find a nicer one for any cheaper)

So between the two, which one would make me and my friend to texas without breaking down?

thank you thank you thank you!

Dan B

It is absolutely impossible to tell from the picture if it could make the trip. The VW looks good cosmetically. The Mustang would look better on the road, but it does need extensive body work. It could be in better or worse shape mechanically than the VW. The Mustang being in KY would be closer, maybe close enough to test drive it. The VW is in CA. How are you going to get it to OH? Drive it - that would be a test of it's ability. But be sure to have about $3,000 in should the engine fail. I bought a 72 VW Van. The owner said the engine was overhauled. Well, it was. But they stripped out the spark plug threads on one cylinder and the fuel shut off solenoids in the two carburetors. I drove that thing cross country (TX - GA - NY - TX) before these problems manifested themselves. $5,000 for that car is a little expensive even if the owner thinks it's a classic car and priced accordingly. When you buy a used car, you are buying someone else's problem child. No one sells a perfectly good running used car. You buy it as is, where is. The will deny any major problems unless they have a guilty conscience - they want to sell the car for the highest price they can get.

Gift Buyer

Just a comment on ebay descriptions... they actually want you to purchase their car, so their descriptions may not divulge all kinds of problems.

Before you head out on any road trip with ANY car you should have it checked. Tires should be checked for potential problems, all fluids should be full, most importantly all of your belts need to be checked to make sure nothing is going to break. If you throw a belt you are screwed. In alot of cases, you will be permanently out of commission after breaking a timing belt. It leads to bent valves and a big mess.

Also, good luck getting parts for a really old car out in the middle of nowhere in a timely manner, and good luck finding a capable mechanic to do the work. I am speaking from experience here. Driving a 15 year old BMW 5 series across New Mexico was the most ignorant thing I did in my youth. Let's just say that after 90 minutes a Wal-mart truck picked me up and drove me to the nearest town 35 miles down the highway.

To avoid this nightmare, find yourself a mechanic to check these cars out before you purchase or before you venture off on the road. Loads of things can go wrong.

Sign up for AAA. It is well worth the money.

kelly_f_1999

well its never what a car looks like that matters it what shape its in to know how to check type how to check used car into search box and follow a check list to see what problems you might find and never a good ideal to buy any car you cant check or drive before you buy it

Lover not a Fighter

Can an old car make it? YES SOME old cars can. I have 94 Civic with 188K miles on it. Two years ago I drove it from NYC to Boston and back in two days.

But I know MY car and I know it is dependable.
===
Buying AN OLD car and then just driving it is NOT a good idea. No matter how good the car is (or they say it is), you don't know for sure, and you don't know the weaknesses (like it leaks water, the tire leaks air, over heats if driven for more than few hours, etc.)

Whatever you drive, make sure you know a lot about that car (like something you or your friend drove for few months).

Good luck...

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