The most notable thing is that a 50+ year old, lightly modified, 2wd road car is being compared to a brand new, 4wd, purpose built off road machine. And yet the VW is able to reliably compete. Love my old 72 Wide Eye Baja. It has been through some serious pits and trails, never failed me. And, unlike a side by side, can legally take it down any road and highway to drive it home. Except for a heavily modified, purpose built Baja, a multi-purpose vehicle will always lose out to a dedicated, purpose built one. A Baja is just a modified car, and that one isn't modified much. A side by side is designed from the beginning to off road. And they all lose to the Sherp anyway, heh.
1. Who drove down the highway to the course? 2. Who didn't get wet because of the rain? 3. Who didn't air down his tires to get some grip? 4. Who didn't giver the way you need to to drive a bug? The bug and a heavy foot.
Thing is, you can drive the baja to and from the field. You'll have to haul the Pioneer. I grew up with rail buggies. God, I miss those things. 2-seaters and 4-seaters. Mostly VW engines but we did have one with a 1970s Porche motor. When I say "we" I mean the group of 4 or 5 families who hung out together.
Between the two I'll take the Baja Bug 7 days a week. Honestly the Honda was on mud tires and the Bug was on what looked like a well worn set of K02s...swap those out for some KM3s or some MT Baja Boss MTs and I think it would've been even on the logs as well...minus the impending spinal compaction from the suspension in the VW 😂
What a great video, the Baja Bug is the coolest car I can remember seeing on TFL. And if Tommy had left the side by side in 2 wheel drive the Bug would've taken it.
love the bug. I had a bone stock '70 bug (in 1973) in high school, and I used it like a dune buggy in Jax, Fl dunes and trails. Never got stuck. I really miss that bug.
I know the K02s are great but some BFG KM3 or Nitto trail grappler MT would make the bug shine in that mud Plus the poor man's posi mod could be good too Always excellent content One of the only youtube channels I never have to fast forward.
I was just on Nelson island in British Columbia with linemen on side by sides that they barged over. Only a disused trail that had lots of fallen brush and logs. They smashed their way through. I was laughing like a kid. These things are incredibly capable. You can go up and down hills that seem like the thing will flip end over end. They may as well have made a drag race between a bug and a maclaren.
put air shocks on the back end of the bug, cheap, fill them from compressor, boom 6 more inches travel. and gets the oil drain off the ground. also skid plate of at the very least change the back cage to be under the engine... :) owned a 61 and a 66 back in the 80s :)
I'm guessing someone sells conversion kits and suspension kits to outfit a beetle with just about any drivetrain you want. That's certainly the way to go.
This guy in the baja's a wuss. If he was lined up straight on the wood beams and had actual mud tires on it, the bug would've walked right up it! Fact...
My bug looked a lot like that but had bus tranny and raised spindles. I seen these guys testing what looked like a gas powered golf cart and laughed at them. Turns out they were early SxS 's.
Wait a minute testing in the mud a 2 wheel drive bug against a 4 wheel drive off road vehicle. Really this is beyond any kind of a rational test. VW bug is Cool!
The Bug would've done way better with a bloke prepared to give it a go. In my _Born to Run_ days (1975--80) l gave the cops the slip and and they were driving Valiants withe 360s in the GM-Holdens 308s in them 3x. My Krauts went anywhere: sports fields, fire trails, creeks, gravel tracks, etc.
In the hands of a more experienced Baja Bug driver, that Beetle would have been much more successful. For a fraction of the cost of the side by side and tons more fun to drive... Baja Bug all the way.
Ive seen vw bugs go places in my life where 4wd would get stuck the first vw bugs in Germany where used for war and 25 hp and yes you couldn't afford one ,not to mention on the dunes they slay. Look up shreddy life
A better option is turning brakes. Either mechanical via individual e-brake levers or hydraulic. You can corner hard and in sticky situations it allows you to lock up the tire with no traction and divert power to the other wheel.
Apples and oranges, The Honda had 4 wheel drive, mud tires and a lighter driver. Price comparisons? Baja is way cooler! Anyone can build a Baja, more fun and probably cheaper.
Don’t matter how much better that side by side is it’ll never be as cool as that Baja Bug!
Great video guys!
Cheers Pat
Which one would you prefer to own?
@@Malc664the baha
Knowing how to drive the bug is important. You can’t baby them…which he does…because he’s scared. It’s in his voice 😂
Love the sound that Baja Bug makes when you gun it!
I know right!
Yeah sounds good!
Me too! She is a keeper
The most notable thing is that a 50+ year old, lightly modified, 2wd road car is being compared to a brand new, 4wd, purpose built off road machine. And yet the VW is able to reliably compete.
Love my old 72 Wide Eye Baja. It has been through some serious pits and trails, never failed me.
And, unlike a side by side, can legally take it down any road and highway to drive it home.
Except for a heavily modified, purpose built Baja, a multi-purpose vehicle will always lose out to a dedicated, purpose built one. A Baja is just a modified car, and that one isn't modified much. A side by side is designed from the beginning to off road.
And they all lose to the Sherp anyway, heh.
1. Who drove down the highway to the course?
2. Who didn't get wet because of the rain?
3. Who didn't air down his tires to get some grip?
4. Who didn't giver the way you need to to drive a bug?
The bug and a heavy foot.
That bug is sweet , but man that oil filter is Vulnerable!!!!
The most consistent part of this show is that their comparisons are always Apples to Oranges. LOL.
Put the pioneer in 2wd at least.
Exactly..
And a vw rail would also be a better comparison
Thing is, you can drive the baja to and from the field. You'll have to haul the Pioneer. I grew up with rail buggies. God, I miss those things. 2-seaters and 4-seaters. Mostly VW engines but we did have one with a 1970s Porche motor. When I say "we" I mean the group of 4 or 5 families who hung out together.
Looks like they’re having fun! As others have mentioned, the newer vehicle has a huge advantage with 4 wheel drive, but the big holds its own nicely!
That Baja Bug is awesome!
Between the two I'll take the Baja Bug 7 days a week. Honestly the Honda was on mud tires and the Bug was on what looked like a well worn set of K02s...swap those out for some KM3s or some MT Baja Boss MTs and I think it would've been even on the logs as well...minus the impending spinal compaction from the suspension in the VW 😂
He is afraid to drive it aggressive. Why build the engine? Trailer queen. You make us look bad. New mud tires. Air down all 4 and push it hard.
So a rwd car on all terrains vs a 4x4 golf cart on mud tires... in mud. Seems kinda biased to me.
Love the Baja but I don’t get hondas probably because I am not a school teacher
Baja Bug and Manx Buggies just ooze classic cool. Very cool video. I want both!
What a great video, the Baja Bug is the coolest car I can remember seeing on TFL. And if Tommy had left the side by side in 2 wheel drive the Bug would've taken it.
Brings back memories of my 1965 Baja bug that also used to be my daily driver.
Baja is for true old school off roaders! SXS brought all the city slickers to the trails
This was a 100% unfair comparison. Since one is 4x4, and one is only 2wd, ALL tests should have been done in 2wd.
yes, and one of them had a tire on the roof.
Plus i bey if someone who can drive the bug it eould out perform
That is a really cool bug. Great video. Thanks guys
love the bug. I had a bone stock '70 bug (in 1973) in high school, and I used it like a dune buggy in Jax, Fl dunes and trails. Never got stuck. I really miss that bug.
David as the Stig. Some say....
Being from SW AZ that was the lowest riding baha bug I've ever seen.
The Baja did a lot better than I expected! Cool!
More Baja bugs!!! The original side by side.
Tommy needs to quit cheating and leave the SxS in 2 wheel drive for a fair comparison!
I know the K02s are great but some BFG KM3 or Nitto trail grappler MT would make the bug shine in that mud
Plus the poor man's posi mod could be good too
Always excellent content
One of the only youtube channels I never have to fast forward.
Thats Baja bug also wins for coolness and authenticity!
I was just on Nelson island in British Columbia with linemen on side by sides that they barged over. Only a disused trail that had lots of fallen brush and logs. They smashed their way through. I was laughing like a kid. These things are incredibly capable. You can go up and down hills that seem like the thing will flip end over end.
They may as well have made a drag race between a bug and a maclaren.
❤ That baja bug!!! Awesome Vid today tell him to bring that bug back on camera to do more!!!❤❤❤
Need to get an AWD drive train for that Beetle.
Love this video! Well done.
I'd be happy with either of them especially if I had a playground like you guys do to drive him around.
😂 Brendan was having a blast
You might want relocate that oil filter on the bug.
Loving the rally course addition. Should get a TG style leaderboard going. Or 2 for snow times.
Thanks Tommy and Brendan and all the TFL CAMERA NINJA'S....Have a good day everybody ✌️
I loved my 72 Baja bug. Awesome fun off-road.
This was awesome guys love you
Tommy’s zip up hoodie is sweet!😎
put air shocks on the back end of the bug, cheap, fill them from compressor, boom 6 more inches travel. and gets the oil drain off the ground. also skid plate of at the very least change the back cage to be under the engine... :) owned a 61 and a 66 back in the 80s :)
Baja bugs need to come back. They are the coolest. Especially on sand.
Fun video! Love the Baja Bug!
Somebody should make a beetle body kit for side by sides! That thing looks really cool😎
And keep the Beetle VIN and keep it street legal.
I'm guessing someone sells conversion kits and suspension kits to outfit a beetle with just about any drivetrain you want. That's certainly the way to go.
Oh Tommy. A helmet and gloves for this!!!😂😂😂. Just kidding: nice vid.
This is not a relevant test the area that you are testing the bug in is not what it was made for it is a BAJA vehicle not a 4X4 there is a difference.
Wow, that bug sounds NICE!
You had me at Baja Bug.
Those vws were and are awesome I had a Meyers Manx back in the early 2000's and I'll tell you I'd never take a sxs over it
Why not compare them in the sand dunes and hard pack desert. Pretty sure baja bugs were not intended for the mud.
One would think, right? However do a search for "fusca gaiola trilha" sometime and it might surprise you how well bajas do in mud...
😂😂😂 Awesome job, super fun video, 100% beetle wins 🤗
Let’s see how a Model T does on the course.
I'll bet it does the whole course.
That's IRS , I'm wondering if swing axles would stay planted more??
Portal axles from the van would help with clearance.
Can you put a locker in the Beetle?
For a true comparison, leave the Honda in 2WD.
This guy in the baja's a wuss. If he was lined up straight on the wood beams and had actual mud tires on it, the bug would've walked right up it! Fact...
Love the Baja!
Baja Bugs are fantastic.
The bug wins the coolness award
The Honda is for work and reliability. The VW is for fun, nostalgia.
The centre lights on that baha are so fing cute.
....and the Bug costs $30,000 less!
Brendin is very nice about Tommy's picking on him.
My bug looked a lot like that but had bus tranny and raised spindles. I seen these guys testing what looked like a gas powered golf cart and laughed at them. Turns out they were early SxS 's.
That bug looks like fun 😁
Yay some SXS content!
I love all the old vs new adventures you guys have on this new property. Keep up the great content in all seasons!
Personality of the bug owner is 100....could be a regular at TFL and we'd have no complains
Always fancied a Baja Bug 🤘👍
3:14 😳😳😳😳
DUDE! SERIOUSLY?
i will take the bug every day of the week
Baja bugs rule! More smiles per gallon!
Not bad for the bug❤❤❤
Very entertaining!
Baja Bug is street legal, so you can go get your groceries and then take the scenic way home haha
Wait a minute testing in the mud a 2 wheel drive bug against a 4 wheel drive off road vehicle. Really this is beyond any kind of a rational test. VW bug is Cool!
The Bug would've done way better with a bloke prepared to give it a go. In my _Born to Run_ days (1975--80) l gave the cops the slip and and they were driving Valiants withe 360s in the GM-Holdens 308s in them 3x. My Krauts went anywhere: sports fields, fire trails, creeks, gravel tracks, etc.
Diff lock on the Beetle?
I would drive the Baja Bug anyday.
In the hands of a more experienced Baja Bug driver, that Beetle would have been much more successful.
For a fraction of the cost of the side by side and tons more fun to drive... Baja Bug all the way.
Thank you for sharing
🏆🤗🇺🇲🙏
Go Monsterbeetle!
Tommy: I'm going to go 1st and then see if Brendon can get his junk up it. Properly stated Tommy. 🤣
Ive seen vw bugs go places in my life where 4wd would get stuck the first vw bugs in Germany where used for war and 25 hp and yes you couldn't afford one ,not to mention on the dunes they slay. Look up shreddy life
Meant to say in 1938 vw bugs had 4wd for war
Big diff is vw is 2wd, whereas honda powered is 4wd. Give bug 4wd, which is available, and its playing in another world.
Really need to weld the diff or something in that bug
A better option is turning brakes. Either mechanical via individual e-brake levers or hydraulic. You can corner hard and in sticky situations it allows you to lock up the tire with no traction and divert power to the other wheel.
Not to be an ass but 4x4 vs 2 wheel drive not really fair . I have always loved VWs .
Pardon me? @10:32
Apples and oranges, The Honda had 4 wheel drive, mud tires and a lighter driver. Price comparisons? Baja is way cooler! Anyone can build a Baja, more fun and probably cheaper.
Your vw driver is inexperienced
Tough day at the office!
Pioneer wins for capability, but baja bug wins for cheap thrills and character
Notice the crew spectators that came out for it? Bet it was to watch the beetle disintegrate.
The bug would do much better with some aggressive mud tires.
Leave the Pioneer in Auto, it will do better. Really like the course!
Tommy should have kept it in 2x4 the whole time, more fair!
No feeling for the clutch, a beetle...Käfer..climbs on every Hill with a little bit feeling for it
Rather see a vw rail vs
Ya. A two wheel drive vs 4x4. That's about as fair as racing that Honda side by side agents my yz 250.
I’ll take the old Baja Big anyway. The new one is just a glorified golf cart.
And no heater
With off road type utv tires the bug would have done better.
Baja more fun to drive.
No one with a brain is shocked. These SxS machines and quads are SO OVERPRICED for what they are.
to be honest the bug was designed in the 40's