The front strut design made the car particulalry sensitive to any abnormality in wheel balance, straightness, offset and alignment.  At least that was my personal experience.

Todd

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Mike Bucchino <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
> ALL Super Beetles had front struts, that's what made them Super!
>
> Mike B.
>
> P.S. Not all Supers had the vent louvers on the front apron, just the US
> models (whether AC was installed or not)....
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Thomas Myers" <thomas.myers@XEROX.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 4:40 PM
> Subject: Re: VLVC: Super Beetle TCO....
>
>
> >I think that is when the Super Beetle went to front struts.
> >
> > [ Which the customizing crowd never liked...]
> >
> >> From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
> >> Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
> >> Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:44:03 -0400
> >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >> Subject: Re: VLVC: Super Beetle TCO....
> >>
> >> 71 and 72 SuperBeetles had a "flat" windshield, just like the regular
> >> Beetle. 73 was when the curved windshield was introduced (and the
> >> monster rear turn signals).
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sep 11, 2006, at 2:51 PM, Mike Rouby wrote:
> >>
> >>>   VW Beetle purists may not appreciate the VW Super Beetle
> >>> (1302/1303) as much as there were several changes which detract
> >>> from the "beetle experience" (eg rounded windshield, plastic dash,
> >>> bigger hood, etc).  The plus side of this is that they go for lower
> >>> prices generally.