Volkswagen Bug Reborn!
shredhead
Member Posts: 3
I just got back from the International Auto Show here in San Jose, Ca
and was quite impressed with the new bug that was on display there.
The overall quality inside and out was very good. I was suprised to
see that they added a hathchback! Cool! I have a 65 bug and am always
having to put cargo into the area behind the rear seat. The car comes
with the engine in the front and will be available with a
couple of different versions. I talked to a salesman at another dealer
recently that said volkswagen was going to make a model with a 200hp
engine. Can anyone confirm this rumor? I think the best thing about
the car was the interior styling, wait till you see it!
Anyone else seen one of these cool cars up close? Please respond with
your thoughts. I am putting a message in the coupes conference to let
people know that the bug is now a hatchback.
and was quite impressed with the new bug that was on display there.
The overall quality inside and out was very good. I was suprised to
see that they added a hathchback! Cool! I have a 65 bug and am always
having to put cargo into the area behind the rear seat. The car comes
with the engine in the front and will be available with a
couple of different versions. I talked to a salesman at another dealer
recently that said volkswagen was going to make a model with a 200hp
engine. Can anyone confirm this rumor? I think the best thing about
the car was the interior styling, wait till you see it!
Anyone else seen one of these cool cars up close? Please respond with
your thoughts. I am putting a message in the coupes conference to let
people know that the bug is now a hatchback.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
That's an interesting name you got there.
Anyway, it's pretty weird that the bug is a hatchback. It's a lot of things now that it wasn't way back when.
My first impression of the New Beetle is not very optimistic. I must admit that I have yet to see this car face-to-face. The National Auto Show here in D.C. really disappointed me. I'm sure next year's will be a blast considering the appearance of a whole new line up from VW, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Audi's S4, and of course the 996 Carrera! (all of which should have been at this year's show)
Well, back to my first impression. There's no mistake about it. The New Beetle is definitely a new Beetle and should always be called that. You can compare it to The New Kids On The Block. Although they've been around for a while, they'll always be the "new kids"! The New Beetle has very little to do with the original, except for maybe the word "Beetle". Here are the major differences:
1)now front-mounted engine
2)now obviously watercooled
3)hatchback (whoa, easy!)
4)now13 times more expensive ($16,500 base)
5)now uses Golf chassis (factoid: almost every car VW made was based on the Golf chassis!)
...basically all of the major characteristics of the original Beetle have been tossed in creating the New Beetle. It makes one wonder if the spirit of the Beetle is alive in the New Beetle b/c none of it's characteristics are! Of course today's standards of safety and what not have contributed to this new incarnation.
Hopefully VW did not make the New Beetle just for the sake of making a New Beetle b/c then one can perceive that very little inspiration went into this car. The original Beetle was a landmark in automotive history, and as it neared the end of its lifetime, the VW Golf took its place to make history. And when it's time for the Golf to leave the stage, appropriately there will be another star from VW. But why the New Beetle now? And what's with the flower vase, Flower Child?
$16,500 for a 2.0L-powered New Beetle is strecthing it in my opinion. It's cute, I'll give it that, but is it anything more?
Has anyone been the first owner of an original VW Beetle? Did it really come with a bud vase?
-Dan
[non-permissible content removed] drove in high school -- that thing revved louder than a Who concert.)
As for the appeal -- well, for $15,200, you can get a slice of Americana (so to speak) and a car widely perceived as being immensely cool. Yes, there are probably better deals out there on a lot of competing cars -- Civic, Escort, Corolla, Neon, Elantra/Tiburon, etc. -- but they don't
have the same nostalgic appeal as the Beetle. That, in turn, will bring people to VW
dealerships in droves, and a few of those folks who can't get their hands on a Beetle may be steered to a Golf or a Jetta, and customers will get better deals on those cars than on a Beetle, for which there will likely be 2-4 month waiting list in some areas.
Yes, the New Beetle may not be more than a Golf with a new body, but this baby will find its market, without question. I expect to see 'em everywhere down here come April.
Let the fun begin! Anybody else out there on the delivery list yet??
By the way, ordered mine today. Diesel with a stick. I can see the gas version with the automatic, but the Diesel absolutely "has" to have the stick. They shouldn't sell it any other way.
yesterday that, there will only be 50,000
new 'Bugs' available the first production year.
That equals, to me, more demand than supply.
Kind'uv like the Mazda Miata when it first came
out. As excited as everybody seems to be, I
personally will not subject myself to 'additional
dealer mark-ups'. Let it get introduced and
produced for a couple of years. Then prices may
be more reasonable. Crud, if VW follows their
own pattern, they'll be producing the 'beetles'
in Mexico before too long. How'd you like to
pay $ 16,000 U.S. for a car it only costs
$ 7000.00 to produce south of the border. The other manufacturers do it too. On the bright side
might be able to pick up a Golf or Jetta for more reasonable prices.
prices too.
I have a friend who still owns a '74 Beetle (4-speed manual). It's still very reliable (but really slow), but I'm skeptical that VW can recreate the cult of the original Beetle with the "new" Beetle.
In my opinion, VW is producing the New Beetle for one reason only: pride. Currently, Beetle is THE MOST PRODUCED vehicle of all time, having produced over 22 million. Toyota Corolla is 2nd, with over 21 million copies, and since Corolla is still in production, it will overtake the Beetle as the most produced car in a few years. I guess VW has too much pride to let that happen. But I think VW is making a fatal mistake. Remember the Cadillac Cimarron (cira 1980)? It was a Chevy Cavalier with Cadillac badge and $4,000 higher sticker price.
Golf and the Beetle are essentially the same vehicle and probabaly will end up destroying each other's sales on the market.
For VW's defense, Golf GTI has Jetta's VR6 engine, while the Beetle will eventually get Audi/Passat's Turbo-4.
The reason the Camry was such a hot seller is because the people who bought it really wanted a Lexus and couldn't afford it. Style and one's personal idenity is a definite consideration when buying a car.
I went to the Houston Auto Show last night, saw the beetle and love it! It does rekindle the "magic" of the Bug. You can not see it and not think of Peter Paul and Mary, fun times at the beach and a hope for a better tomorrow.
I have followed the creation of the New Beatle and have to agree with mjb56 - its got style and quality. Just color me happy that this fun car has finally arrived!
It is not about style, power, or practicallity; it is about the memories which it rekindles in our minds!
Jon
Our local VW dealer is supposed to get one in this weekend and I for one will be looking for a test drive!
Which dealerships in the Washington D.C. area will have the New Beetle in this weekend? I want to check it out myself...
The dealer Carlady was talking @ is Martens on Wisconsin Ave. We bought our last Golf there. Seems like a nice place, even if they do sell Volvos.
Bruce.
BTW, I saw one parked in my neighborhood the other day. I guess I live in a cooler neighborhood than I thought...
test driven the new VW Beetle. I don't know when
Atlanta will get any for test driving. I'm most
interested in knowing about head room/ leg room
for a 6 footer. Please give me your impressions on
driveability, cabin space, trunk space, over all
fit and finish. Thanks!
At the last auto show in Milwaukee I had the opportunity to sit in the vehicle. I'm 6'2" and with the seat adjusted to maximum height I still had at least 4-5 inches of head room. Leg room was great. With the seat all the way back I could hardly get the clutch to the floor. Back seat leg space is fine, head room is for shorter adults or kids. The only concern I had was with trunk room with the back seat up. Depth is fine but I doubt if a set of golf clubs could fit due to limited width. Groceries could fit, no problem. Fit and finish were excellent. I now can't wait to drive it. I've ordered a diesel and just got a delivery date of the 3rd week in April. Seems like they're releasing them with an eye dropper. All the driving reviews I've read have been excellent. Good luck.
Thanks for the info. There was a great newspaper artical in the local paper about the New Beetle. Go to Auto Reviews
Carlady & bnormann meet the New Beetle!
I'll start by saying that our dealer only got one model and it is on the floor so we're not giving you the driving review yet. Bnormann will have that for you next week. In the meantime, here's what the carlady has to say:
Good Points:
The new Beetle MAXES OUT on the cool scale! They've done a lot to make you think you're in the old beetle. The front grill (especially if you get the fog lights - they come in the sports package with alloy wheels) brings out the nostalgia in all of us. The "strappies" are still there to help you get in and out of the back seat. The bud vase is charming!
From VW's perspective, this baby is a people magnet. In the 45 minutes we spent at the dealers, about 2 dozen people came to view! Several, like ourselves, showed up in other VWs. We saw a very nice yellow Rabbit that looked like it was still going strong!
Bearing in mind this is the carlady's review, I loved the under-the-hood simplicity. Everything is well marked, well organized, and looks trim. I knew just where to add more wiper fluid! Even the hood access is easier than in other VWs, a concession to the weakling market? ;-)
It manages to have a working glove compartment & airbags (front & side) which is a feat VW couldn't manage on my '96 Golf. There are also 2 "power outlets." I imagine this is the new politically correct term for lighters. To help you with the vocabulary transition, the words are printed right on the plugs. I'm not sure why they provide two but I suppose if you are faxing and talking on the cell phone at the same time it could be very handy....
So, what's the hatch like? Great! As a trunk alone, it's a bit tight. The upside to that is that you can pack it with groceries or suitcases and they probably won't fall over. Putting the seats down is easy. The trick is manuvering around the back seat headrests.
Now the bad points, and folks, I surprised myself by finding so many! :-(
In the new beetle, the driver & crew are seated more or less in the center of the vehicle. The plus on this is safety. The minus is that there is a huge dashboard looming in front of one that manages to be distracting and disorienting at the same time. It could be that because of my low vantage point :-) it is a challenge only for the stature-impaired like myself, however bnormann voiced his concerns as well.
The fabric looks & feels like it won't hold up. It was already a bit frayed on this floor model. There is a good deal of plastic on this car which makes it light and recalls the metal interior of the original. However, this plastic scratches easily. Even this floor model, with only 25 miles of what must have been very careful driving, had a visible bumper scratch.
The cupholders in the front are many (3) but awkwardly placed so that they can be used for a can of pop only, no room for sports cups or tall coffee mugs here. One larger cupholder is in the back but would be very difficult for the driver to use it.
The driver's seat height is adjustable which is good. It uses a crank mechanism (like a socket wrench) though and carlady found that a bit much. It's retro but maybe a little too..??
Now, here's a question about the car alarm (which is standard) that initially stumped the dealer. In the end, we had to organize a demo. If there are passengers remaining in the car and the driver uses his key to set the alarm while he runs a quick errand, the passengers are unable to exit the vehicle until he returns or they roll down the windows and climb out. Why is this? Setting the car alarm disables the electrical "open doors" button. In other VWs, the door locks are not flush in the locked position. In the new Beetle, they are flush. So, no "open doors" button and no way to pull up the locks on each door. Is this a big deal? Maybe not for you. It made the carlady a bit nervous...
The good & bad news: the current shipment of Beetles have a standard transmission; the next shipment of Beetles will have an automatic transmission as an option. Nope, I'm not commenting on this one, guys! ;-)
So, what's the bottom line?
The bottom line is that the Beetle is one coooool car and the carlady is just not cool enough to go for it. The dealer and bnormann pronounced her a young fogie and suggested she stick with her Golf!!
However, bnormann is a very cool guy and I don't doubt that when he drives it this week, there is a chance (slight) that he'll come home with a new car!
I understand there is no-maintenance except for oil changes. The mileage doubles on the diesel as well.
Does a diesel engine hold-up better in the long run, is it cheaper to repair or is it more expensive?
What are the upcoming trims for this model? 1.8T and 20-valve VR5?
IMHO, for what you get, MSRP is pretty good on this car.
Gordon1, I can't answer your question about diesel and I'm sure someone will be along very soon who can. Lurkers, can you help with this question? Please. :-)
I have been told by one dealer that the New Beetle will always be available in very limited quantities of fifty thousand per year.
The color I plan to get is the red!!
Buy that oiler, you'll love it.
My first three reasons for buying the new beetle is reliability, reliability and reliability. I was much impressed with the 12 year rust/corrosion guarantee. My 91 Sable needed a new paint job when it was three years old!
I appreciate any feedback on VW diesel engines.
paint on most of the silver's." I meant: "Now I'm told that there's a PROBLEM with the paint on most of the silvers." Sorry 'bout that. Too early in the AM here . . and no java in hand! Pete
Why not ask your dealer and tell us what he says?
I mostly agree with the above post (Peterun).
Here is MY REVIEW and CONCLUSION on the New Beetle (2.0L engine):
PROS:
1) Off the chart, in terms of 'cool-factor' and overall design, although it is undoubtedly associated as a 'chick car' here, so it may discourage potential male buyers.
2) Quality is way up, even from Japanese car standards.
3) Fun to drive (as always with VW!).
Cons:
1) This is a big problem...the rear passenger seats are unbearable (a near 90 degree backrest angle with an uncomfortable headrest placement, cramped rear quarters, definitely not for long hauls).
2) Relatively small trunk cargo space, and no 60/40 rear seat split.
3) 2.0L engine is adequate but uninspirational in this car. An engine upgrade would be very beneficial.
BOTTOM LINE:
I do not have a desire to buy the New Beetle. There is very little technical innovation in this 'modern day' car. It is below-par i.t.o. practicality and performance. I have more joy in looking at other people drive the New Beetle around than in actually owning one myself.
I doubt it will take many sales from the Golf/Jetta - it's cute, but I doubt it's practical enough to be many people's only car.
Is paying cash likely to give me leverage?
it is butt ugly and is too expensive for something that ugly...
My girlfriend and I test drove it last night. The steering is nice and tight, though the steering wheel feels a little bit smaller than I'm used to. (I regularly drive 3 cars: a LeBaron, a Benz, and VW Cabriolet.)
Power: adequate, but not impressive.
Transmission: drove an automatic. Didn't like it, but then I've never liked VW automatics much. A stick shift is sorta the point.
Ride: fairly quiet. Handles vibration much better than you'd expect in what's basically a Golf. Better than the Golf I drove 2 years ago, in fact.
Head/Legroom: Ample in the front seats. And the seats have an ingenious mechanism to ease getting to the back. The back seats are okay on legroom (I'm 5 foot 9, w/ short legs.) But even I was banging my head on the rear window and the headliner. Wouldn't want to ride there regularly.
Brakes were good. The one I drove did not have ABS. I could make it skid pretty easily. Definitely want ABS.
Only complaint might be that the hard plastic on the interior doors and the bumper. Seems like they'd scratch easily and be expensive to replace.
Also, the doors are big and heavy. Presumably that's on purpose: they don't want it to feel flimsy. But it means that if you open the door on a downhill slope it's hard to pull closed. The interior grip, which is very thick, is also a little slippery which makes it worse. Oddly, it bothered me but not my more diminutive girlfriend. (Of course, she's completely smitten with the car--in fact I'm thinking of putting a budvase on my chest in the hopes that she doesn't forget about me!)
FWIW
To date, there is not one single rattle . . nor any reason to return to the dealership. And . . I can't keep my eyes or hands off this car. Very beautiful, drives great. Icey air conditioning (LA). Tomorrow I drive to San Francisco with my dog. We're both happy pups. . . Pete in 90210