As a devoted car nut, you may not be surprised to know I visit the local car dealerships on a regular basis, not only to check out the latest rolling stock, but to see if there are any interesting brochures to add to my ever-expanding collection. About two weeks ago I ran across a car I knew was coming, but didn’t realize was already available in the States.
Yes, the Beetle convertible has joined its Audi TT-like coupe stablemate. And it looked pretty good to me, especially dressed in bright red with the classic-style VW wheels. On this day, we were having rather unseasonable weather, with no snow and temperatures that approached the mid-50s at times.
But as I write this our region has recently dug out from a most unpleasant blizzard. As you can see in this shot of my drive home last Thursday, it is not exactly convertible weather anymore. So for my Midwestern compatriots, how about a bright red convertible to take our minds off the fact that spring is nearly three months away?
Like the coupe, the Beetle cabrio has a cool color-keyed dash to match the door caps, carried over from its predecessor, the New Beetle. I actually sat in a coupe last spring when my cousin’s husband was looking at new cars (he got a Jetta TDI instead), and I was surprised at the decent room inside, though I couldn’t vouch for the back seat room.
These wheels are what I really fell for. How neat! I recall reading that they were originally only going to be available on European models, but was pleased to see them on a red coupe at the dealer in Iowa City in late 2011. They really make the car. I am not really a convertible person, but this was a pretty cute little drop-top. I am a bit biased as my aunt and uncle have a red ’07 NB convertible, in the same color combination as this new one.
I never really thought too much about New Beetles when they came out, other than the fact that they were a cool-looking retro car, much like the PT Cruiser that appeared a couple years later. Frankly, I thought them the ultimate “secretary’s car.” Then I drove Dave and Lori’s. They are fun little cars, very responsive and great handlers. It surprised me.
I have yet to drive the redesigned model, but must admit the new, less cartoony styling is an improvement. And I have to applaud a company that keeps the automotive landscape a bit more interesting, what with all the gray and silver Anonymousmobiles plying our roads!
I think one of the new New Beetles might be fun. I wasn’t crazy about the rounder 1st gen body but this 2nd gen body isn’t so girly. Glad to see the convertible, but I think I’d rather have the hard topped version.
The convertible comes off better than the chopped-looking coupe, but the latter really jumps the shark for me. What exactly is it? Could it be naught but VW’s odd, germanic take on the Monte Carlo?
I suppose it’s inevitable that nameplates morph into something different as they age. For example, today’s Accord is much bigger and more luxurious than the original. But to me the evolution of the Beetle has been heartbreaking because it makes a mockery of virtually everything that the original stood for.
I’d describe the original Beetle as one of the most important — and downright revolutionary — post-war cars to hit the American market. It is important precisely because it violated virtually every rule Detroit held so dear, e.g., planned obsolescence, bigger and glitzier is better, etc.
So what have we come to? The ultimate in form-follows-function design has morphed into little more than a fast-obsolescing styling exercise. All under the guise of nostalgia. How clever.
And, since we’re talking, could you keep your kid off my lawn?
Dr Lemming,
Good to see that you are back on your medications.
Alas, not I. However, I’d be happy to go get a prescription of Serious Blogger if it would please you.
I’d never own one of these cars but I can’t deny the fact there’s a part of me that liked the new Beetle ever since it came out. I really like the new wheels too — while they aren’t as cool as the originals, they are a faithful reproduction.
The splash of body color in the interior is also nice. Not “1967 Eldorado nice” but nice. They really need to add the pea-shooter exhaust though — THAT would be super-cool…especially if it made the “thweep”.
The one thing that doesn’t agree with me is the rear license-plate-in-the-bumper. It no doubt makes the car look better but the placement makes the car look too Porsche-like to me.
Agreed. I’d never own a VW product, either – too many repair horror stories. But if it were someone else’s money paying the bills, I’d love to have 2G New Beetle convertible. They are cool cars (as are most VWs). They’re sort of the German equivalent of the Jeep Wrangler, another ‘lifestyle’ vehicle where the marketing is superb (but with lackluster quality) that I’d never own.
Ha, ‘thweep’, I like that! My 1500-equipped ’62 did that until I put some trumpet tips out the back instead if the peashooter tips. That sound always makes me think of ‘fat chick’ SuperBeetles.
I like the refresh of the new-old-new Beetle. VW did a nice job of de-feminizing it.
The throwback wheels really do it for me though. It’s hard to capture the retro look on wheels these days. VW and Chevy are the only ones to get it right so far.
Nice to see you had a fun commute too. It took me 2 hours to go from Silvis to DP/Blue Grass. 280 was a nightmare!
Only eunuchs would drive these things.
I’m still waiting for my hairy hangers. The ex said they’re in the mail.. 😀
2000 NB TDI here, bought her new in May, 2000. Remember that time, if you will. Retro was just a word. The 2000 Mustang had vague retro touches in the C scooped side profile and tri-bar rear tail lamps. But that was pretty much it for true retro. The NB ushered in the era of the Retro Car. Aside from the Ford GT that came later, nobody did Retro better in my opinion. Freeman Thomas and J Mays hit a homerun with the NB show car and it’s amazing how close the production NB follows that Type 1 showcar, down to the 5 spoke allow rims and single binacle instrument pod. The Car and Driver road test by the great Brock Yates in 1998 sold me on the car; he had nothing but good words for it. So the styling hooked me but what really sold me was the turbocharged, intercooled and direct injected 1.9 TDI engine. I knew these engines gave good reliability and great mileage, but 52 mpg out of a 3000 lb plus automobile? That was my consistent mpg in my car. These days, a 16 foot sea kayak sits on top of the NB at the ready, for that, mpg has been knocked down to 50-45, depending on headwinds!
The car is well crafted. But as Ed Stembridge pointed out in the Mexican Beetle article, some of the NB’s had VW quality issues. My issues were minor: an EGR valve was replaced. The infamous Relay 109 was replaced after 10 years of ownership. My radio has lost bass and treble functions after my battery died and a replacement installed. Somewhere, I believe a voltage spike killed the functions. Other then that, it has been one of the best cars I’ve ever owned.
I never did get the Secretary and Girly car image of the NB. I take it for what it is: the first modern retro car designed with a nod towards the past. I kind of like the idea that 2 modern day design icons had a direct hand in this car, Thomas and Mays. And of course, the man behind the scenes who made it reality, Herr Piech. The NB was responsible for bringing a lot of folks back to VW just on it’s looks alone.
This Beetle leaves me a little cold. The coupe’s rear end is awkward, almost PT Cruiser or Chrysler Crossfire-like. To me it clashes with the chopped front glass and the gun slit turret like side glass. I’ll take the Thomas 3 circle design of the NB. I do prefer this new dash design to mine in the respect that the body colored moldings are incorporated in the dash. Nice looking convertible that promises fun in the sun on otherwise a cold winter’s day!
Funny, my stereo only plays out of one, sometimes two speakers anymore. I suspect I probably need to replace Relay 109, too, due to some quirky issues that are starting to become more frequent.
Heh, now that I’m a car salesmen myself, I can relate to having a vehicles within spitting distance of my desk.
We’ve got 6 cars in our showroom at any given time. There are two Lincolns in particular that get fingerprints all over them due to my coworkers and I hanging around and waiting for appointments, walk-ins, etc.
And since I’m the newbie, I get the desk all the way in the back by the three amigos: a Shelby GT 350, Boss 302, and GT 500. It was cool for about a day, then I realized that these things get so much foot traffic from people getting their cars serviced. I must get at least ten “Hey, how much does this thing cost?” questions per day. I mean, really? The sticker is right in front of their faces and they still have ask. Pretty weird if you ask me.
Personally I think the new “new Beetle” misses the mark styling wise. It also misses the mark with the segment of the population that traditionally goes crazy over the Beetle, young girls. We were discussing cars with some kids in the crowd and we asked them what car do they want. A girl that is 12 said a Beetle, but not the newest one it’s ugly. My 15 year old daughter has the same sentiment the new Beetle is cute but the new new Beetle isn’t.
Late to the party here, and all I’ll add is that I didn’t like the Beetle all that much until I saw one in person. And even after it growing on me, from certain angles, the proportions are still, well, ackward.
That said, I sat in a just-delivered convertible Beetle a couple nights ago, and test drove a TDI coupe a month or so ago, and after so doing have decided I like it enough to price one out with serious intentions of a purchase.
Styling-wise, I will forever like the New Beetle better, even if the Beetle more closely matches the proportions of the Old Beetle. (Hey, Volkswagen, you should work on your nomenclature a bit, too, mkay?)
I’ll still have my ’62 sunroof or ’63 sedan to play around with anyway, and the TDI Beetle convertible will be a nice ‘midlife crisis’ car (hey, I just turned fifty, after all!) – but it ain’t foolin’ anyone (at least not me) about being “retro.” As I often tell folks who ask if my New Beetle has the engine in the back, I point out the only thing it has in common with the original Type I is the logo…
Sat in one at the local VW dealer the other day. Not a bad commuter car I’d guess, certainly has more style and personality than most appliances on the road today. But it wouldn’t work for a guy like me with a growing family, and even if I were at a different stage in life, the “legendary” VW service woes would keep me away. For now, I’ll stick with cruising down the streets of my town in my ’67 Type I…and consider one of these for my retirement/empty-nest car.
I was feeling a bit cynical about VW’s intentions with the new, new Beetle…and then I saw those wheels (and the other retro-style wheels on option) and wow, love, love, love! I can’t decide if the wheels are an even more cynical ploy, or simply good design that pays tribute to history. Either way, they look good. Now, if only VW could do something remotely interesting with the dashboard design.