Opinion:
The New Beetle WAS NOT A BEETLE- it was a nostalgia cash grab. They took a great car- the Golf, added oversized body panels to it, and made it a worse car that resembled something people remembered from decades ago. The original Beetle worked because:
- it was very inexpensive, so anyone could afford one.
- cost cutting resulting in interesting engineering, giving it charm
- it was very fuel efficient
- it was surprisingly practical with enough room for 4 people and storage space
- it was incredibly easy to maintain
- RWD and weight over the drive wheel gave it impressive traction in snow/mud/sand
The new Beetle gave us:
- An average price of $25000+, with options topping out over $40K!
- Literally every component in the car came from a Golf...except the "bud vase".
- Gas mileage was awful due to the high curb weight/low output engine.
- The back seats were unusable, and the trunk is a joke.
- The oddy shaped engine compartment made the 2.0L components difficult to reach.
- The FWD and nose-heavy combination gave it terrible traction. The car tends to oversteer like crazy due to lack of rear weight distribution.
IMO, if you want a Beetle, get a Toyota Scion. Their xA and xB lines literally checked all of the boxes of the Beetle:
- Costs were under $15000 new
- They used inexpensive interior materials, resulting in interesting designs, with dealer installed options available (options are "modular", snapping into place).
- 35MPG
- 4 people could sit comfortably in the xA, more in the xB.
- Bullet-proof Toyota VVT 1.6L that is easy to maintain and a well designed engine bay.
- FWD, but much better weight distribution makes them fun to drive and surprisingly good in nearly any environment.
So, ladies and gentlemen, I present the REAL car of the people...get two, they're cheap!
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