I almost hate to ask, but learn me on the new Beetles?

Javelin wrote: You forgot that it's also made by VW in the last 20 years, and therefore guaranteed to fail spectacularly.

I am a watercooled VW guy, and I support this message. VWoA tried to go "upmarket" in the mid 1990s, but tried to do it "on the cheap". The mechanical stuff seems to be OK, but the electrics are POS. There's a reason all three of mine are 1992s..and the electric crap on the Corrados is my main Achilles' heel when working on the damn things.

EvanB wrote:

mndsm wrote: Smelled like crayons though. Do all new VW's smell of crayons?

Yes

Seriously wtf is that about. Every new VW I have been in smelled just like that.

Also the new Beetle is the most uncomfortable car I have ever been in. The dash is so long and awkward I don't fit.

93EXCivic wrote:

EvanB wrote:

mndsm wrote: Smelled like crayons though. Do all new VW's smell of crayons?

Yes

Seriously wtf is that about. Every new VW I have been in smelled just like that.

That's funny. I had an ex-girlfriend who drove a beetle that smelled like crayons. I just assumed she had just stuck a crayon in the heater vent. It was quite a nice smell actually.

the new beetles would not be the same without John and George

Curmudgeon wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Run.

Correction: RUN LIKE THE GATES OF HELL HAVE OPENED BEHIND YOU.

Correction: and satan is in the lead with a quart of KY jelly and a fist-shaped dildo

If it weren't for VWs, our shop would likely close.

curtis73 wrote:

Curmudgeon wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Run.

Correction: RUN LIKE THE GATES OF HELL HAVE OPENED BEHIND YOU.

Correction: and satan is in the lead with a quart of KY jelly and a fist-shaped dildo If it weren't for VWs, our shop would likely close.

Correction- Satan wouldn't use KY. Think hot sauce.

I became stuck with a Chevy HHR rent a car that I picked up in Detroit because they were out of everything else. What a piece of E36 M3, I wont bother you with the list. I called Enterprise and said I wanted something else. I got a 2011 Beetle with the 5 banger in the next town. Loved It!! In a limited rent a car sort of way. Decent handling, brakes, and ride compromise. The 5 banger was quite torquey and the slush box was only a little fussy. The driving position and seats were good and the veiw out of the car was excellent. I felt girly for sure, especially driving through ravaged Michigan where 90% of the vehicles are local(ish). It is not very good packaging, 3200 lbs gets you two seats and a little flat spot under the hacked off hatch or two more useless seats. It made me consider a GTI, which has more of the good stuff and none of the bad stuff in a much better package.

I seem to recall a pic in GRM of a diesel Beetle with a parts-bin AWD swap and stump-pulling torque numbers, like 400+ pound-feet. I would drive that for sure.

Detailed a lot of Beetles when I was in the business, the turbos are kinda fun, but I can't stand modern VW ergonomics. MK IV Jettas specifically.

I really like the New Beetle. I know it is not a "cool" car but I fit well in it, I would like to find a 2.0L manual and swap in a later 3.2L VR6 OR a Northstar V8 with a Getrag.

mndsm wrote: I drove the MIL's bug before she was the MIL. I didn't hate the car. Seemed to have mannerisms along the lines (obviously not the same) as the Cooper S we later purchased. Smelled like crayons though. Do all new VW's smell of crayons?

Odd that you say that. I have two friends with Volvo XC70s, and both smell quite strongly like crayons.