New shape VW Beetle

Cmar-Ireland

Looking for a few opinions here...

The g/f is looking to get a beetle. Probably a '02 Tdi.
What's the general consensus on them? I know they are basically a golf underneath.
Are they worth buying, any inherent problems?


Thanks

PaddyFagan

Hi,

I think the general opinion of these is pretty low, but if the g/f likes it then....

I guess my suggestion would be to test drive one and then an equilivant Golf and see how she feels.

A relative of mine had one for a while and grew to hate it - the boot is tiny and it's based on the mark IV golf, so it's dynamics are also pretty poor. She got it against the advice of her husband (who's a VW dealer!), but thought it was cute - after two years the day-to-day experience made her sick of it and she got a Golf.

Hope this helps,

Paddy

Cmar-Ireland

Thanks for the info Paddy.
I don't particularly like them myself, but the g/f really likes the look of them.

She doesn't like the look of the Golf, so thats not an option.
I have read that they are cramped on the back, but didn't realise the boot is tiny.

How are they for reliability?

PaddyFagan

Again - from my relative, it was as relabile as a Golf - that's not 100% people seem to assume - but I'd class them as a relabile car....

Re Boot space - I believe it's the shaping of the back of the car that kills it.

If she likes the look, what about a MINI or Fiat 500?

Paddy

Cmar-Ireland

The Mini is way too small. Practally no rear seat or boot space. She had a look at one and didn't like it at all. The Fiat wouldn't interest her either.

From looking at the beetle, the rear seats seem ok for space, it's the headroom that suffers. Although the boot is fairly big once the seats are folded down.

PaddyFagan

Cmar-Ireland wrote: »

The Mini is way too small. Practally no rear seat or boot space. She had a look at one and didn't like it at all. The Fiat wouldn't interest her either.

You'd be surprised - my wife has a MINI, to me it's a more practal car than the VW - it isn't that much smaller and with the hatchback the boot space is a lot more usable.

But each to their own,

Paddy

bazz26

To be honest if your looking for practical boot space then these type of cars are generally non runners.

PaddyFagan

PaddyFagan wrote: »

You'd be surprised - my wife has a MINI, to me it's a more practal car than the VW - it isn't that much smaller and with the hatchback the boot space is a lot more usable.

OK - you sparked my interest - just from a quick surf:

Measurement MINI BEETLE
Wheelbase(mm) 2456 2508
Length(mm) 3635 4081
Width(mm) 1689 1732
Boot(l) 160 209
Boot - seats down(l) 680 761

I'm 100% convinced the difference isn't that large - why not suggest it and get her to test drive one?

Paddy

biko

Get her to hire one out for the day.
I got one as a rental and hated it, even though I really like the old beetles.

Oh, and the little flower holder on the dash aaarrggh

Cmar-Ireland

She did have a look at the Mini and came away unimpressed.
I don't want to get too hung up on boot space though, she won't be carrying much more that shopping etc around.

It's the reliability and resale that would be more of a concern to me.

I priced up some, both north and south of the border.
Typical example was a '02 tdi with 50k on it. Around €15k down here and €11k from the north all in.

Bendihorse

I have a mini and a friend of mine has a beetle. Everyone says when they get in my car that its deceptively large, equally as big and comfortable as her beetle.

I had a big burly male friend of mine in the back the other day and ok we arn't talking comfort levels of a 7 series BMW but he said he had plenty enough room to fit when the seat was brought forward a couple of inches.
The mini has oceans of space in the front too, so that didn't compromise the front seat passenger. He said he wouldn't object to travelling a distance in it!

I dont like the beetle myself, like you said Mark 5 golf in different clothing. The mini LOOKS small, but its designed to look that way so as to keep the feeling and look of the old minis, its designed to be decepitve. The newer models are even bigger than my version so id imagine it would be more than adequate for her if your budget can stretch to a 07. Lets face it, neither car would be bought with practicality at the foremost in your mind!!

Probably would be an idea to get hold of one of each for the day, some secondhand car dealers will let you take a car out for a day or two to test it on appro.

If shes concerned about size, the fiat 500 would not be a runner id imagine.

Biro

Bendihorse wrote: »

I dont like the beetle myself, like you said Mark 5 golf in different clothing.

It mightn't be so bad if it was a Mk5 Golf in different clothing, but it's a Mk 4 Golf in different clothing!
The Mini should hold its value better than the Beetle, as well as being far better to drive. Still, if it's a Beetle she wants then it's a Beetle she must have!

Run_to_da_hills

I think these cars are dated and ugly and more suited as a promotional vehicle for Red Bull. They look more like a 1990's Mazda 121 than the original VW Beetle. Would you not treat your misses to a new shaped Mini instead?

peasant

just get her the real thing

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Beetle/VW1300/1032325/

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Beetle/Herbie/962340/

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Beetle/(OLD-SHAPE)/586516/

Run_to_da_hills

peasant wrote: »

just get her the real thing


http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Beetle/Herbie/962340/

Thats not like Herbie. Herbie was a 6 volt with sloping headlamps a rag top :mad:

peasant

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Thats not like Herbie. Herbie was a 6 volt with sloping headlamps a rag top :mad:

I know that and you know that ...will the OP's wife know it too? Or even care, for that matter ? :D:D

Green Hornet

My wife wanted one (Beetle) about a year ago. I test drove it and thought it was a horrendous thing. Very expensive too. Her second choice was a Mini but eventually managed to get her to go for a Honda Civic instead of either.

She loves her Civic. Lucky escape though.

Cmar-Ireland

Thanks for all the replies folks, I think the general consensus is that they are overpriced and undersized .
Now I just need to convince SWMBO that she doesn't really want one.