Opinions on The Vw Beetle

[JOSHIE-G]

Personally i love them!

Growing up with a vw addicted family Didnt give me a chance
But im glad i did Owning my little Bug is awesome, and with power added the little thing will make people jaws drop hehe 👍

 

[homeforsummer]

Happy owner here too. Here's mine:

Link to the build thread in my sig. It's in rather more pieces than that now, because although it looks lovely from a distance there are a few things wrong with it (electrics, bits of rust, paint quality was shocking, interior a bit ropey) so I'm manning up and restoring it.

For the record, I don't mind the New Beetle released in 98 but wouldn't buy one, and I quite like the new new Beetle released a month or so ago, but can't afford to buy one.

 

[Dennisch]

Beetles are awesome.

My dad owned one when I was just a small person. It was original orange, but my dad rebuild it to be a Speedster in red, with a supercharger. Sadly he sold it, but we still have the supercharger in a box in the basement. One day I will a Beetle and put the supercharger back on. 👍

 

[Zenith]

What's not to love? They're easy to find, cheap to buy, and have a ton of aftermarket support so you can do whatever you want with them.

 

[RocZX]

I like the old ones but the new one is just ugly. The old one can be customzied for off road racing to road racing.

 

[JOSHIE-G]

Not exactly a build thread yet but will be soon http://volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=728190

Nice 03 Homeforsummer

 

[CyborgGT]

The old ones are bad ass, I love what people do to those. The "New" one looked decent in cabrio form but I'd never drive one of that gen myself. This latest generation looks promising, I hope it gets a good enough following among the enthusiasts to attract strong aftermarket support.

 

[Famine]

What's not to love? They're easy to find, cheap to buy, and have a ton of aftermarket support so you can do whatever you want with them.

They're horrific, noisy, uncomfortable, poorly-built, often poorly-maintained, dog slow, sound like someone shooting down a Stuka with a spudgun and commonly treasured by counter-culture hipsters who don't seem to realise that 28 million of them made by Europe's largest ever car manufacturer makes them more mass-produced than any of today's bland any-colour-you-want-so-long-as-it's-silver, three box clone stamps.

I'd rather walk. I'd get there earlier too.

 

[Dennisch]

They're horrific, noisy, uncomfortable, poorly-built, often poorly-maintained, dog slow, sound like someone shooting down a Stuka with a spudgun and commonly treasured by counter-culture hipsters who don't seem to realise that 28 million of them made by Europe's largest ever car manufacturer makes them more mass-produced than any of today's bland any-colour-you-want-so-long-as-it's-silver, three box clone stamps.

I'd rather walk. I'd get there earlier too.

Still ticked off that the Brits could have had the design after WWII, but missed the opportunity to take it?

 

[homeforsummer]

They're horrific, noisy, uncomfortable, poorly-built, often poorly-maintained, dog slow, sound like someone shooting down a Stuka with a spudgun and commonly treasured by counter-culture hipsters who don't seem to realise that 28 million of them made by Europe's largest ever car manufacturer makes them more mass-produced than any of today's bland any-colour-you-want-so-long-as-it's-silver, three box clone stamps..

Corrected a few bits. Both more comfortable and better built than my Fiesta was (certainly fewer rattles despite having 2.5 times the mileage) and rides better than any car I've owned. Poor maintenance and disinterest has killed most old cars however well they were built.

The rest are all fair points, including the hippy stuff. However, it's also possible to like them without being of that persuasion.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Properly restored? 👍. Properly restored and with an EJ20T out back? 👍 👍.

 

[Joey D]

I don't know how anyone can not like the car? It's iconic and probably the most recognizable car in the world too. I can't say as if I would really want to own one, but I do rather like them. Plus I sort of grew up around them, both my mom and dad had several Beetles over the years, my dad especially. I wouldn't doubt if my dad's old Beetles are still roaming around Europe somewhere from when he lived in Germany.

And really I think hating an automotive icon is being way to much of a car hipster, I can't like it because everyone else does.

 

[JOSHIE-G]

They're horrific, noisy, uncomfortable, poorly-built, often poorly-maintained, dog slow, sound like someone shooting down a Stuka with a spudgun and commonly treasured by counter-culture hipsters who don't seem to realise that 28 million of them made by Europe's largest ever car manufacturer makes them more mass-produced than any of today's bland any-colour-you-want-so-long-as-it's-silver, three box clone stamps.

I'd rather walk. I'd get there earlier too.

Well somone is rather negative 👎

Have you driven one?

 

[AMCNUT]

With regards to the original Beetle, it would be a fun toy to mess around in, or to make a project/hobby out of one, but I would be reticent to take one out on a real road with other, bigger cars. It'd lose majorly against them if it all went belly-up.

If I had a large amount of property to have me and my friends race them around it'd be awesome, but I don't think they belong on a modern highway! At the end of the day it's just that: a toy.

As for any other, newer 'Beetle', no. Just no. I could not bring myself to drive or be seen in one!

 

[Jim Prower]

Well somone is rather negative 👎

Have you driven one?

Probably, there isn't much he hasn't driven.

On the other hand, pulling up to a stoplight in one and being able to pull the front wheels off the ground on takeoff without much money put in is something else. Dad's had a 1600 and a dual Solex kit on it. And a very loud exhaust.

 

[Slash]

Well somone is rather negative 👎

Have you driven one?

I totally agree with Famine. Ew.

 

[Crumpet]

As long as it keeps the originality, you can class it as a true Beetle..

 

[Dan_]

The Beetle actually had almost all of the gripes described by Famine, it did however had a nice and single characteristic that made it unique back at it's glory days: It was easy and cheap (which is a big thing in third world countries) to fix and maintain, owners always grew attached to mending and fixing it and that created a more intense emotional connection with the Bug. You can't say that about modern cars.

It does however has a stigma of being owned by hippie-wannabes and weirdos of all sorts though.

 

[Famine]

Still ticked off that the Brits could have had the design after WWII, but missed the opportunity to take it?

We'd have made it even more badly.

Both more comfortable and better built than my Fiesta was (certainly fewer rattles despite having 2.5 times the mileage)

Being shot in the testicles and expiring from blood loss is better than being forced feet first through an industrial mangle...

The rest are all fair points, including the hippy stuff. However, it's also possible to like them without being of that persuasion.

Indeed it is. I'm still watching you, you know...

I don't know how anyone can not like the car?

Because they're vile.

It's iconic

So is a Series 1 Land Rover. I've been in one of those too. I'd have had a more comfortable journey if I'd been shot out of a cannon at my destination. I hate those too.

And really I think hating an automotive icon is being way to much of a car hipster, I can't like it because everyone else does.

Hating something because other people like them is a shallow attempt to be cool. Hating something for valid, stated reasons is not.

I also dislike The Beatles (no relation) because I find their music banal, one-dimensional, droning and occasionally sanctimonious dross. I've been told that I'm clearly trying to be cool by disliking them and it's nothing to do with musical qualities. Oddly, no-one who's ever met me has ever come away with the perception that I'm trying to be cool...

Well somone is rather negative 👎

No I'm not.

(see what I did there? Eh? Eh?)


Incidentally, the New Beetle addresses many of the issues of the original - they're comfier, quieter, smoother, not as harsh, much better built (being a Golf, TT, A3, Leon and a Fabia estate underneath) and far better suited for modern roads. I hate them more.

 

[homeforsummer]

Being shot in the testicles and expiring from blood loss is better than being forced feet first through an industrial mangle...

My perception of comfort is a little skewed, I'll admit. I've not yet owned a car most people would consider either quiet or comfortable. That doesn't change the build thing though.

The Fiesta was by no means a bad car, but I'd be dubious of its ability to get to the Beetle's age (37 years) and mileage (124k, and that's if it's not been clocked at some point) while remaining in sound mechanical and structural condition. The Mazda might have, though we won't know until those start reaching 30-40 years old either.

I reckon virtually any car making it past 20 years is more down to the luck of being owned by people who maintain them than anything else.

Indeed it is. I'm still watching you, you know...

I thought I heard someone shuffling around outside last night...

 

[Steele_obsidion]

I personally like the new beetle (2012) it appeals to me i dont know why but it just stands out, the other new beetle just doesn't cut it well i guess its not a new beetle anymore lol.

HOWEVER. Give me a classic beetle any day! Those are my favorite. a classic bug so very nice! maybe one of these even

The Wicker one lol