No offense to anyone who is "older," but look at the average age of New Beetle owners...particularly the newer models and convertibles. 90% of them around here that I see are women aged 55-65. These "dull" and "pretty" colors are aimed directly at them. Loud and bright colors, not so much.
When the New Beetle first came out it was more geared towards younger people, hence the bright colors. Now, as the popularity in that age group has faded...VW has been marketing more to older women. Empty-nesters in the midst of their "midlife crisis" who want to feel young and hip again but no longer have to haul kids around everywhere. There is nothing wrong with that, its just facts. VW recognized this and catered to their target buyer.
This is also evidenced by the way they are equipped now compared to when they first came out. No more TDI. No more 1.8T. No more "sport" geared models. It never got the 2.0T, only the 04-06 TDI's got the DSG. Yeah you can get a manual transmission now, but I bet less than 5% of sales are equipped with a manual. For a few years now, if you wanted to buy a 'new' New Beetle, you were stuck with the 2.5 and the 6 speed slushtronic. Most cars on dealer lots are also fully decked out with leather and everything. Again, geared towards the older (and generally female) buyer.
I hope that the next-gen Beetle will get back to its roots, but I fear that VW will continue to gear it towards the baby boomer set as they have been doing recently.
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2000 New Beetle GLS TDI
5 speed swap w/SBC Stg 3 clutch and Dieselgeek short shifter, RC3, PP520's, Eurojet SMIC, 3 bar map, Dieselgeek skidplate, 2" lift w/VR6 springs, 2.5" turbo-back straight pipe "weedburner" side exhaust, air horn, ABD Cup front bumper, HID retrofit, LED tails, Bernt Pod w/McNally gauges. WISH LIST: VNT 17/22 hybrid turbo, RC5 and other silly stuff.
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