New Beetle .. My Opinion :)

[VWBubba]

I had always considered the Beetle to be an old upturned pram on wheels, the cabrio with twin exhausts just a wheelbarrow with seats. The older ones were noisy, cold and rotten to the core and you had to lift your knees to your chin to use the brake and clutch. The NB was not looked upon much better and I still thought they were for ban the bomb, tree hugging vegetarians and women in comfortable shoes .. Until I bought one !! Crazy idea you may think when you consider I am a 4x4 man to the marrow, big engine, big wheels, big mud .. that's my thing. Her indoors, the one who must be obeyed nagged and nagged for a NB even though we have 2 perfectly serviceable 4x4s. Little did I know that when I first met Miss Right, her middle name was 'always' and the NB was no exception.

When she first started to look for one I had no interest other than how much was it going to cost me and how much time and effort would be needed for repairs and service. After what seemed like 1,000s of "look at this", "what do you think" I started taking notice to the point that I found the one we wanted, not just the one she wanted. Since then little Bubba has changed my mind and my attitude to the whole bug thing to the point that when the question of 'what would you do if you won the lottery' was recently asked my answer was 'Buy a New Beetle' !!

Here is the thing, is it just me or have VW been a little too drastic with the 2012 Beetle

The interior: Just too damn sexy to say the least, I love the mix of old and new, especially the old style metal glovebox.

The outside .. now here is my problem:

The front looks real nice but then they squared it off on the lower grill

The sides, nice but why the silly little drip sills off UPV windows rather than a retro full length step

The back: Big mistake .. HUGH !! The lights are wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong !!! For me it would look 100% better had they stuck with the round lights so not to make it look like a hybrid BMW.

Your thoughts please

[CGK]

Well, having driven just about every VW model available in the US over the last 40 years, (my dad retired after a 40 year career with VW) and having only ever owned VW's, I have to say that the 2012 Beetle is the best interpretation of the original Beetle yet.
Now, I need to qualify that a bit. I think the body style and design more closely replicate the original design of the Beetle. It is an iconic shape that people from all around the planet instantly recognize and many endear themselves with memories of driving, riding or knowing someone with an old bug from years past.
I love the interior styling and updated technology that the 2012 brings to the marketplace. It's painted details, the retro glovebox and new comfort niceties set it apart in VW's lineup.

I will agree that the rear tailights don't quite fit the profile.
I think it would have been nicer to turn them 09 degrees and make them resemble the "arch window" style of the old bugs. I believe that would have made them flow better with the style of the car.
I also miss the amber turn signals, like the old Euro spec bugs had. They make a unique statement and possibly adding top fender mounted turn signals with an updated design would just set the front profile off just nicely.

So, for all it has to offer, I think the 2012 Beetle is an outstanding representation of VW's heritage and brings a ton of
emotion to an automotive field that has nothing like it from any other manufacturer. The potential for continued growth is certainly there. The convertible will be coming soon, the E-Boxster concept is very exciting. We may never see it but it shows the potential that the Beetle platform has.

For the lovers and haters one thing we can pretty much be assured of, the Beetle is firmly in place as a cornerstone for VW's future growth strategy and as long they continue to improve it's appeal to the masses, it'll be around for a long time to come.

I'm just sayin

[IndyTom]

Personally, I think VW could have done a lot better with this next Generation Beetle. Granted the technology is much improved and I really do like the interior which reminds me a lot of the Original Beetle with a futuristic theme.

The drive train and transmissions have greatly been improved.
Stay away from the Base Staple old and aging 2.5 engine. It may have been great 6 years ago in the VW Rabbit but it is a blah lackluster performance in the 2012 Beetle.
The 2.0 Turbo is a GREAT engine and has HUGE potential and improves the FUN (Fahrvergnügen) Factor but 1000 %. 200 HP and 207 lbs of torque make sure of that. With a simple tune you can increase those number to about 270HP and 320lbs of torque. The most anticipated Beetle engine hasn't been released yet. The 2.0 TDI with an impressive 140HP and 236lbs of torque. It will be the most fuel efficient beetle ever.

Now the exterior is where most people have trouble with. It doesn't remind me anything of the "Original" Beetle at all.
The slope of the roofline is all wrong. The front end is way to edgy and the rear is the worst of all. You would never know it's a beetle if you are behind one. Those light are horrible and the overall look is just not very Beetle like at all. There are a lot of people that don't like the design of the newest generation because of the looks. That and it is overpriced for what it is. It is no longer a Volkswagen (People's Car) that most people can afford. So the Bizzaro Look and the high price will keep a lot of people from buying the 2012 Beetle. Of course there will always be someone that wants the Brand New and will buy it. But as the sales numbers show it is nothing like the introduction of the New Beetle in 1998. Those things just flew of the lot at up to $7000 dollar up charges. Beetlemania will continue and eventually people may warm up to this "New" design and perhaps Volkswagen may change the design sooner rather than later to come up with something a little more Beetle Like and more importantly more of a design that people like.

[Palafox]

My thoughts are opposite of everyone elses

The Bad: Interior. Having sit in many current VWs the 2012 Beetle felt the same, same switch packs, same mirrors, same colors, same fabrics. In a nutshell, I didn't know I was in a Beetle

The Good: Rear Tailights only. Yes it's apples and oranges from the front design but to me if VW is going bold, they should go all the way with 'out of the box' approach.

The Bad: Size, 2012 is too big. I was hoping for Mini Cooper proportions with very nicely detailed exterior trim pieces. IMO old beetles are about the door handles, raised lights, little details... it's not just about the roof line.

Overall I think VW dropped the ball on 2012, too much cost cutting and homogenization with rest of VW line-up. They didn't go far enough or try hard enough.

[VWBubba]

Good points although CGK sounds like he is either CEO of VW or up for salesman of the month at a VW dealers

What is a Beetle ? A Beetle is a Beetle end of story, everyman and his dog knows what a Beetle is and how it looks. Ask the average Joe in the street what a 1971 Chevy looks like or a 2006 BMW 3 series and you will get blank looks, ask your granny what a Beetle looks like and chances are they will tell you.

As much as I didn't care for the old Beetle it was and is a classic, a Volks Wagon or 'peoples car', cheap, affordable, somewhat reliable, easy to work on and dare I say it without sounding girly .. Cute and had character.

The NB took a little time to grow on me but eventually it did and as much as I kicked and screamed about the idea, I wasn't exactly dragged by wild horses to the dealers, in fact I was the one who found it, flew 1,000 to get it and drove it 1,200 miles home .. all in 22 hours. So Bubba the Beetle is home and after a number of minor repairs sits happy in the garage, still cute with her headlights that look like sleepy eyes, nice round shape with a chubby round ass that no matter which angle you look at her she says 'I am a Beetle'! Not as cheap as the original, not so easy to work on, some models not so reliable but still a Beetle. In this day and age of plastic fantastic it is the nature of the beast with all manufacturers that cheap and reliable do not go together.

The major thing about Beetles is that they had/have identity, you could identify a Beetle from all angles, half asleep, half drunk, half dead .. You knew it was a beetle !!

The 2012 not so much, first glance at the rear made me think of a BMW X6, one look at the door sills made me think 'what were they thinking' and looking at the front made me wonder where my power sander was .. those corners have to go. One look inside and I thought .. I gotta have one, NOW !!

The answer to the question of what to do with my lottery winnings is still the same .. Buy a Beetle, then put it in the body shop, change the rear lights, the front corners and cut the sills off as I prefer the Beetle to a slimmed down version more resembling Barbie than Beetle

Palafox .. you have gotta be young and I mean that with no disrespect as I wish I was younger but to say the inside is not Beetle ? First look in I saw the glovebox, it screamed BEETLE !! I love my Mitsubishi's but will not buy a new one, why ? Plastic fantastic, for me the interior of the beetle has hit the nail on the head with the 2012 in that they have gone back not forward with a nice blend of old and new, giving the Beetle a new character, outside is looking to 'chav' for me.

But then this is just my opinion

[MNka]

With all respect to the above opinions - as every new design, 2012 Beetle is getting likes and dislikes. IMHO it is still unique as only as Beetle can be, no matter of the year made. Designs change with years (so are opinions), but this one 2012 is both modern and classic. It is expensive, but it is a FUN car with the luxuries of modern technology and comfort (and I am talking European comfort, which is another level above from others, with all respect) - it shouldn't be cheap.

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by VWBubba

The major thing about Beetles is that they had/have identity, you could identify a Beetle from all angles, half asleep, half drunk, half dead .. You knew it was a beetle !!

The 2012 not so much, first glance at the rear made me think of a BMW X6, one look at the door sills made me think 'what were they thinking' and looking at the front made me wonder where my power sander was .. those corners have to go.

I really don't understand that at all. I don't see how anyone can look at the 2012 and not realize that it's a Beetle. It looks much more like the original, than the '98 - '10 did. It was even designed to look more like the original.

As for not being able to tell? We saw one just before Christmas downtown. My 5 year old nephew yelled punch bug and hit me. And my sister made a comment to him about how it was just like mine, only a different color. None of my family realized it was the all new model until I pointed it out to them, and even then said they really didn't know what was different.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by VWBubba

Good points although CGK sounds like he is either CEO of VW or up for salesman of the month at a VW dealers

What is a Beetle ? A Beetle is a Beetle end of story, everyman and his dog knows what a Beetle is and how it looks. Ask the average Joe in the street what a 1971 Chevy looks like or a 2006 BMW 3 series and you will get blank looks, ask your granny what a Beetle looks like and chances are they will tell you.

As much as I didn't care for the old Beetle it was and is a classic, a Volks Wagon or 'peoples car', cheap, affordable, somewhat reliable, easy to work on and dare I say it without sounding girly .. Cute and had character.

The NB took a little time to grow on me but eventually it did and as much as I kicked and screamed about the idea, I wasn't exactly dragged by wild horses to the dealers, in fact I was the one who found it, flew 1,000 to get it and drove it 1,200 miles home .. all in 22 hours. So Bubba the Beetle is home and after a number of minor repairs sits happy in the garage, still cute with her headlights that look like sleepy eyes, nice round shape with a chubby round ass that no matter which angle you look at her she says 'I am a Beetle'! Not as cheap as the original, not so easy to work on, some models not so reliable but still a Beetle. In this day and age of plastic fantastic it is the nature of the beast with all manufacturers that cheap and reliable do not go together.

The major thing about Beetles is that they had/have identity, you could identify a Beetle from all angles, half asleep, half drunk, half dead .. You knew it was a beetle !!

The 2012 not so much, first glance at the rear made me think of a BMW X6, one look at the door sills made me think 'what were they thinking' and looking at the front made me wonder where my power sander was .. those corners have to go. One look inside and I thought .. I gotta have one, NOW !!

The answer to the question of what to do with my lottery winnings is still the same .. Buy a Beetle, then put it in the body shop, change the rear lights, the front corners and cut the sills off as I prefer the Beetle to a slimmed down version more resembling Barbie than Beetle

Palafox .. you have gotta be young and I mean that with no disrespect as I wish I was younger but to say the inside is not Beetle ? First look in I saw the glovebox, it screamed BEETLE !! I love my Mitsubishi's but will not buy a new one, why ? Plastic fantastic, for me the interior of the beetle has hit the nail on the head with the 2012 in that they have gone back not forward with a nice blend of old and new, giving the Beetle a new character, outside is looking to 'chav' for me.

But then this is just my opinion

WOW, You hit the Nail so perfectly on the head! I agree with everything you said 110%
One look at the interior and it took me back to my first 1966 beetle and at the same time into a future with the cool steering wheel and all the cool amenities.
I hate the chiseled cornered look in front. Looks like Supermans Bizzaro Brother and the rear is the worst of all. Usually I don't like spoilers but with the 2012 Beetle that spoiler actually makes it look less ugly then without one.
I am sure what it lacks in looks it makes up in functionality.
For now I am going to hang onto my Good old "New Beetle" and sit back and see how the Beetle sage continues.

[VWBubba]

@ Pdoel:

Coz it doesn't !! Well not to me anyway, the front yes, the side, yes, the rear NO. They seem to have squashed the rear down like they did with the X5 and made the X6, The logo for the NB sums it up, that is a Beetle shape, it has a hump not a hump with the back sliced off.

But don't listen to me, I have only had one for two weeks and as it states, it's only my opinion. Maybe I am getting old and start remembering the old days and it is true that some things should not be messed with, including the shape of the Beetle, sure enough load it with goodies but please, please leave the shape alone

[IndyTom]

Old vs. New. Yeah, you are right they do look alike

[IndyTom]

I'll take the middle one with the wheels of the third one

[VWBubba]

Nice one

I am not saying I don't like it because I do but fear VW will eventually lose the shape completely. Pity there is not a NB in there to for comparison. If they had put all those goodies into the NB without changing the shape, my piggy bank would be in a million pieces right now.

There is just something about the shape of the NB that does it for me. How can something so squat and podgy be so cute and sexy ??

[VWBubba]

Excellent !!

Give me the top one with the wheels from the middle one and the engine from the last one .. Lets mess with some heads.

No really, looking at the three together I still prefer the NB, especially now I see they have changed the door line too. If we saw the rear of the two together, that would do it

[Smileybug]

I'm with Pdoel on this one. The Beetle looks more like the aircooled than the NB ever did. The aircooled wasn't entirely rounded...much more sloping silhouette like the current Beetle has. I loved the NB, but I never thought it did justice to the aircooled at all. I am extremely happy with the direction VW went with the new Beetle. Seen a few in person and they look pretty sharp. They even have the old school hubcap look for the new cars! They did put a lot of thought into the car and its getting quite the buzz. Production is slow and is the reason that there aren't more out there, but I've seen 2 on the roads so far, one white and one denim blue. I don't know if I'd ever buy one (but that's not because I don't like it. I'd get a Golf TDI or Sportwagon most likely if I was getting this gen of VW just because of practicality) but I do really like them. I felt just as happy seeing this car debut as I did when the NB came out.

[katiex10204]

I absolutely LOVE the 2012 beetles & I do plan to get one.. maybe as soon as this summer (I am keeping my 2002 though of course).. However, I do have to agree that the body style of the NB's (1998-2010) are definitely my favorite & "feel" more like a beetle to me. I will always love ALL beetles.. and the NB will always be my favorite.. I remember seeing them in 98 when I was only 8 years old and falling in LOVE.. I knew one of them would be my first car

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by VWBubba

Nice one

I am not saying I don't like it because I do but fear VW will eventually lose the shape completely. Pity there is not a NB in there to for comparison. If they had put all those goodies into the NB without changing the shape, my piggy bank would be in a million pieces right now.

There is just something about the shape of the NB that does it for me. How can something so squat and podgy be so cute and sexy ??

To be honest, it sounds like your comments are really driven by your favorite, which obviously, is the NB. You comment that you're afraid VW is going to eventually lose the shape of the Beetle, and you don't like that they've strayed so far from the design of the Beetle with the 2012.

However, whether you see it or not, the 2012 is MUCH closer to the design of the original, the the NB. Even so, you prefer the NB to even the original. Which would probably explain why you don't like the 2012.

I really don't see why people think VW would ever stray from the basic design of the Beetle. They'd cancel the car, before they'd do that.

The NB is really nothing like the original, but there's absolutely no confusing it for anything else. Same with the 2012.

[Palafox]

To me it's simple, 2012 does not have a concept behind it like the NB (Concept 1 circa 1994) and the lack of a true direction is hurting the 2012. We're not seeing the hype, it's not in mass media, there's no wow factor. However is it closer to the original than every before? definitely yes, but VW managed to make the car both closer to the original and foreign to the original, it's a confused design

[VWBubba]

Originally Posted by pdoel

To be honest, it sounds like your comments are really driven by your favorite, which obviously, is the NB.

However, whether you see it or not, the 2012 is MUCH closer to the design of the original, the the NB. Even so, you prefer the NB to even the original. Which would probably explain why you don't like the 2012.

I beg to differ here, the NB has the original straight door lines and although the NB has more rounded wheel arches they stand out like the original, unlike the new one that are becoming blended.

Before we go off at a tangent here, my initial remarks were concerning the rear lights, the front corners and the sills, I never said I don't like it. I agree that the overall shape is good, the interior is too nice for words, my opinion was that they went a step too far with a couple of 'bits'.

And YES, the NB is my favourite as it has that 'something' that just does it for me, I love the way it sits, hard top or cabrio looks great which is difficult to do with many cars. The strange thing is how it can change from cuddly to animal with one small addition, no spoilers, no super chargers poking through the hood, no go faster stripes ... Just the word TURBO. Put two side by side and try it, the pretty yellow one says 'ahhh .. I want to take you home' the Graphite silver Turbo says ' Yeah Baby !!' Yet they look identical

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by Palafox

To me it's simple, 2012 does not have a concept behind it like the NB (Concept 1 circa 1994) and the lack of a true direction is hurting the 2012. We're not seeing the hype, it's not in mass media, there's no wow factor. However is it closer to the original than every before? definitely yes, but VW managed to make the car both closer to the original and foreign to the original, it's a confused design

I think the wow factor behind the NB had nothing to do with the Concept that was behind it. Most people never even saw that or knew anything about it. The real wow factor was due to the fact that they hadn't made a Beetle in 19 years, and people were excited to see one on the road again.

That's not the case this time. As far as an ad campaign, I think they've actually done a much better job this time around with the ads.

And yes, while you can say that the 2012's design is closer while also foreign to the original, the foreign aspect also holds true to the 1998. Really, from a platform, technical, etc. stance, what about the 1998 was similar to the original? Nothing.

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by VWBubba

I beg to differ here, the NB has the original straight door lines and although the NB has more rounded wheel arches they stand out like the original, unlike the new one that are becoming blended.

You can beg to differ all you want. But the simple fact is, the 2012 IS closer to the design of the original than the NB ever was. It was designed that way on purpose. If you can't see that, not much anyone can do about that. But just cause you don't see it, doesn't mean you are correct in your opinion in that matter.