Convertible Design

[miffmole]

The huge dash that all of our NBs have has been much-maligned, but my wife and I have noticed a huge advantage to it...

We were convertible shopping last spring, and my wife wanted a larger car than mine, so we tried out an Eos and a Sebring. In both cases, and subsequently in every other four passenger vert we've seen, the same problem exists.

The windshields in both of the above cars practically tilt into your forehead, especially if you're only 5-3 like my wife, and have to adjust your seat forward. This naturally gives a very "closed in" feeling. When she put the top up, she was nearly claustrophobic, with the top of the windshield in her forehead, and the convertible top just clearing the top of her head. Needless to say, neither car made it to our driveway.

By contrast, the NB vert, with its extra-large dash, puts the driver much more toward the center of the car. This creates a very free feeling, with the windshield well out in front of you (see photos below).

I've never seen this expressed before, so I thought I'd try and put it into words...

I hope the 2012 Beetle Convertible retains the feeling of airiness and freedom that the 2003-2010 models have.

Has anyone else made this observation?

[Blugg]

You can get 9 pizza's on the dash

Oh and i'm 6'3"

[miffmole]

I've done that, but it scratched the dash!
I couldn't believe that a carefully placed cardboard box could do that...

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Blugg

You can get 9 pizza's on the dash

Oh and i'm 6'3"

Hell, right now in Texas, with the heat that's back, you can probably cook 'em there too. LMAO

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

Hell, right now in Texas, with the heat that's back, you can probably cook 'em there too. LMAO

I've fried an egg on my roof before. Does that count

[boogety boogety]

Back on topic: Our SL550 makes me feel as though the windshield is about to bop us on the head... it's always a shock when we get behind the wheel of our NBC (our favorite vehicular toy) and feel the same feeling of openness OP mentioned. Getting in the Mercedes, I always think I'm going to stab my forehead on the corner of the windshield...

The new Beetle likely will bring back the feeling of claustrophobia, though. I understand the windshield is not only more upright, but also closer to the driver. When the new ones come out next year, it's one of our considerations for a possible swap from our perfectly-good 2006, with <20K miles, to a new, more-modern Beetle 'vert...

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by boogety boogety

The new Beetle likely will bring back the feeling of claustrophobia, though. I understand the windshield is not only more upright, but also closer to the driver.

I think a more upright windshield may compensate for less dashboard, at least some anyway. The angle of the windshields of most four-seater verts seems to be a big part of the problem.

The in-your-face windshield was a real deal breaker for my wife. She wound up with a Saturn Vue.

We'll just have to wait and see with the 2012 Beetle Convertible...

[Palafox]

The far away windshield is a major reason I got the NBC. Cabriolets also gives the open air feeling. I love it.

There are many convertibles out there, while looking cool with swept back windshields, even with the top down, they feel like closed roof cars .

[TrudysMom]

I agree, the New Beetles have so much room. We love our convertible so much.