Wednesday 22nd January 2003

Beetle Cabrio Prices Announced

Starting at £15K, the new drop top will be here in time for summer

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[v8thunder]

Sorry guys, but this has to be the most pointless of the retro-mobiles that have graced our roads. The Beetle was replaced by the Golf back in 1974 as the cheap quality family car we know and love, yet they offer us a cramped, impractical and overpriced version of something that wasn't really styled properly in the first place just to appeal to those people who think the Beetle was about peace and love and lurid colour schemes, not cheap, affordable transport for the masses. Alongside the new MINI (Maxi). This explosion of not-really-style over missing-the-point substance is really pissing me off. Then they do a hairdresser's chop-top. Sorry if I've offended anyone's tastes, but I think this is the general Petrolhead opinion of such things. What do you guys think?

[corozin]

What I can't understand is how it is people think the new Beetle captures the "romance" of the old one.

You can get a good condition, ORIGINAL aircooled Beetle cabrio from only a couple of grand upwards and have the real thing IMHO (including heaters that don't work, oil leaks, breakdowns...)

[bennno]

I think the new beetle is ok, its essentially a golf with slightly better handling at about 2K less cost model for model.

I think the looks are ok and liked driving my wifes one, its not a performance car but as a cruiser it was good fun

its just a golf with less boring looks

bennno

[dejoux]

Ive always hated the new beetle, and the cabrio is no different.

It has nothing to do with the old beetle, at least the new MINI replaced the old one and followed a similar concept other than the space efficiency theme. Dont really like the MINI either but its abit better

Its just a less practical golf, Im not sure on the handling/performance compared to a golf but I cant imagine its much better. Its got hardly any space compared to a golf and ive never seen another car with a dashboard that deep, and as for having a place to put a flower :barf

It only appeals to people like my sister because they think it looks cute...whoever heard of such a rediculous thing.

Certainly not part of the Pistonheads philosophy

[stedale]

corozin said: (including heaters that don't work, oil leaks, breakdowns...)

You can have all those 'qualities' in a new VW!

[bennno]

dejoux said: Ive always hated the new beetle, and the cabrio is no different.

It has nothing to do with the old beetle, at least the new MINI replaced the old one and followed a similar concept other than the space efficiency theme. Dont really like the MINI either but its abit better

The new mini is exactly the same as a beetle, it is just a mid sized car with styling applied.

Its not groundbreaking like the original, the space efficiency has been cast aside, and it needs twice the size of engine to move it. An A class Merc or Audi A2 are innovative in the same way that the mini was 30 years ago

still it looks good, costs about as much to buy as a TVR costs to service and keeps its value.

Bennno