Comments on: 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle Anniversary Edition Review

By: Gavin

Gavin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 06:52:25 +0000

I’ve got a 2000 model, 2 litre version of the beetle. It does an average 8.3 litres / 100 kms. Why is the 1600 so apparently un-economical? For the knockers above, I don’t think it was ever really inteded to be a practical family car or a sports car, its just fun. And Andrew, surely no one in their right mind would spend 30 grand on a Fiat 500 no matter how good the economy was. Have you seen one?!

By: EZZA

EZZA — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:16:20 +0000

Andrew – and the Fiat comes with the bullet proof Reliability as well.
check out those servicing cost and the resale value of a fiat as well. well, you probably won’t be able to check the resale valued cos they are new in australia…

By: Glen

Glen — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:15:59 +0000

Nice looking car! Love the black glass-look roof!

By: MARCOS

MARCOS — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:05:33 +0000

I think this car is very nice and with personality. In Mexico it has the 2.5 litre 5 cylinder engine which I believe is comfortable and capable if not particularly quick. The New Beetle is well priced in Mexico and it sells better than the Mini. This version is outstanding in my humble opinion, the whole limited stock has already been sold in Mexico!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:32:41 +0000

Want cool and fun? Buy a new Fiat 500. $30K driveaway, 5 Star NCAP, 7.1L/100km.

By: No Name

No Name — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:26:49 +0000

Got to admire VW pushing this old thing out still, too impractical for most, and that fuel economy is outrageous. It’s obviously under powered, now what it really needs is a 2litre turbo. Woof!
I do however really admire the soft top version. one of the nicest softies on the road today. Well classy.

By: Tomas79

Tomas79 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:25:13 +0000

Reckless1, I ment thats what the original beatle was inteded to be, and judging from the fact that up until fairly recently it was still being manufactured in MEXICO, i say i did the job fairly well!!

Lets not forget, that the original beatle is actully not that original at all, it’s a TATRA T97 Knock off!!

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:09:33 +0000

Maybe a 2.0L TDI with a DSG gearbox would revive the old girl, but adding a couple of extras will not.
However I’m with Foggy on this one I cannot see myself buying an “Old” Beetle but, “I’d still rather drive this than a Camry”.

By: Fenno

Fenno — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:56:37 +0000

I wonder if they smell the same as the old beetles with the vinyl seats. All it needs is lap belts only in the front and I might just buy one for nostalgic reasons.

By: Foggy

Foggy — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:06:32 +0000

Despite all the negatives, I’d still rather drive this than a Camry :)

It makes people smile, you’d get the odd admiring look, and most importantly…. chicks dig it!

By: trackdaze

trackdaze — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:50:52 +0000

Take a 2 generation old VW Golf, remove the boot, two doors and any other practicality for that matter.

Then charge a premium & you’ll have the cafe set oxygen bandits knocking down your door.

By: Joober

Joober — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:45:47 +0000

Jez – “Holy moly, that fuel consumption is ridiculous! ”

Well 10 year design 10 year engine technology… lol

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:02:09 +0000

Good read, though I agree, I think the car has had its day. And in reading other comments, what’s wrong with the pics? I can see them fine, you do know that if you click on them they open bigger right? Maybe you just need a bigger monitor?

By: Golfschwein

Golfschwein — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:59:46 +0000

Ah, but let me tell you guys about the flowers! They’re standard and they rest in a little vase that clips into its own special possie on the dash. I insisted on mine, much to the salesman’s surprise when I noted he was omitting it on the delivery, simply because it’s standard.

There’s a historical context as well. Accessory flower vases were available on Beetles from 1959, and were quite popular.

By: Jez

Jez — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:38:49 +0000

The flower I believe is standard on all of them. Some people are just too embarresed to drive around with it showing.

By: Duck

Duck — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:27:29 +0000

You see some flowers on the dash (haning out of the the air-conditioning vents on the dashboard centre stack) on some VW beetle’s, whats that? Standard on some VW Beetle’s?

By: Duck

Duck — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:03:05 +0000

What’s the crash rating for this little thing? 5 star EuroNCAP?

By: Grant

Grant — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:30:45 +0000

why did they give it the 1.6L? pretty poor

By: Reckless1

Reckless1 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:19:10 +0000

Also originaly it was a practical and economical car for the masses, now it’s more of a overpriced pose vehicle…

Well, the “masses” in Germany did not own one of these vehicles until many, many years after the end of WW2. The masses could barely afford to feed themselves in post-war Germany.

And furthermore, the original design with rear engine was an absolute death trap, and the sound of the engine was always disgusting to me. Probably why I can’t stand the sound of Subarus either.

These days when I see a Beetle it reminds me again of the childhood trauma suffered while being transported in one of them. When my parents got a Hillman Minx, we moved to motor vehicle heaven. (And I say that in full knowledge of what early Hillmans with Lucas electrics were like, which was not very good )

By: Tomas79

Tomas79 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:49:50 +0000

Flying High:”The design has not changed in any significant way since Adolf commissioned it before WWII.”

How about moving the air cooled engine from the rear to front and changing it’s cooling method. Also originaly it was a practical and economical car for the masses, now it’s more of a overpriced pose vehicle…