Once more, the response is a loud “YES! Due to its tiny size and general good fuel efficiency, VW Bugs are not only a safe car to drive but also ideal for commuters and young drivers. When asked “Is the VW Beetle a good first car?,” older model VW Beetles are typically inexpensive to acquire and repair, which is also a fantastic selling factor.
The Volkswagen Beetle is not only safe but also surprisingly roomy for such a little, compact automobile. The back seats on newer models are actually comfortable enough to be useful. They even have space in the trunkor, as we previously mentioned, the “funk”to hold your children, your athletic equipment, and groceries.
Do you still need persuasion as to why people loved VW Beetles? Additionally, parking them is SO EASY!
You should be aware that there are numerous years and versions of the Volkswagen Beetle to choose from if you’re in the used car market now that no new VW Beetle models will be made, at least not right away.
A VW Beetle can be an excellent option for you if you like the concept of an antique or collectors car but don’t want to pay the exorbitant price. Keep in mind that the first three years saw an average depreciation loss of 41% for brand-new VW Beetles. bad news for people who buy new cars. AWESOME for used automobile buyers! Simply expressed, it’s considered that Volkswagen is the most reasonably priced European brand available in the United States. And the Volkswagen Beetle is no different.
In This Article...
Volkswagen Beetles: suitable for teenagers?
New Volkswagen Beetle It’s simple to understand why the New Beetle shouldn’t be your young driver’s first option when you consider its poor to mediocre performance in side impact crash testing performed by the IIHS and NHTSA.
Volkswagen Beetles: Are they safe?
While the Beetle doesn’t sell in sufficient quantities to have shown in our Driver Power customer satisfaction surveys, comparing how the previous-generation Golf performed in our 2015 poll provides a reasonable sense of what to expect. Because of its tried-and-true mechanicals, the Mk6 Golf placed 129th overall and 83rd out of 200 vehicles for build quality. However, its dependability rating of 189th is less encouraging. However, the Mk6 Golf had already been changed three years prior, so the outcome is not as bad as it might initially seem.
Volkswagen as a whole has recently seen a bit of a rough patch, with a poor 24th place finish out of 32 automakers in our 2016 Driver Power poll. Although build quality was highly appreciated, the brand’s reliability aroused some questions.
Safety
The level of crash protection provided by the Beetle is something that can be claimed to be undeniably excellent as it received the full five stars when Euro NCAP evaluated it back in 2011. Both a 90% kid occupant score and a 92% adult occupant score are excellent outcomes. Even if safety assistance has undergone stricter scrutiny since the Beetle’s 2011 examination, an 86% result is still impressive.
While the Beetle lacks some of the most advanced safety features, like as automated emergency braking, it does come standard with ISOFIX child seat anchors, electronic stability control, and a tyre pressure warning system. Additionally, a post-collision braking system is included, which activates the brakes after an accident and lessens the amount that the Beetle can be thrown down the road by any incident. You also receive a number of airbags.
How easy are VW Beetles to drive?
When you consider it from a different angle, driving a vintage Beetle is simple. A hazy and awkward manual transmission that almost all beetles had was far more forgiving than contemporary stick-shifts. If you’ve always driven a car, this will be difficult, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
The awful VW AutoStick transmission, which is essentially a manual transmission without a clutch, is the exception. Although this concept appears to be a decent one on paper, it was rife with issues and should definitely be avoided.
VW Beetles are safe because…
Security cage
The front and rear crumple zones of the Volkswagen Beetle’s high-strength steel safety cage are designed to divert impact energy away from the vehicle’s occupants.
Is a Volkswagen Bug a reliable first car?
This and the decision are inextricably related. It’s possible that your budget will be your limiting factor if you plan to purchase a Beetle as your first automobile. Regardless of your yearning for an early split rear window, budgetary constraints and day-to-day use are more likely to favor a less appealing but more drivable 1970s beetle. Here, less appealing directly translates to more inexpensive, though it’s unlikely to vary much for a reasonable one between $4,600 and $6,600.
When selecting a choice, it will be beneficial to comprehend the historical context and model differences.
Spending this much money for a first car may seem extravagant (and absolutely unattainable for many), but if it is an option, keep in mind that unlike other cars, these hold their value and increase in value properly maintained.
The relatively cheap insurance rates for the VW Beetle are another perk. The best deal is to insure through a specialized insurance provider, such Just Kampers Insurance. As an added bonus, insurance customers can enjoy a discount on parts.
Example Just Kampers Insurance Quote
A 17-year-old guy residing in CB11 who recently passed his test and is a full-time student was used as the basis for the quotes. His parent is listed as a named driver on the insurance. The primary driver is identified as a member of the appropriate VW Club, and their insured car is a 1970 VW 1300 Beetle with a value of $5,000.
Both of these quotations lack a black box. However, with one declared, quotations might be further reduced.
Road Tax
As a historic vehicle, you will also enjoy the benefits of free road tax and, although the lack of a MOT requirement (which depends on age) may be enticing in terms of additional cost savings, we would advise you to keep having them done in order to maintain safety standards.
Solution:
Beetle damage brought on by glass deterioration is by far the most frequent problem. The only remedy is a replacement, and it’s far more likely to be seen on those models that were produced in 2004, 2005, and 2009. You may get your Beetle windows and windscreen right away and replace them on your own because we always have them in stock.
Why did VW cease producing Beetles?
As far as we know, VW has never given a formal response. However, based on our study, we have been able to put together a few major explanations for the decision to halt manufacture of what is undoubtedly the most iconic car in history:
- VW stopped producing the Beetle mostly due to sales performance and consumer demand. Volkswagen attributed the termination of production of the original Beetle in 2003 to diminishing demand. When the final model left the Mexican assembly line, it was still essentially an old automobile, despite modifications and revisions over the years. The New Beetle, introduced in the late 1990s, was an attempt to “cash in on the nostalgia of the original car” because the markets where the original Beetle had found success (after its decline in Western nations) had also “modernized sufficiently to the point where the outdated Beetle just wasn’t cutting it any more. The New Beetle and its successor, the New New Beetle, never sold in particularly large quantities, despite some early success (due to the market preferring the blend of retro appeal and new amenities). By 2018, Volkswagen’s total sales were made up of around 4% of the A5 Beetle. It was a specialized product that was just not making enough money to support its continued manufacturing. Consumer preferences had evolved away from affordable hatchbacks and toward SUV/crossover vehicles. As a result of the model’s low sales results, it was discontinued.
- Another commonly held belief is that Volkswagen ceased producing the Beetle so they could concentrate more on impending electric vehicles. This is a legitimate argument, but not nearly as compelling as the one based on sales performance, since there is no question that VW, along with the majority of other manufacturers, has moved its focus to electrification.
- Platform-sharingThe A4 and A5 platforms from VW served as the foundation for the New Beetle generations. Online rumors indicate that one of the reasons VW canceled the Beetle was due to the technical difficulties associated with switching to the Volkswagen Group MQB Platform. This assertion, coupled with the Beetle’s low sales record, was cited as another justification for the decision.