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...
Are Volkswagen Beetles secure vehicles?
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.
Is the VW Beetle a woman’s car?
A few months later, when the 2012 Beetle was revealed in an ad proclaiming, “It’s a guy,” people began to discuss the car’s manly appearance. Talk about VW ditching the female-centric design of the Volkswagen Beetle to increase sales and appeal to more customers was spurred by the vehicle’s streamlined, flattened body and elimination of the previous model’s effervescent, attractive elements (ahem, flower vase).
According to Darryll Harrison Jr., Volkswagen’s public relations manager, “the current-generation VW Beetle was created to be a contemporary rendition of the original model. ” The newest Volkswagen Beetle’s design is also more daring than the previous iteration, effectively attracting new buyers to the VW brand.
Men applauded Volkswagen’s decision at water fountains and online, but did they actually buy it? We examined the Volkswagen Beetle’s sales figures after a few years to determine whether or not its increased machismo paid off.
According to Volkswagen, men bought 24% of VW Beetle coupes (women bought 76% of them) and 29% of Beetle convertibles throughout the New Beetle generation (1998-2011). (women purchased 71 percent). According to statistics for the current generation Volkswagen Beetle, women buy 65 percent and men 35 percent of the coupes and convertibles, respectively.
“We have discovered that the new, more aggressive design has drawn more male clients as well as feminine ones. Harrison stated of the VW car’s new design: “The new male purchasers who bought the Beetle reflect incremental sales increases over the previous-generation model.”
The VW Beetle is thus being purchased by more guys. But despite the fact that more men are generally purchasing the iconic insect, fewer Beetles have been sold. Despite more men attending the Beetle party, statistics indicate that it wasn’t enough to offset the model’s sluggish sales.
The New Beetle’s annual sales reached in the 80,000 range in 1999 and 2000, he claimed. ” That represented roughly 0.5 percent of total industry sales at the time, which was unusual for a sporty, two-door vehicle with constrained family utility.
Harrison claimed that despite a general fall in sales following its redesign, the VW Beetle is still doing well. The Beetle of the current generation has been a hit and is still among the brand’s staple vehicles. What does Oprah think, though?
Editor’s note: On December 30, this article was modified to reflect that 65% of women purchase the current-generation Beetle.
How long do Volkswagen Beetles last?
From its creation until its demise in 2019, the Volkswagen Beetle has a lengthy and interesting existence. In South America, the US, and Europe, beetles are very well-liked. Although the German facilities ceased production in 2011, Beetles were still produced there for a further eight years. How long do Volkswagen Beetles last, though?
A Volkswagen Beetle has a minimum lifespan of ten years and 200,000 miles. The life expectancy varies, with German-produced Beetles for the US market having superior production and quality control than Beetles made in Mexico.
Is it expensive to maintain a VW Beetle?
The annual cost of car maintenance for a Volkswagen Beetle is $612. The table that follows provides a detailed ranking of each car in this overall scheme for comparison’s sake. The Volkswagen Beetle is significantly less expensive to maintain than the average vehicle, which costs $651 year on average.
Which Beetle year is the best?
The VW Beetle’s durability and resale value are highest for the model year 2005. Volkswagen made a special effort to create a Beetle with excellent durability and stability after the 2004 model gained notoriety for its transmission faults and window regulator concerns.
Additionally, they made sure that it required very little upkeep. If it ever malfunctions, parts are easily accessible.
And you never gave anything up to get this toughness. For the 2005 model year, there were four trim levels, and each one offered a comfortable and responsive ride. Four individuals may sit comfortably inside, and it had a great appearance.
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:
- Platform-sharing The A4 and A5 platforms from Volkswagen 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.
- Sales effectiveness and buyer preferences
- The Beetle’s poor sales performance was the primary factor in VW ceasing production. 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. Following the decline of the original Beetle in Western nations, the markets where it was successful also “The outmoded Beetle had been sufficiently modernized to the point where it was no longer practical. In the late 1990s, The New Beetle was introduced in an effort to “Profit on the fondness for the original vehicle. 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.
- Electrification
- The idea that Volkswagen discontinued the Beetle so they could concentrate more on impending electric vehicles is another frequently advanced argument. 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.
Can a VW Bug be used every day?
- The VW Beetle is a straightforward automobile in contrast to modern automobiles, which are loaded with technology and call for high-tech mechanics when something goes wrong. They don’t have complicated emissions controls or technology, so keeping them up and running is cheap and straightforward. Their physical state appears to be their main constraint. Modern vehicles can run for years without rust troubles, but VW Bugs are more susceptible to them. However, unlike their contemporary rivals, a VW Beetle is not doomed to an early demise by rust. The body can be repaired and the rust removed using a variety of techniques.
- It won’t cost the earth to purchase VW bug parts. The routine maintenance on this kind of vehicle is, for the most part, rather straightforward, and the majority of owners are able to handle the issues themselves and, when necessary, even replace a few VW Beetle parts. An auto mechanic can be needed for more complicated problems.
- Your Beetle won’t lose value over time. Unless you neglect it, the price you spend for it today will most likely be the price you can get for it when you sell it in five years. The classic status of the item means that its value can only rise. As a result, investing a little extra money in it is worthwhile.
- In the snow, a daily-driver VW Bug handles nicely. Although they are rear-wheel-drive vehicles, they still possess a blizzard. They are able to achieve this because to their tires’ size and height as well as the fact that the air-cooled engine is mounted directly above the rear wheels.
- What term comes to mind when you hear the word “classic”? You’re not the only one if it’s “expensive.” Despite this, VW Beetles are still reasonably priced today. The main expense will be in any necessary repairs to the VW Beetle parts, which is why it is crucial to carefully inspect the car for rust and any gearbox or engine issues. Remember that the price will vary depending on the type of VW Bug you purchase. For instance, convertible Beetles are always going to cost extra. Additionally expensive will be restored Beetles.
- The cost of insurance for a vintage Volkswagen Beetle is very low, and if the vehicle is older than 30 years, it is also exempt from routine MOT inspections. You may save time and money by driving a vintage vehicle like this on a daily basis.