So what do you get when you have take an American classic automobile, stop selling it for decades, and then try to re-produce it in a modern world?
In most cases you get a disaster, but not in the case of the Volkswagen New Beetle. In that case, you get an excellent flash from the past that is well-suited for the future and well-worth a test drive.
Ah yes, the Beetle, an icon from the Sixties if there ever was one. Memories of frat kids pouring themselves into their old Beetle and crossing the country for Woodstock. Usually, though, trying to sell memories is a fool’s errand, and many a car manufacturer has spent millions trying and failing miserably.
However, the Beetle has done exactly what they set out to do, namely leave the appeal of the Sixties icon in a modern machine with enough bells and whistles so that it appeal to the new drivers of today.
The 2013 Beetle is a four-passenger two door hatchback that comes in three trims: the Beetle 2.5L, the Beetle Turbo, and the Beetle TDI.
There are several engines to choose from. There is the base model 2.5-liter five-cylinder good for 170 horsepower teams with a five-speed manual transmission. There is the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 200 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission as standard with a six-speed automated manual as optional. There is also a 2.0-liter turbodiesel with 140 horsepower and a six-speed manual.
The 2.5-liter does the 0-60 sprint in about 9 seconds, which is about average for an automatic compact, and the EPA rating is 22/29. The turbocharged four-cylinder, however, does 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, which is quick, and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel is rated at 28/41, which is excellent gas mileage.
Standard features include17-inch alloy wheels, heated windshield, heated mirrors, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, eight-speaker stereo system and much, much more. A full-compliment of options are also available, as is a convertible and a panoramic sunroof if you prefer.
Competition comes from the Ford Focus, the VW Golf, the Fiat 500 and the Mini Cooper, and they are all decent competition, but the Beetle actually gets our nod for the best of the bunch, and that’s saying quite a bit for a reborn icon.
If you need replacement parts then you will find them just about anywhere, but if you are looking for quality used parts that come with a warranty then you need to focus on your local salvage yard. Places like All Import Auto Parts are the places to go for great deals each and every day.