Topic: Test Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

[Autos_Editor]

A more practical vehicle than the previous New Beetle, the 2012 Beetle has more passenger and cargo space, says Peter Bleakney.

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[55travelall]

Create one with the 2.0T, AWD, and a standard trans, consider me sold. Or create a Baha edition with some ground clearance, diesel engine, AWD and manual trans, and I'll be in love forever. But this stupid 2.5 5cyl/FWD has got to be the most underwhelming combo in the world. I don't see any passion inducing features on the base model, especially with no DSG option without the 2.0T. That trans alone could compensate the average nature of the 2.5.

Better yet, return the beetle to what it was: fuel sipping subcompact car with character for the masses. Exploiting it for image/name alone seems useless in the long run. Yeah, they have the Golf, but the Golf is still only a compact with a premium feel to it and there is room in the segment below that VW hasn't filled, especially in the canadian market. All those 1.5 to 2.0 litre engines, that seem so common in Europe, seem so hard to get over here.

[theonlydt]

Create one with the 2.0T, AWD, and a standard trans, consider me sold. Or create a Baha edition with some ground clearance, diesel engine, AWD and manual trans, and I'll be in love forever. But this stupid 2.5 5cyl/FWD has got to be the most underwhelming combo in the world. I don't see any passion inducing features on the base model, especially with no DSG option without the 2.0T. That trans alone could compensate the average nature of the 2.5.

Better yet, return the beetle to what it was: fuel sipping subcompact car with character for the masses. Exploiting it for image/name alone seems useless in the long run. Yeah, they have the Golf, but the Golf is still only a compact with a premium feel to it and there is room in the segment below that VW hasn't filled, especially in the canadian market. All those 1.5 to 2.0 litre engines, that seem so common in Europe, seem so hard to get over here.

Until they bother to produce a station wagon version with that diesel, awd and manual gearbox they'll not get my business! (*chuckle* - "in-joke" on the forums right now)

[Jaeger]

Until they bother to produce a station wagon version with that diesel, awd and manual gearbox they'll not get my business! (*chuckle* - "in-joke" on the forums right now)

Too funny.  Ever notice that pretty much none of the people stridently demanding the awd/diesel/manual/wagon are actually driving anything remotely like that?

Jaeger

[JohnM]

Why would a good driver need awd?

Cheers,
John M.

[airbalancer]

and gets 2 l/100km 

[AP]

JohnM, seriously?

[tpl]

Until they bother to produce a station wagon version with that diesel, awd and manual gearbox they'll not get my business! (*chuckle* - "in-joke" on the forums right now)

Too funny.  Ever notice that pretty much none of the people stridently demanding the awd/diesel/manual/wagon are actually driving anything remotely like that?

Jaeger

I can find good and sufficient reasons for all of those except the manual.    The DSG was/is an experiment after 40+ years of driving manuals and I still drive mrs tpl's  manual Fit.
Awd    M-B too expensive, BMW too expensive and I'd just owned one.   No Golf R in Canada then ( 2008). A4 a bit tight inside, A6 etc. too expensive . ( I am retired and do have to pay for my cars)   
Diesel    Ony M-B and VW available and no HID lights on Golf/Jetta diesel in Canada ( only GTI and most expensive Passat ( which was not available with diesel))
Wagon.   M-B too expensive.  Golf did not exist it was a Jetta in 2008 with  no HID, Don't like Volvos.

However.... in 2013 which is scheduled to be the next car purchase a  Golf diesel Wagon Hi-line diesel with HIDS and even a manual ( unlikely)  would be way near the top of the list. As would be the new M-B B-class with a diesel and manual.
I am fairly sure that any acceptable ( to me) car with proper AWD will be more than I want to pay.

Now if the Euro collapses and a 328xi gets to a reasonable price that might be a different matter.

So you are right that very few people REALLY want a AWD manual diesel wagon and there are really none to be had anyway.

[safristi]

  It's all GREEK to me......................never tho't of that "angle" tpl...the Euro hitting BOTTOM!!! oh wot a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive...never truer words spoken............Maybe a Ferrari fer pfennings... is in the offing..

[Mike]

Why would a good driver need awd?

Cheers,
John M.

Why would a good driver need power steering, a roof, more then 3 cylinders, more then 80HP 

It's because we want it.  On a rainy or snowy day I can't thing of anything more fun then a proper AWD car and an empty road

[redman]

This car was never designed to have a front engine. Anyone ever see the size of the dash on this thing...ridiculous. Could place a mattress there !!

Crazy concept but how about VW/Porsche  just reviving a twenty years old 911 and rebadging it as a VW Beetle. Now that would be a proper ride for this upside down oval on wheels.

[JRM]

I like the look of this vehicle inside and out, but it's just not practical for my needs.  I find the Golf wagon to be a near perfect balance of drivabilty, performance, comfort and practicality.  I find the 2.5 auto much more satisfying to drive than any of the six Camrys I've previously owned, the latest being a '08 SE with the 2.4, 6 speed auto.  And it achieves better or equal real world driving fuel consumption.  Belive it or not!

[Allmanual]

I like the look of this vehicle inside and out, but it's just not practical for my needs.  I find the Golf wagon to be a near perfect balance of drivabilty, performance, comfort and practicality.  I find the 2.5 auto much more satisfying to drive than any of the six Camrys I've previously owned, the latest being a '08 SE with the 2.4, 6 speed auto.  And it achieves better or equal real world driving fuel consumption.  Belive it or not!

oh oh, well that statement is going to start with the 2.5 hater crowd. 

[Jaeger]

I like the look of this vehicle inside and out, but it's just not practical for my needs.  I find the Golf wagon to be a near perfect balance of drivabilty, performance, comfort and practicality.  I find the 2.5 auto much more satisfying to drive than any of the six Camrys I've previously owned, the latest being a '08 SE with the 2.4, 6 speed auto.  And it achieves better or equal real world driving fuel consumption.  Belive it or not!

oh oh, well that statement is going to start with the 2.5 hater crowd. 

Well the 2.5 cheerleaders already have their pom-poms out.     More satisfying to drive than 6 Camries?  Isn't that like claiming to be taller than Grumpy, Dopey and Sneezy?    Also, if I found the first Camry I bought 'unsatisfying' - and the second - I'm pretty sure there wouldn't have been a third, much less a sixth.    Seems you must have liked something about those cars.  JRM - are you sufficiently impressed with your current ride that you see five consecutive purchases of the same model in your future?

Jaeger

[cruzzer]

Until they bother to produce a station wagon version with that diesel, awd and manual gearbox they'll not get my business! (*chuckle* - "in-joke" on the forums right now)

Too funny.  Ever notice that pretty much none of the people stridently demanding the awd/diesel/manual/wagon are actually driving anything remotely like that?

Good point. I drive a Subaru Forester. AWD/manual/wagon. Sadly they don't bring the Euro Forester with the diesel.

[Jaeger]

Good point. I drive a Subaru Forester. AWD/manual/wagon. Sadly they don't bring the Euro Forester with the diesel.

Well at least you're walkin' the walk to the extent that you can. 

Jaeger

[Mike]

Good point. I drive a Subaru Forester. AWD/manual/wagon. Sadly they don't bring the Euro Forester with the diesel.

Well at least you're walkin' the walk to the extent that you can. 

Jaeger

<- this guy is trying his best too

[articsteve]

I find the 2.5 auto much more satisfying to drive than any of the six Camrys I've previously owned, the latest being a '08 SE with the 2.4, 6 speed auto.  And it achieves better or equal real world driving fuel consumption.  Belive it or not!

     NOT! 

 

2008 Camry 2.4 had 5 speed auto ONLY regardless of trim.  3.5 had the 6 speed.  Wait a few months and try again.

[JRM]

I find the 2.5 auto much more satisfying to drive than any of the six Camrys I've previously owned, the latest being a '08 SE with the 2.4, 6 speed auto.  And it achieves better or equal real world driving fuel consumption.  Belive it or not!

     NOT! 

 

2008 Camry 2.4 had 5 speed auto ONLY regardless of trim.  3.5 had the 6 speed.  Wait a few months and try again.

Look, I don't care how many gears the '08 Camry has, it doesn't perform nearly as well as the Golf does.  That's the point I am making.  A lot of people crap on on the 2.5 VW engine, but it's head and shoulders above the Camry 4's I've owned, quieter, smoother at idle and cruising speeds and I like the growl it emits under hard accelleration. No regrets on switching to VW.

[JRM]

I like the look of this vehicle inside and out, but it's just not practical for my needs.  I find the Golf wagon to be a near perfect balance of drivabilty, performance, comfort and practicality.  I find the 2.5 auto much more satisfying to drive than any of the six Camrys I've previously owned, the latest being a '08 SE with the 2.4, 6 speed auto.  And it achieves better or equal real world driving fuel consumption.  Belive it or not!

oh oh, well that statement is going to start with the 2.5 hater crowd. 

Well the 2.5 cheerleaders already have their pom-poms out.     More satisfying to drive than 6 Camries?  Isn't that like claiming to be taller than Grumpy, Dopey and Sneezy?    Also, if I found the first Camry I bought 'unsatisfying' - and the second - I'm pretty sure there wouldn't have been a third, much less a sixth.    Seems you must have liked something about those cars.  JRM - are you sufficiently impressed with your current ride that you see five consecutive purchases of the same model in your future?

Jaeger

The first 4 Camrys were good cars, not at all unsatisfying or I wouldn't have kept on buying them.  I'm no dummy!   They were a heck of a lot better than the NA cars I owned previously. The reason I switched to VW was that I was dissatisfied with the last two Camrys I had.  I could forgive that my '04 was a lemon, based on past good experience to compare it with, and assumed it must have fallen off the truck or something.  Then when my '08 turned out to be nearly as bad, I dumped it.  VW had a wagon that suits my needs better than a sedan since I retired (don't like SUVs and CUVs), and gave me a decent deal on a trade, so I bought it.  I didn't know how much better I would like the Golf until I got one.  Don't make such uninformed assumptions before you know the complete story.