A Dream Car

Author's Rating:

Pros: Powerful, maneuverable, easy to drive, not super expensive

Cons: Tiny back seats, tiny trunk, large odds of getting hurt in an accident

The Bottom Line: 
If you can afford a newer car and have no responsibilities, there's nothing better.

Author's Review
Make no doubt. I care nothing about cars. "Does that thing have a HEMI?" So what? "I got super-whatever shocks on my lowrider." I couldn't care less. That being said, some cars are more fun to drive than others. Such is the VW Beetle.

I have the priviledge of driving this wonderful vehicle thanks to my girlfriend's parents (if you guys are reading this, for this reason and many others, you two are the BEST!). I've heard the original was really small. Such was my thought when I first opened the door. I'm a tall guy and feel really unsafe when my knees are crushed lest they be crushed into my ears. That was no problem. The Beetle allows a lot of space for the driver and passenger.

I've also heard the original was minimal in accutrements. Not so here. I don't know how much they paid for it beyond that it was new and they aren't rich, but it has a good stereo system (no CD player though), smog lights, a sun roof, and a remote that does everything but start it.

One thing, though goes without saying. This vehicle has POWER. It has to, since it was designed for the autoban. A slight tap on the gas pedal shows that the engine is designed for doing 200 next to Porches.

Despite the intense power, it remains easy to drive. The steering wheel is the perfect size, making over or under turning nearly impossible. Of course, if you do need to turn tightly, the size of the vehicle makes it very maneuverable. I've actually done u-turns in the middle of [unused] two-lane roads. An added convenience is that merely pushing the turn signal activates it rather than having to push it until it stays on. Great for those who forget to turn off their turn signal after changing lanes.

These benefits don't come without problems. The biggest one is that the back seat is TINY. I've never had to sit in it, but when the front seats are all the way back, there is less than an inch of leg room. Even my girlfriend's three year old neice can't sit back there with the seats back.

Another problem is the trunk can't take much. It can't even hold a week's worth of groceries.

Another thing, the one that's liable to affect those in the front seat. The cup holders are in a bad location and can't hold anything larger than a McDonald's small.

And finally, despite the great safety features including side impact airbags, the Beetle is smaller than almost anything else on the road. One of my favorite sayings is "Whoever has the biggest car has the right of way. Check the cemetary, I'm right." In an accident, odds are the bug (and it's occupants) will receive most of the blow. So anyone driving has to pay attention or become a statistic.

Despite these problems, the Beetle remains a fine car for those young or childless couples with no need to carry anything more than themselves and the few essentials they might need. Now, stop reading this and go drive one.