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General => General discussion => Topic started by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 11:37

Title: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 11:37
Guys,

My mrs is keen to get a beetle.  What are your thoughts.  From having read some reviews, the 1.6 seems to be the best buy (clearly a 1.8T would be quicker....but she is not into racing!).

I wanted a TDI, but they are only 100bhp i think, and I dont want to remap it.

So what are your thoughts.  It has to be a Beetle - just a question of which one, and what experiences, opinions you guys have etc....

cheers.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: T_J_G on 27 August 2008, 11:39
If you're looking a 1.6's then it would make sense to buy a diesel.

You say the TDI is "only" 100BHP but what is the 1.6?

I'd go for the 1.8t  :laugh:

Tim
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 11:56
Sorry mate - 1.6 is 102 bhp, the diesel is 90bhp.

However, I am sure the derv will have more torque.

1.8T is not really an option, as this needs to be pretty cheap to run, insure, maintain etc etc.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: T_J_G on 27 August 2008, 11:57
Diesel it is then. I know you said you don't want to remap it but if it really is too slow (which i doubt it will be( then it definitely a safe option.

Go out and drive a few!
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 12:34
yeah, was thinking that.

Just checked the tech specs:

1.6i Petrol
- 102 BHP
- 109 lb/ft torque (148 NM)
- 0-60: 11.6 seconds
- combined fuel econonmy: 36.7 MPG


1.9 TDI
- 90 BHP (post 2006 gets 103BHP)
- 177 lb/ft torque (240 NM)
- 0-60: 11.5 seconds for 103BHP model, 11.9 seconds for 90BHP model.
- combined fuel econonmy: 52.3 MPG

Guess the TDI is the clear winner.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: T_J_G on 27 August 2008, 12:35
Yeah definitely.

Probably hold their value better aswell. Although oyu may find them slightly more expensice to buy in the first place.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: monkeyalan on 27 August 2008, 12:42
get her to drive one , she might be put off if you're lucky.

you can't see either the front or the back of the car from the drivers seat and the windscreen is about 6 foot from your face.

horrible car.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: Diamond Hell on 27 August 2008, 12:43
Just tell her it's a Golf in a fat bird suit.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 13:07
lol - I will have to take her out in one and see what she thinks, but to be honest, I think she loves the way it looks and so will be buying with the heart and not her head.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: lewis1641 on 27 August 2008, 13:11
they are odd to drive as mentioned above lack of visibility, the deep dash wastes a huge amount of space inside so the rear is cramped and boot space is minimal. i blew a 1.6 engine when i worked for a car hire firm too!!
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 13:14
Will try and take one out for a spin and see what she thinks.

Surely the blowing of the engine has nothign to do with the fact it was in a beetle....could happen in any VW, right?
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: MrBounce on 27 August 2008, 18:27
Perfect "hairdresser's car" - style over substance...  :sick:
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: Conker on 27 August 2008, 21:04
Its a decent girls car. I think even the 1.8T version was crippled compared to the Mk4 golf (i.e. less than 150bhp) IIRC, so i wouldn't even bother trying to buy a fast one. We looked at getting one for my missus but they seem to depreciate very well (even better than a golf) and we couldn't afford one with low enough miles.

I hate diesels as a rule, so I won't comment on that bit.
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: kittie on 27 August 2008, 22:27
Doesn't the diesel v petrol on fuel economy depend on what kind of driving you do anyway?
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 22:43
The 1.8T beetle is also 150bhp from what I can find on specs.

The diesel fuel economy against the petrol fuel economy is obviously going to depend on how its driven, but the petrol is going to have to be driven very carfully to compete with the diesel.  And if you drive both pretty briskly, the diesel is still going to be better anyway. 

I know what you mean about the depreciation, finding a decent low miler within price budget is a mission!
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: lewis1641 on 30 August 2008, 12:10
Quote from: J5H VW on 27 August 2008, 13:14
Will try and take one out for a spin and see what she thinks.

Surely the blowing of the engine has nothign to do with the fact it was in a beetle....could happen in any VW, right?

thats right. i dont think any vw is prone to loss of oil pressure. it went back to vw and was replaced under warranty
Title: Re: Beetle (new beetle, not the old skool one)
Post by: kniterider on 30 August 2008, 20:23
test drove a few last year, a tdi, a 1.6 and a 1.8t for the mrs as her new company car..... none of em did anything for me even though they were a vw, in the end she fell for a mini cooper.... which im not keen on the image but for the size of the car and engine it flys and is shat hot on juice... still think beetles look cooler though if the handling and nippyness was up the cooper standard she'd have had it... but i guess thats what happens when shes been spoilt driving tricked up vw's... lol a standard beetle aint gonna do it.. lol



still good cars though, i found the tdi better than the 1.6 from driving, and we drove a 1.8t too and tbh it didnt do much more than the other two, and it was only a demo with less than 1k on the clock

 :smiley: