The Volkswagen New Beetle was so hot for a year after arriving in March 1998 that it drew groups of former Beetle owners when parked. The front-engine coupe was radically different from the old rear-engine model but its retro styling was so well done that most agreed it was appropriate to call it the ''New Beetle.''
I found people were especially crazy about the New Beetle soon after its debut in the Seattle area. That's where old Beetles are driven regularly because their bodies haven't been destroyed with the likes of Chicago road salt. Here, an old Beetle in decent shape is virtually a collector's item.
Volkswagen knew that interest in a unique new car such as the New Beetle begins falling a year or so after its arrival. It thus introduced a hot rod version of the New Beetle with a turbocharged Audi four-cylinder engine--called the 1.8 T--exactly a year after the first version was introduced.
Although small, the 1.8-liter Audi engine is potent not only because it's turbocharged. It also has an intercooler, dual overhead camshafts and no less than five valves per cylinder--instead of the usual two. It produces 150 horsepower and more torque than the standard 2-liter, 115-horsepower four-cylinder New Beetle engine. That engine provides decent acceleration, but the Audi motor turns the New Beetle into a hot rod and makes it lots more fun to drive.
No wonder then that the turbocharged New Beetle accounts for fully 40 percent of New Beetle sales, although it's costlier than other models. It calls for high revs for the best acceleration, but zips to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds with the five-speed manual transmission--and in 8.2 seconds with the optional four-speed automatic.
In fact, the turbocharged New Beetle is as fast as some sports cars with the manual gearbox, which has a nice shifter but long-throw clutch. The car with the 115-horsepower engine hits 60 mph in 10.6 seconds with the manual.
The old Beetle took seemingly forever--about 30 seconds--to reach that speed. That led the daughter of a Volkswagen executive in Germany to slip a potent Porsche engine in her Beetle in the 1960s. Some American owners of the old Beetle did the same thing before the car was dropped here in the late 1970s.
The turbocharged New Beetle calls for 91-octane gasoline. But it delivers 25 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway with the manual and 22 and 28 with the automatic. Not bad for such a fast car that weighs about 3,000 pounds.
The turbocharged engine powers the GLS 1.8 T and higher-line GLX. They cost $19,000 to $22,050, compared to $15,900-$18,775 for a New Beetle with the regular gasoline engine or super-economical 90-horsepower diesel engine.
The GLS 1.8 T is offered with a $1,625 Sport Luxury package that contains wider 45-series tires on bigger 17 inch alloy wheels for better handling. But both turbocharged New Beetle models have sharp handling without that package. They're built on the rigid Volkswagen Golf chassis and come with an all-independent suspension and fairly wide 55-series tires on 16-inch wheels, which are big for this class of car.
The power rack-and-pinion steering is precise and the front-drive car's ride is supple. Stopping distances are good with the standard anti-lock brake system, but the pedal should have a more linear action. Traction control is standard for better grip on slippery roads. And side air bags are standard up front.
The front seats offer above-average support, although their backrest recliners are a chore to work. The quiet interior has a nice retro look. But flat power window switches on the doors require awkward wrist movements. The tachometer is the smallest I've seen and the fuel gauge also is tiny. So are the radio controls.
Other faults include undersized visors that do little good blocking sunlight through side windows. The trio of low-mounted cupholders at the front of the console may lead to spills. And is the dashboard-mounted flower vase that once seemed so charming still necessary?
The New Beetle is meant to attract young and young-at-heart buyers with its unique styling. It isn't a family car like the Volkswagen Golf or Jetta. For instance, the rear-seat area lacks sufficient headroom for tall occupants, and the cargo area is small unless rear seatbacks are flipped forward. It's impossible to see the ends of the car when parking.
All New Beetle models are well equipped, but It's hard to tell turbocharged New Beetle models from regular ones. The turbo versions only get a small rear spoiler, although the GLX has special alloy wheels. The GLX also features leather upholstery and heated front seats, along with a power sunroof included in the GLS 1.8 T Sport Luxury package.
VW NEW BEETLE TURBO
Prices
$19,000-$22,050.
Likes
Cute retro styling. Fast. Fun to drive. Solid.
Dislikes
Irksome power window controls. Scant rear headroom. Skimpy trunk. Not as practical as other Volkswagens.