2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Review

The long-awaited Volkswagen New Beetle convertible adds flair to the New Beetle hardtop line and broadens that line. It's expected to boost lagging sales of New Beetles, although it arrives at an awkward time with winter arriving in northern areas of the country.

The 2003 New Beetle convertible is the lowest-priced, highest-volume European convertible. It's practically the only new version left for the New Beetle--short of an all-wheel-drive model--because the car's shape makes a station wagon version impossible.

Base prices of the front-drive, subcompact convertible range from $20,450 to $26,725, and all models are well-equipped.

Convertibles have been an important part of Volkswagen history since the first "old Beetle'' convertible arrived in 1953--a few years after the hardtop model debuted. The last old Beetle sold in this country was a 1979 convertible because the hardtop version was dropped here in 1977. The old Beetle convertible was followed by Volkswagen's Rabbit and Cabrio soft tops.

The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia, which had a slick coupe body on a Beetle chassis, offered a convertible version from its introduction in 1958 to its demise in 1974.

Volkswagen hopes to annually sell 30,000 convertibles here. It's called a "chick car'' in the industry because Volkswagen expects two-thirds will be bought by women--most anticipated to be married and fairly affluent, with college degrees. That's a desirable group for an automaker, partly because women tend to be more loyal to an auto brand than men.

In fact, most Volkswagen convertibles have been bought by women. That was especially the case with the Cabrio, which the new convertible replaces.

Volkswagen says more men might be attracted to the turbocharged 150-horsepower four-cylinder New Beetle convertible engine, which arrives in the spring. It'll be offered on the mid-range GLS and standard on the top-line GLX model, but not on the entry GL model. Models with the turbo engine will add "1.8 T'' to the car's designation.

The only New Beetle convertible now offered has a 115-horsepower four-cylinder engine, which was revised to better suit the convertible, with a broader torque band. It provides decent performance with the standard five-speed manual transmission, although lots of shifting is needed for the best acceleration. There's decent 65-75 mph passing even in fourth gear, although third gear is best for that situation.

The shifter works well and is hooked to a light, long-throw clutch that isn't tiresome in traffic. The tachometer registers a rather high 3,200 rpm at 65 mph in fifth gear, but the engine generally is smooth and quiet during highway cruising.

A responsive six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature costs extra, but is the first such transmission in the New Beetle market segment. It helps provide better acceleration than the usual four-speed automatic because of its extra gears.

The 0-60 mph time is 11.4 seconds with the manual, 11.8 with the automatic. Estimated fuel economy is 24 mpg in the city and 30 on highways with the manual and 22 and 29 with the automatic, using regular-grade gasoline.

The 115-horsepower version is mostly a user-friendly around-town car and soft cruiser with the feel of a larger, easygoing convertible.

While handling is decent, steering is only moderately fast and the suspension is soft for a smooth ride, which gets a little bouncy at times. Even the brake pedal has a soft feel. A $280 stability control system is offered for 115-horsepower models and is standard on turbo models.

Volkswagen has stiffened the convertible body with such things as a rear seat support that enhances chassis rigidity, but there still are some shakes and rattles over rough roads.

Higher-line models have more equipment, but even the GL is well-equipped with air conditioning, anti-lock all-disc brakes, cruise control, AM/FM/cassette, tilt-telescoping wheel and power locks, windows and nicely sized outside mirrors with integrated turn signals. It also has fairly large 16-inch wheels.

The GLS and GLX add items such as a power top that opens and closes in 13 seconds, either way. The GLX 1.8 T turbo model will have standard leather seats, upscale audio system and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Options include a $150 cold weather package with heated front seats, $250 wind blocker to reduce wind turbulence with the top down and $400 (17-inch) alloy wheels for turbocharged models. Leather seats are optional for the GLS in a $900 leather option package.

Standard features for all models are roll bars behind the rear seat that pop up during an accident situation--if the top is up or down. There also are front air bags and side-impact air bags in the seatbacks.

The cloth-lined three-layer top helps keep the top-up interior pretty quiet and has a glass rear window with a defroster. It creates rear blind spots when raised and doesn't vanish under a metal panel when lowered. Rather, it remains in full view to provide the "baby buggy'' look of the classic old Beetle convertible. However, a sturdy tonneau cover is available to snap over the folded top.

Long, heavy doors make it hard to get in and out in tight spots. The rear seat has tight leg room, but features a lockable pass-through area from the small trunk. The trunk lid doesn't open enough to give a good finger grip after its release button is pushed. Seat belts are hard to reach, and cupholders are put low at the front of the console.

Volkswagen should have improved the dashboard layout, but the big front seats are comfortable and standard leatherette upholstery helps make the interior easy to clean and maintain--a definite plus with a convertible.

The New Beetle convertible should have nostalgic appeal to the former owners of the old Beetle convertible--and strong appeal to those looking for a moderately priced European four-seat soft top.


2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE
Price
$20,450-$26,725

Likes:
Sporty look. Decent acceleration with manual gearbox. Available six-speed automatic transmission.
Dislikes:
Tight back seat. Long, heavy doors. Hard-to-reach seat belts. Some rattles.