2012 VW Beetle Turbo review

[jnrdavo]

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo


DAMASCUS, Md. (MarketWatch) — If your first viewing of the 2012
Beetle is from the front, then switch quickly to some other view.


From the front, the 2012 looks very much like the “New Beetle” that was
Volkswagen’s offering from 1998 on. Viewed from the side, the 2012 squares
up the body design to make it more appealing to men, eliminates the bud vase and
introduces a new look at the rear end as well as in the interior, especially
with the upscale Turbo model.

I had to laugh when VW said the new model was, “longer, lower and wider,” or
all the things that VW used to kid Detroit about in classic magazine ads of the
1960s.


2012 VW
Beetle Turbo

$18,995-29,095

Premium

2.0L turbo 4 200 hp

20-28 mpg

2 adults

Very good

Very good

Great remake of classic car

The 2012 model that goes on sale in the U.S. this fall will be 3.3 inches
wider, 6 inches longer and a half-inch wider than the previous “New Beetle.”
Overall interior space has grown by four inches to almost 30 cubic feet.

Two engines initially will be offered. The base is a 170-horsepower, 2.5
liter five with 177 pound-feet of torque. Many frugal VW shoppers will find this
enough, when mated to the smooth and light manual transmission. A six-speed
automatic will also be available.

More enthusiastic drivers will turn to the 2.0 turbo with 200 horsepower at
5,100 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque offered with a 6-speed manual. I can’t
believe I’m writing this about a Beetle, but this one has an abundance of power
that is just waiting to be tapped. Volkswagen claims 20-28 mpg; the turbo runs
on premium unleaded. The turbo is also available with an automatic tranny.

In the new year, Volkswagen will slowly stir into the mix a 2.0-liter diesel
that it claims will bring the owner 30 mpg on the highway.

Out on the highway, the seats are very comfortable and road noise is well
contained. VW routed us over only smooth country roads, but they revealed how
well the front strut-type suspension and rear multilink work together. Someone
who really likes to drive can have some fun with this car in the outback.

About halftime in my test drive, it was good to settle back and appreciate
how far the Beetle has come.

My new black 1969 model would make it to 60 mph in 27.5 seconds. The latest
sedan does it in about 7 seconds.

The ’69 had a basic AM-FM radio as an option, while the latest one sports a
top-of-the-line audio system designed for the car by Fender (Yup, that Fender)
and it sounded great.

The old one offered a heater and defroster in name only, while the new one
has no trouble coping with 90 degrees and high humidity.

And what about stability? It was not until I returned to base camp, that a VW
assistant told me about the great Virginia earthquake. I never noticed it in the
Beetle.

The 2012 Beetle runs from a low of $18,995 for the base model to $29,095 for
a 2-liter turbo with sunroof, sound and navigation packages, and the DSG
automatic transmission. My ’69 bug went out the door for $1,995 with skinny
whitewalls and an AM-FM radio.

If you are at all attracted to the 2012 Beetle styling, you should try out a
couple of models at your dealer’s. They should be trickling in as I write this.


Beetle notes

A convertible model will be available some time in the spring … Gone from the
new model is the feeling that the front window is about a mile away from the
driver … It should be easier to make seat adjustments with driver’s door closed,
especially with the new model’s seat back … Getting the back wheels to hang out
there a bit while cornering on a dirt road detour was fun and easy …
Volkswagen’s current practice of putting favorite stations on a rotating dial,
much like a rotisserie chicken cooking, was not a fav with me … Asked about poor
dealer service, a long running customer complaint, a VW official said the
company is now “bringing in the voice of the customer” to that discussion. Well,
they have only been on these shores for 63 years.

[source: marketwatch.com]