Date:         Sun, 31 Dec 2000 19:26:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: New beetle?
In-Reply-To:  <20001231.181429.-132561.0.whayeslip@juno.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Well I guess you miss the point....it's not going to happen as far as VW
bringing in the old beetle to the US. Face facts, the old beetle was
dropped from the US market because it was an ancient design that no longer
met emission standards or safety standards...plus the US market turned its
back on the beetle. US sales reached a peak in 1968 when 390,000 were sold
in the US in less than 10 years that number dropped to 12,000. In fact, the
only reason why the beetle is still manufactured and sold in Mexico is that
the Mexican government dropped the vehicle purchase tax (approx. 33%) on
the beetle.

Heresy you say?  No, just facing the facts. I currently own a 98 New Beetle
as well as a 56 Beetle. The '56 has been owned by me since 1975. My first
car, in 1969 was a 1957 beetle. I've owned tons of beetles, ghias, type 3s
and a myriad of type 2s. Each car has had its own personality and also its
own faults. I still can't get decent heat out of my '56! There's nothing
wrong with the heater channels, thermo-ring, heater boxes...face it the
heat sucks. But I wouldn't trade that car for the world.

Neither would I trade my 98 New Beetle. Its as fun to drive as my '56, it
turns just as many heads...but I feel safer in the 98, I can take it on
long distance trips, etc.

The NB is every bit a beetle as the old beetle. Its unfortunate that there
are a number of VW-snobs out there who have this notion that if it ain't
aircooled it ain't a VW. Its been going on for years...first they poo-poo'd
the bay-window busses, then the Rabbits/Golfs, then the Vanagon, and of
course the Eurovan....yet for most who piss, moan and object, I've yet to
hear them make an actual a comparison of old v. new based on actual
personal experience...very rarely has anyone said..yes I've driven a NB and
quite frankly it sucks...all I hear is the naysayers saying 'how dare" they
sell it as a Beetle.....as the old US make Packard used to say in the 20s
and 30's..."Ask the man who owns one"

The Beetle is what has saved VW's ass in the US. VW stuck its neck out and
brought out a car with every bit of verve, fun, style and a bit of a
tweek-in-the-nose-to-the-establishment like the original. And look who is
now following VW...Chrysler with its pseudo-pie wagon and Ford with its
retro-Tbird.


BTW, when would VW EVER sell a Dodge minivan???


IMHO,
Ric
98 New Beetle
56 Beetle
87 Westfalia
90 Cabriolet



At 06:14 PM 12/31/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I have a problem with it being called a beetle. Having owned 3 in my life
>(and would buy another if they still made them) I take objection to them
>calling a completely different model the same name. Can you Imagine them
>sticking a Vanagon name on a Dodge minivan and selling you one?
>
>Bill Hayeslip
>88 GL
>Pgh., Pa
>
>
>On Sun, 31 Dec 2000 16:25:27 -0600 Terry Kay <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET> writes:
> > I can't believe what I have been reading here, on folks bum rapping
> > the
> > new beetle.
> > It is an improved model of the most popular vehicle ever built, and
> > no
> > one has anything good to say about it?
> > It's faster
> > It's safer
> > It's bigger,
> > It's got heat
> > It's got A/C
> > And it is fun to drive.
> > Who said you couldn't take a trip in it, without being butt naked?
> > You couldn't take much with you in the original Bugs either! ( Had a
> > 69
> > sedan, and a 73 Super Beetle rag top.)
> > In this new world of the "smaller, the better", I feel that the new
> > Bug
> > is a good value, and a neat, decent handling vehicle.
> >
> > Thanks, Ferdinand
> >
> >   ______________
> >  |[  ] [  ] [ ]\
> >  |    |    |    |
> > ||-(())----(())-|
> >
> > Terry 85 GL