When it arrived in 1998,
Volkswagen's New
Beetle rekindled the magic of its legendary namesake and became a ray of sunshine in an all-too-serious car market. At that time, we asked: Where's the convertible? We've been asking that question every year since. Finally, it's here.
The question now becomes: Did they wait too long? Volkswagen's New Beetle is no longer that new, having been around for about six years now. With the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Thunderbird, Mini Cooper and other retrospective designs stealing headlines, the Beetle no longer basks in the retro-fad limelight.
Beetle remains a stylish car, however. And because it's a Volkswagen, the Beetle is a refined car. It combines German engineering and performance with exceptional fit and finish, and it represents a good value. Like other retro-mobiles, however, driver and passengers must make some concessions for style. Interior ergonomics are not as good those in a more traditional car, such as the Golf. Nor is there a lot of trunk space.