Volkswagen Beetle

#160, Automotive books sure bets as holiday gifts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:07 — 33.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More Easy. Appreciated. Two words and a holiday gift issue solved. Buy automotive books for the enthusiasts on your holiday shopping list. Bruce Aldrich and I discuss a half-dozen automotive books on episode #160 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We’ve had several authors on the podcast in the past three years. All share a passion for the automotive industry: Chevrolet to Volkswagen, Jeep to the massive Takata airbag catastrophe. Here’s a synopsis of three of the books we discuss: * Russell Hayes, like all automotive industry book authors, is passionate about his subject matter. Hayes’ interests cover several iconic carmakers, including his latest effort

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Automotive books make ideal holiday gifts

Russell Hayes, like all automotive industry book authors, is passionate about his subject matter. Hayes’ interests cover several iconic carmakers, including his latest effort celebrating the 75th and 70th anniversaries of the Volkswagen Beetle and Bus. For enthusiasts as interested in vehicles as the author, Hayes’ coffee-table sized volume is among three varied books ideal as the holiday season approaches. Hayes, whose books range in topics from auto shows to Lotus to several offerings on Volkswagen, just released “Volkswagen Beetles and Buses: Smaller and Smarter.” (Quarto Publishing Group, $40). As Hayes explains, no carmaker’s history is as unique as Volkswagen: its association with the Nazi movement to the Hippie generation. Auto Books, VW to Jeep to Corvette More than 23

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Say goodbye to 20 cars in 2020, Aston Martin to VW

Every year the auto industry bids farewell to cars. Some years, it’s the unpopular trim levels of well-established cars and trucks. Some years, a substantial selection of easy-to-guess cars are discontinued. And there are surprises, buyers’ favorites who’ve had their time. With many 2020 models now on the market, here’s a list (and synopsis of few departing vehicles) in alphabetical order of 2019 models being discontinued. The list represents a spectrum of standard sedans to sports cars and SUVs to long-time family favorites. And The Weekly Driver says farewell to our favorites with short commentaries. We’ve provided links to the vehicles we’ve reviewed. Aston Martin Vanquish How does any Aston Martin leave us? It’s arguably the most beautiful car on

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VW Beetle to Chevy Volt to Ford Focus: goodbye, farewell

The end of the year in the automotive world always marks the end of the run for a car or two and sometimes more vehicles. The end of 2018 was among the most drastic farewells to vehicles in recent years. Manufacturers announced their departures from the car-making business to focus on sport utility vehicles and trucks. Vehicles with long histories and some that barely had time to build a sustained buying base will soon be defunct. In all, the production of at least 14 cars has stopped or will soon cease. The most significant departure from the new car landscape is the Volkswagen Beetle. The “people’s car,” as designated in the late 1930s in Germany, will no longer be produced

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#62, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Cadillac SUV, Baja 1000, Prestone

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:59 — 39.8MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to Day 2 of The Weekly Driver Podcast’s special coverage of AutoMobility LA and the LA Auto Show. Today (Nov. 28) was the opening day for media previews of new car debuts, and it didn’t disappoint. While co-host Bruce Aldrich produced Episode No. 62 remotely, James Raia (your other co-host) was reporting from the showroom halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center. We have three guests. Phil Zak is the exterior designer for Cadillac. He explains the enduring brand’s continuing transition into the SUV segment, particularly the new XT4. We also discuss Cadillac’s continuing pursuit to appeal to younger buyers. And we also

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So long, farewell to the Volkswagen Beetle

Say goodbye to the most iconic car ever made, the Volkswagen Beetle. A representative from the German automaker told a reporter from the publication Autocar during the Geneva Motor Show that it plans to stop production of the vehicle at the end of its current generation. Frank Welsch, the carmaker’s research and development leader, said, “two or three generations is enough now.” The Volkswagen Beetle is the fourth best-selling vehicle in history, trailing the Toyota Corolla, Ford F series pickup trucks and Volkswagen Golf. But the Beetle’s sales have waned in recent years, with reports the carmaker’s engineers have lost enthusiasm for the vehicle. It was originally known as the “people car’s” when it was first commissioned in Germany by

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Episode 9, The Pros & Cons of Convertibles

Convertibles are an acquired taste. Driving on a country road on a warm afternoon in a sports car with the top down is the among the best joys of driving. The fresh air, or using the automotive terminology, “maximum ventilation,” can take all your troubles away. But convertible tops, particularly fabric tops, have limitations, including deterioration, poor break-in protection and reduced cargo space. We discuss the pros and cons of convertibles in Episode No. 9. Modern-day convertibles, of course, are far superior to the early varieties. The ragtop quality is top grade. Electric systems have replaced awkward manual requirements to lower or raise tops. Push a level above the dashboard on a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle and the top lowers or

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2017 Volkswagen Beetle Review: Spry, sporty, vital at age 72

Picking the most recognizable vehicle on the road is endlessly fun. The engine growl of a Maserati heard from another zip code? The near-silent elegance and design of a Tesla? The off-the-hook, testosterone-loaded design of a Hummer? They’re all unique, worthy selections. But like it or not, the Volkswagen Type I, predominately known as the Beetle or Bug, gets the honor. With its high, severely rounded roofline, protruding fenders, distinct lights and overall bulbousness, the 72-year-old Beetle is alone in the auto industry. Key Takeaways 1.8T Dune tested: turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and a six-speed automatic, in Sandstorm Metallic Yellow. $30,464 as tested, from a $29,395 base price. 24 mpg city, 31 highway and 27 combined. Top: The

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle Review

The Volkswagen Bug has endured many name and design changes since it debuted in the United States in 1949. With the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line, another chapter in the carmaker’s legacy as one of the top-10 best-selling cars in history has begun. The new limited edition is the most upscale and most powerful Beetle to date. The Beetle as a sports car isn’t quite accurate. But for 2014, the upscale trim features a larger turbo-charged engine, new front fascia, a metal dash plate and a host of R-Line, sporty badging throughout the car. Key Takeaways Test car: 2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line with a 2.0-liter, 210-horsepower, turbo-charged four-cylinder engine. Audio: The Fender system had 400 watts, eight speakers and a sub-woofer.

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Volkswagen: Bugs, Beetles, Bliss

Like several friends, my first car was a Volkswagen. It was a family friend’s car and the 1962 VW Bug was pristine. I bought it for $500 in 1972 when I was age 17. The memories of learning about its simple engine and driving it everywhere are still vivid 40 years later. All these years later, I just drove a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line for a week. It’s still unmistakably a Volkswagen, but it’s also a completely different car. The new VW Beetle has five times the horsepower of my Bug from yesteryear. And the driving difference, from what I can remember from 40 years ago, is remarkable. Vintage and new Bugs and Beetles still share a wondrous trait: Both

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Best Used Cars: Volkswagen Beetle, 2003 GLS Convertbile

No one forgets their first car. For me, it was a 1962 Volkswagen Bug. With my own savings, I bought it from family friends in 1972 for $500. It was beige, in near-pristine condition, had a four-speed stick shift, the original Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo radio and chrome front and back bumpers. The VW insignia shield, a rare decal near the front trunk handle, was intact. I drove the car everywhere and washed and waxed when it didn’t need cleaning. I learned how to change the oil and adjust the valves, which to this day is the full extent of my mechanical knowledge. (Editor’s note: We’re visiting our archives to review cars once new and now well-suited for best buy status

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle Review: New Turbo diesel has sports car tendencies

The slogan for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle is “Still turns heads. Just Faster.” Automaker slogans often don’t mean much. But in the instance of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, which debuted this year, the words work. The Beetle TDI’s 2.0-liter turbodiesel delivers 140 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque and is offered with either a six-speed manual or Tiptronic automatic transmission. Those are foreign numbers when compared to the specs of the original introduced in 1938, and they should be. And yet, after 75 years, the VW Beetle in many ways is still a Bug. Key Takeaways Test car: a bright yellow Beetle TDI with the 2.0-liter turbodiesel and the six-speed manual transmission. 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque from

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Volkswagen lineup, 2012: sports cars, station wagons and a Bug

By David Colman I have never experienced a press roll out like this in more than 20 years of attending Volkswagen events in the United Sates and Germany, Usually, the occasions focus on one or two new models with long, complex drive routes scheduled to foster a maximum driving experience. This year, there were multiple models available, but in a three-hour window. Here are my brief impressions from either a 15-mile or 25-mile Northern California loop that encompassed flat and hilly driving conditions in the Half Moon Bay and San Mateo areas: 2012 VW GOLF R This baby is a “little bomb.” The Golf R replaces the Golf R32, which has come and gone in several iterations during the past

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2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Review: The fat bug has a new image

Like the fat kid from Math Club who came to the high school reunion with something to prove, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo wants everyone to do a double take and notice that it’s no longer the archetypal chick car. The new VW wants it to be OK for a guy to purchase it and visit the Starbucks drive thru. It wants it known the latest version of the Beetle has a turbo in it, and it means business. Doesn’t the now-flattened roofline says “I drink more beers than wine coolers” to you? After almost a decade of the New Beetle, VW has decided enough is enough. Cuteness overload has worn thin. The latest Beetle has visual cues that distinguish

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Volkswagen Beetle, 2012: High fives and hand claps

Volkswagen isn't the first manufacturer to make clever television commercials. But the new spot for the 2012 Beetle is among the best. It's simultaneously hip and ideally deals a recent prevailing trend that Beetle are only purchased by women. The video features a male driver driving in various situations around town. No matter where he drives, people want to "high five" or do "knuckles." The commercial is shot to the ""The Clapping Song." It was originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965, shortly after she hit it big with a similar song, "The Name Game". The Clapping Song song made it to the top ten on the charts. Here a synopsis of the lyrics: "Three, six, nine The goose drank

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Volkswagen Beetle, 2012 car review

Volkswagen has been selling its iconic Beetle model seemingly forever, but the 2012 version tops them all. The new third-generation Beetle won’t be mistaken for any other car because it retains the familiar shape of all Beetles ever built. But it’s larger and sleeker — or “longer, lower and wider” as Detroit’s automakers used to say. The new model also is more powerful and faster than the last model, which caused quite a stir when it arrived in 1998 as the second-generation “New Beetle.” The original, first-generation Beetle arrived in America around 1950 and underwent numerous small changes over the years. It was the country’s most popular foreign car during the 1950s and 1960s despite its basic 1930s design. It

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