Having purchased a 2013 Beetle TDi Convertible earlier this year, I am now on my third major platform/generation of Volkswagen Beetle. When I purchased my former 2000 New Beetle TDI (later to become “Herbie”), I had the presence of mind to photograph a number of common details before Eeyore, my ’64, was picked up by his new owner. I’ve now shot the same details from the ’13, and present them after the jump as a study in how the Beetle has changed over the past 50 years.
| 1964 Type I | 2000 New Beetle TDI | 2013 Beetle TDi Convertible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 160.0″ | 161.1″ | 168.4″ |
| Width | 60.6″ | 67.9″ | 71.2″ |
| Height | 59.0″ | 59.5″ | 58.5″ |
| Weight | 1,629lb | 2,712lb | 3,296lb |
| Displacement | 1.2l | 1.9l | 2.0l |
| HP (DIN/net) | 34 | 90 | 140 |
| Torque | 65 ft-lb | 155 ft-lb | 236 ft-lb |
| Avg. Fuel Economy | 28 mpg | 44 mpg | 41 mpg |
Before we get to the photos, let’s take a quick look at some key stats on the three cars. The New Beetle gained over 7″ in width over the Type I, but length and height stayed relatively unchanged. The 2013 Beetle, on the other hand, grew substantially both in length and width, and its weight is more than double the ’64 (some of which is attributable to the convertible body). Interior headroom is excellent in all three vehicles, even for someone in the 98th percentile, height-wise.
More telling is a comparison of horsepower and torque… while displacement only increased 1.7x from 1.2l to 1.9l (TDI) to 2.0 (TDi), net horsepower and torque increased by 4.1x and 3.63x respectively.
Driving dynamics are completely different between the cars as well. The swing-axle RWD Type I, with its torsion-bar suspension, is not to be thrashed in the curves unless you really know the car well and are prepared for sudden and aggressive trailing throttle oversteer. Its light steering feel, on the other hand, always brought a smile to my face – it’s a car in which you still really “feel” the road. The New Beetle is easily the best of the three from a handling standpoint, and after replacing the whole suspension with Audi TT and other performance components, had very neutral characteristics in turns, with sure and immediate turn-in and no drama at the limits. The Beetle convertible benefits from independent rear suspension (as compared with the New Beetle’s beam), but noticeably oversteers, and is much more at home “touring” rather than “hooning.”
So enough with the facts and data. Here are the photos (click to embiggen).
If anyone on earth should have bought a Routan instead of a Town & Country, it would be you! 🙂 The detail photos are very interesting. I think that the latest version does a better job of capturing the vibe of the original than the middle version. In particular, I love the wheels on the new one.
3200 pounds on the new car. Isn’t that what a Ford Fairlane used to weigh? I know that your convertible is only about 500 pounds shy of a 67 Galaxie sedan. The tradeoff is, of course, that the new car is safer than the old one by orders of magnitude. Still, I miss the feel of a really lightweight car (which has become extinct in our modern age).
Ah, but I *did* buy a Routan:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-capsule/curbside-capsule-2012-vw-routan-sel-the-orphan-that-caravaned-from-town-to-country/
(c:
I remember, which is why I made the comment. 🙂 But perhaps I could have worded the sentence better. The VW-flavored Chrysler will fit right in at your place.
FWIW, the 1962 Ford Fairlane was listed at 2820 lbs. And a 1965 Custom 2-door was listed at 3306 lbs. I was a bit surprised at the Beatle’s weight too.
I had one as a rental on our Iowa trip this summer, and I did like it quite a lot.
“I was a bit surprised at the Beatle’s weight too.”
Yeah, Ringo did put on a few stone as he got older, what?
(c:
The base model is more like 2900lb apparently, without the heavier diesel engine and convertible bracing/mechanism
I love the retro wheels on the current Beetle. You have a beautiful car!
Ed,
What is the gearbox on your new ’13 Bug – is it a 5- or 6-speed?
Six speed manual, of course! It’s geared quite a bit taller than the NB; about 1800 rpm at 55 mph in fifth gear. But the added torque means you can power your way up hills rather than downshifting.
The NB had a five-speed manual, and the ’64 was a four-speed, so I gained a gear with each upgrade.
Love that radio delete plate Ed! My 63 was butchered to fit in a modern radio, but I got the correct patch panel and plate now.
@JPC I’ve already warned my kids that they are going to learn to drive in the beetle for that exact reason. Direct mechanical connection to everything that is happening.
Also because it’s the cheapest / easiest vehicle to replace the clutch in.
If I had a modern beetle I’d get some silver sticker stock and try to recreate the towel bar bumpers on those huge plastic covers.
I saved the original radio from the car, which will go in my ’62 sunroof one day. It’s not a common model radio, either – I’ve never seen another like it in a vintage VW.
“If I had a modern beetle I’d get some silver sticker stock and try to recreate the towel bar bumpers on those huge plastic covers.”
I seem to recall a kit being available for the NB that did just that.
From an appearance of the article standpoint, I love the tiled 3 per row photos comparing the same angles. I’m hardly a home decorator, but you could get them printed and re-create this gallery on a wall in your home. It would make a very interesting and unique home decor.
I really like the current-gen Beetle. While it’s an evolutionary redesign, it just looks so much better than the New Beetle. I’ve got a friend with one, also a convertible, and it’s quite a nice car.
I too love the wheels, and while I don’t necessarily think a retro approach would be right for most cars, I would love to see a return to more disc-like wheels, as opposed to the ubiquitous 5 spoke numbers on everything on the road these days.
I love the wheels too. Of course, I love steelies. After spending $200 spot welding our 20″ Ford Edge’s blingtastic, leaking wheel (um, not my choice in cars), I’ve decided steelies should be our ‘next’ stylistic venture.
Nice comparo the NB has roughly the same hp and Torque as my Citroen but the old beetle is only just over half what my 59 Hillman has but weighs less and is a lot slower for more money backintheday and of course came with handling issues. I spent lots of wheel time in a 54 1100 Beetle it made a 1200 seem fast.
Great comparison shots of your Beetles, Ed. I never realized the current Beetle as being that much heavier then the New Beetle.
Being the original owner of my 2000 New Beetle TDI, I’m still happy with her. I still love the looks of the Freeman Thomas/J Mays design and I think it stands up well compared to the current Beetle. More then anything, the New Beetle looks like it would be the latest in line rather then the new edition, which has more styling cues taken off the classic Beetle. Kudos to VW for not straying too far from the Concept 1 show car, the one car that started all of the Retro craze that was to follow.
I admire your taste in Bugs and envy your “collection” there! And it looks like the NB is aging very well.
Interesting comparison. The new Beetle is a lot more like the original overall, but that wasn’t the point of the New Beetle of course. However a lot of the little details that the NB did have are no longer there, eg the lights aping the horn grilles and exhausts. Instead the new car’s lights (note not head- and tail-lights) could be from any modern car – a shame.