2013 Volkswagen Beetle

2013 Volkswagen Beetle

Starting MSRP  $19,995–$32,395
MPG City: 21 – 29 Highway: 27 – 41
Available Engines
210-hp, 2.0-liter I-4 (premium)
200-hp, 2.0-liter I-4 (premium)
140-hp, 2.0-liter I-4 (diesel)
170-hp, 2.5-liter I-5 (regular gas)
Transmissions
6-speed manual w/OD
6-speed auto-shift manual w/OD and auto-manual
6-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual
5-speed manual w/OD

People cozy re Volkswagen Beetle convertible for the same reason they love pugs and minor Furbies YouTube: It's cute. It's also better in many ways than its predecessor, which was eight years without a redesign model, but beauty is only a deep tin.

2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible has plenty of talent withdrawal, but once expired Groovy, grumbling begins.

Redesigned Beetle hardtop party, who a year earlier, Beetle convertible has a power fabric top and three available engines, including turbocharged four-cylinder TDI diesel version. We tested the five-cylinder base car, which gets a standard six-speed automatic. Click here Get hardtop convertible beetle, or here to read our review of the hardtop.


Maintaining the look

Few inches wider and 7.3 inches more than the outgoing New Beetle convertible (which, as a coupe, has now dropped the "New"), maintains the long profile of the coupe convertible. Alloy Wheels seventeen inches are standard, with 18s optional.

Now fully automated, Top Powered latches and open the latch itself from the windshield frame and not rely on the manual release. Top of the fabric of our test car took just 11 seconds to seconds to lower and raise 15, including windows. Folding leading electrical stores in a separate cell from the trunk, leaving the luggage room at 7.1 cubic feet without compromise. This is less than half the search area hardtop, but it beats five cubic feet of converting the previous generation, not to mention other small droptops Mazda, Mini, and Fiat. Another advantage: VW threw the center of the last Beetle Transmission favor a split folding rear seat correctly.

But alas, the trunk opening is so small that you have to stick the small suitcases in and cover leftovers rainwater drains directly into the trunk. Hope you like the wet ingredients. Trunk like better? Get a Ford Mustang convertible, has nearly 10 cubic feet of space and roof penetrations with a larger opening to boot.

Drivetrain awkward

Base 170-horsepower five-cylinder engine howls along faster than the Fiat 500C anemic and non Mini Cooper S, but it turns hoarse voice, and moving at highway speeds requires a majority of the reserves of the propulsion system. Climb the ramp, and the engine feels spent halfway. Six automatic transmission helps a little, stepping through the intermediate gears on the way two or three gears kickdowns. This raises First six-speed automatic transmissions, raised possibilities that extend all the determination of a child staring Lego aisle. Some editors noticed too much lag speeds - not good.

Manufacturer of sports mode transmission delay depressing part by sticking to lower gears, but it comes at the expense of fuel consumption.

Beetle Turbo and its 200-hp turbo four-cylinder may be a better choice for the conversion, weight about 200 pounds more than its hardtop brother. Volkswagen says it hits 60 mph in 7 seconds with it automatic or 6.9 seconds with the six-speed manual is available. Both considerably faster than the 8.6 seconds of the five-cylinder version. Weaker engine earns a small salary Gas words with numbers EPA (mpg city / highway / combined 21/27/23) that are closer bonds convertible Chevrolet Camaro V-6 Mustang and more of the kinds of characters and Fiat.

Beetle Turbo conversion gets better mileage, with or transmission to bring MPG EPA-estimated combined 24, but it deletes the achievements by recommending premium gas.

Beetle TDI, meanwhile, comes with manual or automatic, both fall in 9 seconds zero to 60 sprints. It boasts a combined EPA-estimated words in my sleep the lower 30s. But it's a diesel, there is an average of 38 cents, or 10 percent more per gallon for the last 12 months than regular unleaded. (Differences between diesel and gas prices vary by region.)

Sloppy quickly

It's ironic that Volkswagen was there some trim levels of the beetle convertible after decades, the 50th annual offering, the 60 and 70 editions. Too big wheel starts heavy with little power assist, but reach highway speeds and it clarifies to, sloppy steering serpentine - the kind you would get from a bygone age. Isolation, too, seems a bad time. Soft top keeps wind noise in the Gulf, but traffic nearby wailing away, you will keep checking to see if the windows are closed.

Body roll immediately follows the steering movements have speed, but if you find a continuous bend, crouch down and beetle - Corners surprising, given the title in ungainliness Beetle Turbos have tuned sports suspension stabilizing rods thicker front, as well as limited smoothing standard to improve the corner - carving.

I have also turbos front disc brakes are bigger, which I can only hope to improve the disappointing installation of our test car. Difficult to know where to pass the blame - small disk brakes or brake system low-tech, three channels - but wet pedal stopping power gives underwhelming. There are five-cylinder TDI diesel Beetle and the same hardware thread.

Subject complications through the car quality. Although many reinforcements vs. Beetle hardtop and claimed a 20 percent improvement in stiffness over the last Beetle convertible, the screeching cars and electric wires over a manhole cover and expansion joints with drive loaded, undulating between. It is strange, considering Beetle Convertible has an independent rear suspension versus low-tech rear, semi-independent basis of the Beetle hardtop.


Pesky facial

Considering the price of the Beetle convertible - about $ 25,500 including destination charge - face feels higher quality than the gimmicks. Brilliant color covers the upper door panels and dash, and real metal accents around the glove box and door handles. But a sea of ​​elbows, cheap black plastic and die welcomes elsewhere, and climate controls of the car flimsy remember the cut with the Jetta. Although the initial price, converted an important amenities like vanity lights - mirror or sun visors extension. Our car lacked the optional center armrest, drawing plenty of complaints. Come on, VW - $ 15,340 Hyundai Accent has standard armrest.

The tackled proceed. Grab handles over the doors sit too far forward to easily reach or use as a lever to close the doors, and having found the wheel too far, despite a good range adjustable telescopic. If you pull the seat forward to reach a comfortable steering, pedals too often. The two front seats return to their original positions, if you give someone back - nice - but they employ slow crank handles to adjust lean. If you plan to share the car, it's a drag.

Visibility is another problem. Low roof line hurts sightlines at the front, and the tiny rear window - most of which is blocked by two massive headrests back - leaves too much traffic to the imagination. Typical convertible soft top beetle requires massive C-pillars be eaten much look over your shoulder. Put the top down, and riggings folded up much of the view straight back. It's annoying, considering many convertible bonds with more Higher visibility to improve bad that when the top is down.

As with the beetle hardtop, the back of the roof is likely to adults. One advantage: if you go on a big bump, your head hits the roof fabric - a more forgiving surface glass skylight over the back of the hardtop.

Safety, features and pricing

Convertible beetle crash tested yet, because of its structural differences, ratings of the fund does not carry over. Standard safety features include antilock brakes and required electronic stability system, plus front airbags and side impact, and the latter extend up to offer head protection. Normal roll bars behind the rear seats automatically deploy if the vehicle tips.

Since its redesign, the reliability of the beetle was terrible, with the predicted reliability of a new car much worse than average. Given noises beginnings of our test vehicle, it is difficult to see that improvement.

Converting beetle comes well equipped with standard leather upholstery heated (leather) seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a stereo base pretty well with Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, and iPod / USB integration. Amazingly, central armrest and steering wheel controls are optional Audi. These features come in packages of different options, as does the Fender stereo, keyless access with a navigation system and push-button start. 50th annual, yearly 60s and 70s editions add unique colors, side mirrors, wheels and interior themes. 60th edition of the term is used as a form cylinder, ran into the low $ 30,000. It's not so cool - similar money buys equipped V-6 Mustang convertible.

Beetle convertible market
In the first months of 2013, sales are up 114 Beetle percent fine, in fact, the car now outsells VW Golf / GTI hatchback. Buyers should be no problem finding a beetle convertible: the new car inventory Cars.com presents convertible is 42 percent of all the Beatles. But first competition Store, the last Beetle Convertible looks priority over drivability and practicality. Its successor improves the latter, but still beautiful face asking too many compromises.