2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: Fuel Economy Update for February
March 4, 2013
We spun our feisty Beetle Turbo's odometer nearly 1,200 additional miles during February, a month which also saw a couple of milestones. One was expected, as we hit the 15,000-mile mark. The other was a pleasant surprise.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: DSG Or Manual, Reconsidered
February 28, 2013
Back in June of last year I wrote a post about whether I'd pick the six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automated manual (VW's "DSG") if I were buying a Beetle. In the end, I concluded I'd get the manual.
Having spent more time with our 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo recently, I can tell you that the DSG's quirks (laggardly responses from a stop and uneven engine braking when slowing) are still there and are still annoying. Actually, they get on my nerves the more I drive. So, still thumbs up for the manual, right?
Well, sort of.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: 15,000 Miles Cleared
February 27, 2013
While motoring along California's I-5 and up and over the Tejon Pass (near Frazier Park) our Beetle hit 15,000 miles. That puts us three-quarters of the way toward our typical goal of 20,000 miles.
Other than doing routine maintenance, we've only had one issue with the car so far: the failed auto-window operation, which was fixed under warranty.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: High-Mounted Controls
February 26, 2013
High-mounted controls were a Volkswagen staple for a very long time. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Golf and Jetta cousins in particular placed the primary audio and HVAC controls within easy reach high up on the dash.
The Mark IV Golf/Jetta changed all this, putting everything down low. This obviously pulled your eyes away from the road, but it reduced the dash's visual mass and created a more expansive view out front. It's a view I enjoyed for seven years in a Jetta VR6.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: The Fender Edition
February 25, 2013
I am not a fan of wood trim. Actually, I'm not a fan of wood trim in cars not hailing from Great Britain. That being said, there's something about the Beetle Turbo Fender Edition I spotted at the Chicago Auto Show that is very cool.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: The Nostalgia Is Still There
February 22, 2013
A few days ago my mother-in-law came to visit. I had to run some errands, so I took her along in Edmunds' long-term Volkswagen Beetle. She was pretty excited about it and even made a joke about whether we'd have enough room under the "hood" for the stuff we were picking up. Apparently, she and my father-in-law owned an original Beetle back in the early 1970s. Of our car, she said it's still cute and that it certainly rides a lot better than she remembered her old Bug.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Typically Costs More Than The Competition
February 21, 2013
As you can see from the photo, our long-term 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo had an MSRP (before destination and a couple option adjustments) of $27,495. I don't think that's an unreasonable price given what you get from the car. But I will say for price-sensitive shoppers, it could be an issue.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Top Five Qualities
February 20, 2013
I've spent a fair amount of time with our long-term 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo. I drove it for about two weeks in June of last year and then another extended duration this month. This seat time has allowed me to come up with what I think are our car's top five qualities.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Rear Seat Comfort
February 19, 2013
If you're buying a small coupe such as the Volkswagen Beetle, chances are you're not overly concerned about rear seat space. But having sat in the back of our 2012 long-term Beetle, I can say it's actually a decent place to be.
A severe lack of rear headroom was a major fault of the old "New Beetle." But here with the new generation car you have a much more usable amount of headroom for adults. I'm 5-foot 10-inches tall and my head is still about 1 inch below the Beetle's headliner when I'm sitting in back. There's also enough room for my legs and feet if the driver seat is positioned for me. The rear seat also has decent contouring to it, furthering comfort.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Fun To Own
February 15, 2013
You hear a lot about cars that are "fun to drive." I'd say our 2012 Volkswagen Beetle partially qualifies for that statement, largely because of its turbocharged engine. But unquestionable in my mind is this: it'd be fun to own.
The Beetle provides a sense of flair that you just don't get with many cars these days. Of course, there's the iconic styling that's obviously Beetle but nicely modernized for today's world. But there are little touches, too, including the thin-rimmed steering wheel, the upright windscreen, the double glove boxes and the ability to customize through different wheels and graphics. Drive it and you know you're not in a car that's only about getting from point A to point B.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Slippery Sills
February 13, 2013
Unlike those of the New Beetle (capital N), the door sills in the new Beetle (lowercase n) are not painted the exterior color. I think this is disappointing from a design stand point, but the gloss black sills that seem to be in every Beetle are still a nice bit of flair.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Special Editions
February 12, 2013
Is the regular Volkswagen Beetle too boring? Well, VW's has a couple of special editions that will likely catch your eye. Already out is the 2013 Fender Edition. Now VW has announced it will also offer a special Beetle GSR for 2014.
The Fender builds on the theme presented by the car's optional Fender-branded sound system. Here you get a specially colored dash panel that's been inspired by the look of Fender's iconic guitars and, yes, some special Fender badges. Hey, Jimi Hendrix used one, right?
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Stomp and Go
February 11, 2013
I really love the get up and go of our 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. I know I'm not being environmentally sensitive when I say this, but one of my favorite things to do is stomp on the accelerator as soon as the light turns green at a stoplight and I'm at the line. It's got turbo, it's got torque. Wheeeee!
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Loud Road Noise
February 7, 2013
There's quite a bit of road noise that makes its way into our Beetle's cabin. It's a low boomy rumble. Normally, road noise doesn't bother me, but this was so intrusive I had to turn up the volume on the stereo to try to drown it out. And even that didn't do the job to my satisfaction.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Re-upping
February 6, 2013
Among the modern new car features that I can't live without, satellite radio ranks high on the list. I love all kinds of music and hate commercials and yammering, self-absorbed DJs, so satellite radio is up there with heated seats and Bluetooth in my book. Such is my disdain for standard radio that when I drive my personal car ('98 Mustang Cobra) the stock system is usually rocking a CD (remember those?)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: Fuel Economy Update for January
February 4, 2013
We drove our VW Beetle Turbo just 617 miles this month. That's off-pace for us, but this is also coming after a three-month spell during which we covered some ground. From October to December, we racked up 6,300 miles. So the Beetle earned a bit of a rest this month.
Our best MPG this month was 30.7, which is just shy of our best overall MPG in our time with the car (30.9). Over the course of 617 miles this month, including a road trip up the central California coast, driving around with a bambino in the backseat, and a 10,000-mile oil change and service, we averaged 23.2 miles per gallon of 91 octane, pretty close to the Beetle's 25 mpg combined EPA rating.
Dan Frio, Automotive Editor @ 14,148 miles
Worst Fill MPG: 15.8
Best Fill MPG: 30.9
Average Lifetime MPG: 23.8
EPA MPG Rating (City/Highway/Combined): 22 city/30 highway/25 combined
Best Range: 423.5
Current Odometer: 14,148
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: The Best Bluetooth
January 30, 2013
Over the years I've paired my iPhone to the Bluetooth of hundreds of cars, from entry level models to exotics that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Last night, however, was my first time Bluetoothing in our long-term 2012 VW Beetle Turbo. It could not have been easier.
In fact, it may have been the best Bluetooth experience of my life. While most cars have you changing screens and digging into menus, the Beetle found my phone before I had even asked it too. I put in the four digit code and the phone and car were paired within a couple of seconds. It was so quick and effortless I thought I had forgotten to do something. I hadn't.
In the past, phone pairing in Volkswagens was like the U.S. Senate, completely frustrating and rarely successful. But no longer. Telematics are only going to get more important as we move down the road, and now VW leads the way.
Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief @ 14,001 miles
2012 VW Beetle: Not Girly Anymore
January 24, 2013
In the 1960s and '70s people who drove VW Beetles were generally too stoned to care that they were driving one of the very worst cars on the planet. Yes, they were durable and cheap to fix. And a good Bug beat walking. But that's about the nicest thing I can say about the original Beetle. Although building a Baja Bug and doing the 1000 old school is appealing.
Then we got the New Beetle back in the '90s and VW created the ultimate girlymobile. Driving one wasn't an unpleasant experience, but it was the automotive equivalent of a mani pedi.
And now we have the new New Beetle, which is a different animal all together. Not only is it a great drive, it no longer comes standard with an honorary membership to a sorority of your choice. VW has manned it up. Not a ton, but just enough.
Our long-term 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is a butch as they come with its black paint and turbo engine, and I like driving it. But more importantly I don't emerge from the car with an unexplainable desire to watch the Lifetime channel and follow Ryan Seacrest on Twitter.
The VW Beetle isn't girly anymore. Mostly.
Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief @ 13,994 miles
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: 10,000-Mile Service
January 18, 2013
When the odometer turned 10,000 miles we knew it was time to get our 2012 Volkswagen Beetle to the dealer for routine maintenance. The Beetle requests routine service at 10,000-mile intervals. And thanks to Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance, it doesn't cost a thing.
We were late on this one. But because of our preemptive, and out-of-pocket, oil change at 3,000 miles, the dealer counted this as our 10k and no monetary penalty was applied.
Since we arrived late in the day without an appointment, we weren't surprised when the dealer asked to keep our car overnight. Our phone rang first thing the next morning to inform us the car was ready. This visit was simple and straightforward, how we like it.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 13,700 miles
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Frost Warning
January 17, 2013
If you don't live in Southern California but have friends who do, you no doubt have had your Facebook newsfeed bombarded by status updates complaining about how collllld it is here lately. East Coasters may make fun of us for not being able to handle anything below 70 degrees but here's photographic proof that it is unusually chilly here.
Driving home in our 2012 Volkswagen Beetle last night, I heard a gentle warning chime. Immediately I looked at the dash for any warning lights. The temperature gauge was flashing and the "39F" had a little snowflake next to it. Don't know if Hollywood was in any danger of frost but it was good to know that even the Beetle thought it was too cold out.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 13,687 miles
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: And Room for Baby
January 16, 2013
On Saturday I took a visiting friend and her unbelievably cute bebe out for an excursion in our 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. I was a little concerned that the baby's seat wouldn't fit in the backseat, especially with the buckets but my friend assured me it would be fine.
And wouldn't you know it, not only did the seat fit but she even had enough room to stand in the backseat footwell while buckling in her tyke. She didn't have much room for her legs in the front passenger seat, though, as her knees ended up grazing the glovebox. But everyone seemed comfortable.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 13,641 miles
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: Chipped Windshield
January 5, 2013
Our VW Beetle's windshield fell victim to a small rock off the back tire of a jacked up Chevy Silverado just south of Hearst Castle on Pacific Coast Highway. It was partly cloudy and about 50 degrees. Cows were nearby.
The new Beetle's more upright windshield probably wasn't helpful in deflecting the force of that little rock. Hopefully we can repair the small chip and centimeter crack instead of a full replacement.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 13,343 miles
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: Limited Rear Visibility
January 4, 2013
It is not easy backing out of a parking spot in the new Volkswagen Beetle. Not only is the C pillar very thick, but the rear head rest is enormous. The latter might be nice for your rare passenger, but not so good when trying to avoid backing into something or someone. A different design would be wise. Also not helping is our Beetle's lack of a rear-view camera. For $28,000 it should have one.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 13,343 miles
