| Of my rich tapestry of friends, one of my | | | | being nearly ten years old that astounds me. |
| favourites works as a salesman at our local | | | | I've travelled around either testing or being |
| Volkswagen dealer. He's not my favourite | | | | the passenger in a multitude of cars and none |
| because I went to school with him - because I | | | | have had the nods of approval the giant pearl |
| didn't. I rarely nip out for a pint with him | | | | had. Of course that's not to say that three |
| and he doesn't participate in football which | | | | men in any form of girly drop-top wouldn't |
| is where I recruit the majority of my mates. | | | | get starred at. |
| He does however have a very large feather in | | | | |
| his cap which demands attention - the fact he | | | | So let's address the styling then. Unless |
| works at a Volkswagen dealer that allows him | | | | you've been living in a dingy at sea for the |
| to drive a string of the very latest German | | | | last ten years, you'll know that the new |
| metal. | | | | Beetle is curvy, chunky and not a million |
| | | | miles away from the shape of the original. |
| He's got a pretty good track record of what | | | | It's cuddly and cute and the most womanly of |
| he's 'test driven' too. There was the turbo'd | | | | vehicles on the road today. The front looks |
| EOS which although is a convertible, is manly | | | | like a happy, smiley face and the back looks |
| enough thanks to the riot going on under the | | | | like...well, a happy smiley face. The |
| bonnet that we looked heterosexual. There was | | | | symmetry of the lines is simple but |
| the beach trip with some bikini clad lasses | | | | effective, with the identical front and rear |
| in a special edition Polo that masqueraded as | | | | wheel arches joined together by the curve of |
| a 4x4 and ended up beached on a sand dune and | | | | the roof. It's one of the most recognisable |
| the fact he lovingly waxes his Corrado | | | | car silhouettes ever - along with once again, |
| seemingly every day makes it impossible not | | | | the Porsche 911. |
| to feel drawn towards the VW badge. | | | | |
| | | | Despite it being girly, the roof and simple |
| My trust in his judgement was severely dented | | | | lines made such an impression on me I had to |
| this week however when two of us were | | | | book in for a proper test drive. Although |
| recruited by him to witness his latest test | | | | I've seen countless Beetles, it took the |
| drive. I've been in a VW Beetle in the past, | | | | convertible to make me see what I'd been |
| all driven by women and all with a tall roof | | | | missing all these years. The drive is good, |
| that not only provided ample headroom, but | | | | despite the Beetle being a heavy car (even |
| also hid who I was from the watching world. | | | | more so with the safety reinforcements in the |
| Imagine then, my face when | | | | convertible) and the 1.8T engine shifted me |
| Volkswagen-dealer-friend turns up in a | | | | along at a decent rate. The Beetle is not the |
| convertible VW Beetle in off-white - with the | | | | most practical of cars, however if you view |
| roof down. Essentially it looked as though he | | | | it as a coupe (which it essentially is) |
| was driving a giant pearl. | | | | rather than a hatchback you'll be more than |
| | | | happy. |
| One feature that did take my fancy though was | | | | |
| the roof. Despite it being electric, it | | | | After all, the new Beetle was basically a |
| didn't fold away in an overly extravagant | | | | styling exercise that has turned out to be a |
| manner, but merely rested on the boot. I | | | | roaring success. I mean what other car comes |
| doubt it does much for aerodynamics but it | | | | with a flower in a vase on the dashboard?! |
| instantly made the Beetle reminiscent to a | | | | Your Volkswagen dealer can get you a new one |
| classic Porsche 911 Cabriolet and that's no | | | | relatively quickly, however the second-hand |
| bad thing. Of course unlike the old Beetle | | | | market tells you everything you need to know |
| and the 911, the engine is now in the correct | | | | about owning a Beetle - you'll struggle to |
| place under the bonnet. | | | | get hold of one. It really is the Marmite of |
| | | | the motoring world, those that hate it stay |
| Whilst I'm not an old-Beetle fanatic I don't | | | | away, those that buy one are so in love |
| frown upon those who worship them - of which | | | | they'll never part. |
| there are many. Despite knowing the extent of | | | | |
| this affection, it's the amount of looks the | | | | As for me, I hate Marmite, but I love the |
| 'new' version still gets despite the design | | | | Beetle. |