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