Quick Drive: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI- The Undiesel

I like the Beetle, and find it much better looking and better trimmed than its “New Beetle” predecessor. And by now, it seems like I’d driven just about every variant of the Volkswagen Beetle except I hadn’t yet been behind the wheel of the TDI, so when the offer was made I eagerly accepted.

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting. I’ve had countless diesels over the years ranging from Mercedes 123s to Oldsmobiles, so I’m pretty used to the diesel animal. I’ve gotten a tan from the WAIT light over the years and have fine-tuned my ear to the chortle. But what they sent me was totally alien. Yes, it was the 2.0 TDI, with 140 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft of torque. And it said diesel on the price label. But outside of some pretty impressive low end torque, it sure didn’t act like a diesel.

In fact, I called it the Un-Diesel. It didn’t clatter, it didn’t chortle, there was no familiar diesel smell at all, it didn’t even have a wait light- in fact, the only starting procedure was to turn the key. Mated to VW’s DSG dry-clutch automatic, it performed like a reasonably powerful gasoline engine. The only time I was even aware that it was a diesel was on the freeway (the 42.6 mpg caught my eye) or at the gas pump where the DIESEL FUEL REQUIRED sticker reminded me that it was, in fact, a diesel.

There's one other place where I noticed that it was a diesel- on the window sticker. You'll pay a hefty premium for the TDI- it's priced $4,200 above a base Beetle, and that makes me do some thinking. Yes, it’s rated at 28/41 mpg (with the DSG automatic) - but that's a big wallop for an economy car, and with the cost difference only a serious freeway flyer is going to make this thing pencil. For the same price, I’d take the R-line with its 2.0 Turbo.

Behind The Wheel: 2013 VW Beetle Convertible- QT for the OC

Last summer I drove the restyled VW Beetle Turbo and came away impressed indeed- especially with the more masculine, 356-like styling, upgraded interior and the spirited performance that reminded me of my first and second generation GTIs back in my college days.

So when Volkswagen called and offered me a crack at the new Beetle Convertible, who was I to be impolite and decline? I met them in Newport Beach on a Friday afternoon and they handed me the keys (okay, the fob)  to a $32,295 (plus destination) Beetle Convertible Turbo with Sound and Navigation Package and Automatic in a smart Reef Blue color.

I dropped the top and headed to Laguna to see how the locals would react. Although it normally takes a much pricier car to turn a head in the OC, the sporty little Beetle received nods and waves, and why not? The redesigned car, as I noted last year, is much more like a 356 than a Beetle, and there's nothing they like better in the OC than a Porsche.

And even side from being a surfer magnet, the Beetle Convertible has a lot to offer. First I'm impressed by what it doesn't have- noise and vibration. There's no cowl shake to speak of and the three layer convertible top is the quietest soft top I have ever experienced- even freeway driving is a pleasure. It's maybe a decibel or two louder than the coupe.  The audio system can actually be heard and enjoyed with the top up or down. It's a one-touch system for lowering the top and side windows, so it's effortless fun for all the sun chasers. One thing that's far from one touch is the Rube Goldberg device that they called the top boot- I've had convertibles since the 70s and this is the first time that I just gave up and stuffed the damn thing in the trunk. Fortunately, the top's appearance when lowered is not objectionable.

The engine was the same 2.0 liter 200 HP Turbo I drove last summer, although this time it was mated to VW's six speed Automatic. I'm not normally a fan of multi-speed Automatics and this is no exception. I understand the need to achieve CAFE numbers, but how about a Sport mode? The calibration was so biased in favor of fuel economy that it was always one gear ahead of where I wanted to be. I overcame with manual mode but a sport button would be lovely. As it is, I'd opt for the six speed manual and use the thousand dollar savings to pay for all the extra gas I'd plan to burn.

This car was also equipped with the Fender Premium Audio and Navigation, and I must admit that the Fender is a big improvement over the base and a luxury worth investing in. It has Sirius XM, 400 watts of power and nine speakers and created a sound that was rich and enjoyable whether the top was raised or lowered. I was much more meh on the Navigation, which was pleasant enough to use but whose display seemed scarcely larger than an iPhone. I can take it or leave it but the package also includes the leather interior that I very much liked, so just ignore it.

Even in Southern California, some rain must fall and the Beetle and I had a full day of rain testing (oh, the things I do for my readers.) I'm happy to report that the Beetle's snug little beret allowed not one drip of water inside and the heater kept the cabin toasty warm. While I won't claim that it was more fun in the rain than in the sun, there was certainly no penalty involved.

And that really sums up the Beetle Convertible- it's so well designed and well constructed that one could literally forget that its a convertible until the top button is pushed- and that's serious praise indeed. My list of likes is long, and quibbles are few. If you're shopping for a convertible, this one belongs on the short list.

Behind The Wheel: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo- More Trick, Less Chick

I loved my 1983 GTI. I'd waited for months for it to arrive, stopping by the local VW dealer at least once a week to see when they were finally going to get one. When the little black screamer finally arrived, I quickly sold my late model Scirocco and ran over to claim it, not really bothering to worry how a college student would even pay for the damn thing. Oh, and car geek that I am, I even took pictures before they rolled it off the showroom floor. Black with red sport seats, sunroof and electronic stereo, six speed and sunroof. I had them add Autobahn driving lights and that was about it. It was fast- much faster than the Scirocco, and the Pirellis seemed to stick like glue. I was in Hot Hatch Heaven.

By the time the redesigned 1985 model came out, I was working for one of the big three. I got an '85, also in black, and hoped no one noticed. It was a risky plan. The '85 had more sophistication- a much better ride, power steering, and more subdued cabin materials, but it wasn't quite the same balls-out fun. I don't think I've ever had another new car that delighted me quite like the '83.

I wasn't thinking of my long lost GTIs when VW called to offer me a chance to drive the new Beetle Turbo. I was not much of a fan of the "New Beetle", finding it longer on promise than on substance and just too chicky for me. The bud vase was too gay even for me and the whole thing just seemed too cutesy- I don't care if the '73 Super Beetle had one giant gauge- I hated the damn thing. Besides, the interior was a sea of unhappy plastics. I'd driven them. but we hadn't bonded.

But the 2012 redesign intrigued me. I thought the lowered silhouette held promise and liked the sportier, more masculine styling. The body shaping is much more sophisticated and the frameless door glass added sophistication. The car feels much more sophisticated. It's as if the Beetle became a 356. I started thinking of my old GTI.

I turned the key and the comparison seemed more apt. The 20.T Turbo engine produces 200 HP and 207 lb/ft of torque- well above the measly 90 HP of the '83- but it had the same sound. The cloth sport seat interior looked familiar and felt like an favorite chair. And the shifter felt exactly the same- except that the Beetle has the sixth gear that my old GTI needed so badly. The dash was much more GTI than Beetle with a full complement of gauges including a tach and even a chronometer that I never used (and VW sure loves that oil temp gauge, don't they?) nestled in a handsome carbon fiber fascia.

My test car was interesting, both for what it had and what it didn't. It was a base Beetle Turbo with a six speed and the Bi-Xenon Headlamp and 19" wheel package ($1000) and that was it. It came with standard Turbo features- sport suspension, six speed manual, all season tires, alloy pedals, fog lamps, rear spoiler, sport seats, leather covered wheel and shifter- and nothing more. No Navigation, no satellite radio, no parking sensors or backup cameras or trip computers or automatic missile launchers. In short, just a well performing car. Including delivery charge, the car listed for just $25,165- the lowest priced car I've tested all summer. And just like my snarky '83- the most fun as well.

In short, I was charmed by the six speed Turbo well beyond my expectations. The Turbo 2.0 is smooth all through the range, the shifter is a delight, the ride is smooth and sure footed, the car corners in the best GTI tradition, it's handsomely tailored inside and out , the sport seats fit me perfectly, and doesn't need to have all the options to be a great deal of fun- in fact my base car with six speed and wheels might be just the ticket. Nothing is perfect, I still can't figure out how to open the hatch properly, and the lack of trip computer kept me from bothering to track the fuel economy, but I loved the car and was trying to think of a credible way to explain to VW that I'd misplaced it. All in all, it made me smile like I hadn't since 1983. It's more trick and way less chick. I can think of worse ways to spend twenty five grand.