Cybertoad's Blog

It’s been a week since I brought the car home and so far, I’m really enjoying her! I am driving it very differently than the way I drove my Honda. My Honda was more utilitarian. I loved it but I wasn’t as careful with it as I should have been. I parked between big cars, inevitably getting lots of dings over the years. I scraped lots of curbs without too much worry since the bumpers were already scratched from other incidents. The plastic wheel covers were all scratched because I’d get too close to the curb when I parallel parked. I just treated it like a workhorse and wasn’t as careful as I could have been, driving it a little too close to the curb or too close to the edge of a parking pillar (yep, got a scratch doing that too). I never did enough damage to warrant a trip to the body shop but over the years, it looked a bit worse for the wear when you were close up.

With the Beetle though I have completely changed my habits!! I park further away, away from cars. I park with the utmost care and if I have any doubt I’ll make it, I pull out and try again or look for a better spot. Last week I even turned around when I came across some high water. It wasn’t that bad and I had been through worse in the Honda but I actually turned around and went another way to avoid it in the lower profile Beetle. I know this is a good thing and I am going to make the effort to keep it up and never take for granted this car. She needs a little more TLC and respect so I’ll be sure to give it!

With all that being said, I’ve also compiled a list of observations on things I’ve noticed both good and bad about the Beetle. Click “more” you can read them…

She’s got some zip! I’m not going to race any Corvettes but it does accelerate better and smoother than the Civic!
I’m enjoying how the controls work. They are easy to use (I hardly have to look when I mess with them), within close reach (closer than in the Civic) and offer a lot of options especially in terms of the A/C.
Speaking of the A/C, it cools really well, better than the Civic ever did.
The side mirrors are a little high and obstruct my view when I have to go around a corner towards the left. They also aren’t that big so I have bigger blind spots. I am very careful about always looking over my shoulder when I switch lanes in either direction.
You know how most cars just have three windshield wiper settings – intermittent, faster and really fast? I’ve got those three as well but the intermittent setting has four speeds itself. I know, something silly but very useful with all this rainy weather!
The fold down rear set is pretty nifty and will come in handy I’m sure.
The trunk is small but not too small as to not be useful. For the small amount of stuff I carry – groceries, Target purchases – it’s plenty of space.
I’ve really fallen in love with the color! I thought I had wanted a green one but I think I’m happier with this gorgeous blue.
Since I can’t really see the front end of my car nor the back because of the shape, I’m having trouble judging distances when I park so I am just being extra careful!
Despite the cuphlders position under the dash, I am happy to report that the plastic glasses I use every morning for my chocolate milk breakfast-on-the-go fit. Barely, but without much difficulty. Small water bottles or anything taller do not though. Guess I’ll use the one cupholder in the back for the water bottles and larger drinks you get at fast-food places.
The suspension is stiffer than the Civic but not as stiff as I thought it would be.
The steering wheel has a 3-spoke design with one “spoke” coming down the bottom-half. It bisects the wheel and I’m having trouble adjusting to it being there. In the Honda I could rest my hands there more comfortably because there was nothing in the way.
I think it’s so neat that I can close the windows and sunroof with the key from the outside. I found out I can also open the windows without even getting in or starting it – just by using the key!

I also found out my mother likes it better than my Civic. She just loves the Bug! She thought the blue would be darker but loved it when she saw – and she says its more comfortable than the Civic used to be… I’m still getting used to the seat so the verdict is out on that…