"how to take a piece of history, 
replace just about everything,
make it look kinda the same, 
and call it historical..."





By definition, the "new" bug does not resemble the 
"old" bug in any way except in an outward appearance.


The old bug has survived this long because,
once you understood air-cooled, you could maintain it 
and keep it running.  The beetle created a whole generation
of back-yard mechanics and dune-buggy nuts.


Fixing and rebuilding classic beetles is still easy and cheap.  
Bumpers are $80, fenders $70, doors $250, rebuilt engines are $1200, 
a new piston/cylinder/ring kit is $250, the brake system cost $500
to completely rebuild etc., etc.,.


As with any current vehicle, you can't fix these 
electronic, fuel-injected, air-bagged clones.


The "new" bug is being marketed as warm verses
the old "cold" bug.  If allowed to rust and leak, any car
will be cold! Having a water-cooled monster in the front
had a distinct advantage with interior heating.


A $300 modification cured that problem.  Maintaining the stock 
heating system worked equally as well.  My current beetle has the
modification and will melt a styro-foam cup placed near the outlet.


Remember that this new beetle is manufactured in Mexico.
Been there, done that.	Mexican chrome just ain't the best.
Mexican bearing and gear quality has questionable merit.
Or, are all the components being brought in and assembled 
with cheap labour...? Is this NAFTA  'merican style.


In my 73 Beetle, I burn unleaded gas and, with a 2-barrel,
high-compression, and a performance exhaust (total price $600),
I get 40h/30c mpg, the "new" bug 29mpg.  I generate about 90 hp,
the new bug 115 and I get better acceleration with the same emissions
and mine floats!!!


Ultimately, it is just a re-worked Golf!
The "Da Da Da" advertising didn't work on the young crowd
so we dig deep into nostalgia marketing and this is what you get.
People lined up for DOS 6 and Windows 95 too...


I believe the new bug truly represents the new millennium
in the sense that we will be bombarded with these kinds of marketing 
strategies. We will have to look deeper than "skin deep"
to see the true nature of what we are buying and not be fooled 
by labels or acronyms.