st pe s ee a e iCe ib Ch pr rr e W in
MOTORING
• Suspension • Brakes • Mufflers • Bull / Nudge Bar • Shockers • Custom Bending • Tow Bars • Truck Exhausts • Big Bore Sports System
little over a decade ago Volkswagen’s seven-speed direct shift gearbox. It’s better reborn Beetle started a spate of than most electronic manuals but it’s still retro cars. The Mini, Chrysler’s PT nowhere near as smooth or as fuss-free Cruiser and Citroen’s C3 all followed, as a conventional auto. I don’t like DSGs and this led a prominent American car much. There are annoying dead spots and designer to forecast the big problem with flat spots, but they’re good on fuel. retro cars; when it’s time to update how do Even with DSG the Beetle is a nice you facelift a retro design? thing to drive. It handles surprisingly Mini, by far the most successful of well and makes even challenging the bunch, keeps things fresh with corners easy. It goes quite the beetle lots of variations on the original hard once you get over the is a nice theme, to the point where there’s inordinately slow initial now even a Mini SUV. take-off, and it overtakes pretty thing to The sadly underpowered well too. But while it may be drive PT Cruiser faded away, the C3 perfectly happy to be driven bumps along at a few sales a month hard, this is not a car to drive with and, after a disappointing initial enthusiasm because you look rather response, Volkswagen is giving the Beetle ridiculous. The Beetle is more something another go. for cruising the boulevards and sashaying It’s bigger than the first retro Beetle the St Kilda foreshore on long, balmy with a longer roofline that’s higher at the nights. rear, a design that’s far less sympathetic The surprising thing is that it rides to the original 1940s VW but allowing so well. The interior is comfortable and your actual people to ride up back without nicely finished, with extensive metal trim detaching their heads. carrying the exterior colour. It has also proved beneficial for luggage It may be greatly improved and thus space, which is now on par with many of wider appeal, but with its looks and small hatchbacks. premium pricing the Beetle will always be Mind you, the Beetle costs a lot more a niche car. And I can’t help thinking that, than most small hatchbacks. And you Minis notwithstanding, the retro thing is can’t get four doors. And if you don’t want done now. \ reasdown@theweeklyreview.com.au a clutch pedal, your only option is the
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