Is New Beetle feminine?

[Bob_Fout]

Awesome color J.

 

[lkchris]

It did take some getting used to having the acre of dash in front of you

I think it's cool because it makes all cars in front look like they have "diffusers" like a Formula 1 car.

It's the reflection of the defroster vents, of course.

 

[heykw]

One word YES.

 

[dieseljet22]

KW, I second that. It's a Chick car.

Besides the Mary Kay cosmetics pink cadillac...I cant think of another car that is more chick-ish.

The Mazda Miata is kind of a chick looking car too.

Suzuki Samurai? (real men would drive a jeep instead).

Can anyone else think of chick looking cars?

 

[Cpt. Ron]

My postman said he thought I had a new girl friend over when he saw my Beetle, he and I both laughed and he said there were three more in my neighborhood, same Gecko green and all owned by guys, mine is the only TDI and now have the TDI plate on the back. I love my Beetle, it is fun to drive and mileage is fantastic compared to my 07 Dodge diesel truck, which sets in the winter. I hook up my truck to my Airstream and leave to the Oregon coast for the summer, hate to leave the Beetle behind, just can't drag it along.

 

[66Stang]

KW, I second that. It's a Chick car.

Besides the Mary Kay cosmetics pink cadillac...I cant think of another car that is more chick-ish.

The Mazda Miata is kind of a chick looking car too.

Suzuki Samurai? (real men would drive a jeep instead).

Can anyone else think of chick looking cars?

I am a guy and own a Mazda Miata. I think BHtoofer and I are the only people who post here and drive Miata's.

As for the Miata thing, Autocross one or Road race one. Once you've driven one in anger, it no longer is a "chick car"

As for the Samuri, my old neighbor Tim Porter was real into Samuri's, and has built several as awesome off road vehicles.

One of the guys in our local TDI group (Micah) (he has a four car garage for our wrenching get togethers) has an off Road Sammi in addition to his TDI.

I want a new beetle because I am married with three daughters and I have four females in my house ranging in age from 8 to 42 who think the new beetle is awesome. I would like to pass my love of cars on to them...and I think a New beetle would be an excellent way of letting the girls have their car.

One of our midwest new Beetle TDI's won a burnout contest at Mid Ohio, beating Camaro's and the like.

But to answer the question...yes...Sammi's, Miatas, New Beetles and the like are chick cars...in that females like them. Local High School girls tennis team was having a car wash and I pulled in with my Miata. the amount of young female attention my car got did my middle aged mind some good.

Actually, I know of a very non gay guy who drives a PINK Samuri as an off road vehicle.

Chris

 

[66Stang]

My postman said he thought I had a new girl friend over when he saw my Beetle, he and I both laughed and he said there were three more in my neighborhood, same Gecko green and all owned by guys, mine is the only TDI and now have the TDI plate on the back. I love my Beetle, it is fun to drive and mileage is fantastic compared to my 07 Dodge diesel truck, which sets in the winter. I hook up my truck to my Airstream and leave to the Oregon coast for the summer, hate to leave the Beetle behind, just can't drag it along.

We have a guy who drives a NB Ragtop, light blue, in our neighborhood.

Chris

 

[66Stang]

When I brought 'Sluggo' (kids named it) home wife told me it looked silly. Now she wants to drive it all the time, says all the guys are checking her out. http://pics.tdiclub.com/showphoto.php?photo=53974&cat=500&ppuser=93284

She would also get lots of male attention in a new Camaro. Here's what you do. Tell her she can have two cars that get male attention.

A new Camaro would be a cool garage mate....just tell her you want the SS model. In Hugger Orange.

The only downside to an NB with kids is the back seat is really tiny.

Chris

 

[66Stang]

say what you will, but I dont drive around in a girly car! Only a semi-girly car, an ugly 4dr golf with steelies. I took the wheel covers off to make it less girly and more ugly.

Actually I think the 4 door Golf is a good looking car. I'm strange, that way.

Chris

 

[dieseljet22]

Usually when there is a guy behind the wheel of a New Beetle it has a rainbow bumper sticker on it. What does that mean.......???

I bet Perez Hilton drives a NB. haha

Just kidding guys....

 

[lovemybug]

Usually when there is a guy behind the wheel of a New Beetle it has a rainbow bumper sticker on it. What does that mean.......???

I bet Perez Hilton drives a NB. haha

Just kidding guys....

I have no rainbow bumper sticker on mine. Just a bunch of crap in the tiny backseat/storage area.
Must be a California thing to have that bumpersticker.

 

[Daddy_O]

99,5 White NB. Awesome to drive up and down the hill. Chicks dig it. Got the whole "Chicks Car" and "Biotch Bug" thing at first. Once they figure out I get 585 to 720 miles per tank they STFU.

As for testosterone, why advertise?

Did you know if you fold down the back seat and open the sunroof a 6' male can have his way with a 5'7" female? You can also open the sunroof and roll the passenger seat all the way back............try that in anything other than a lead sled.......dig my beetle.

Next is to develop a true Baja Suspension kit for this little beast. Bought a house on a long dirt road. Bug doesn't like it very much. A little suspension and we will be good.

 

[Tin Man]

Interestingly enough, while the New Beetle may have started as a gender neutral car, depending on the color, I believe our culture has "masculinized" to the point where ALL Beetles are now considered feminine. This is besides the idea that cars are female gender as are boats and planes.

Witness the difference in style of Rock groups between, say, the '70's and today. The Dana Fuchs Band with a female singer that does Beatles songs and would be considered masculine in the past while if you look at the '70's group Sweet, they would look quite feminine nowadays, even though it was definitely not so in their time.

TM

 

[Waldek Walrus]

I went to Savannah to visit family over the weekend. When I checked into the motel where we met the clerk asked if that was my Beetle that had just pulled into the lot. I said yes and on went a conversation. She said she really wanted a Beetle convertable - but her husband vetoed the idea. He REFUSED to be seen in one. Insecurity?

 

[bumblebeetdi]

I think it goes both ways, it can be outfitted to be a girls car but also a guys cars if you do it up just right, now as several people have said in here, being it a diesel, heck yes on guys cars and not girlie. Also you were talking about people staring at you and your beetle, How many people ,and this is for everyone that has a beetle or has seen a beetle, has either yelled out the color or said "Slug Bug" or "Punch Buggy" when you are with someone? This weekend while driving to lowes, I went down 2 different rows looking for a parking space (really busy that day) and twice I saw someone "slug" the person they were with once they saw my car, I get a laught out of it every time, whether they are young or old, one was a couple in the 30s-40s, and the other was a group of girls and their dad and the dad is the one that got one of the girls before she could. And for anyone that hasn't noticed yet *Slug* "Yellow One!"

 

[fase2000TDI]

Yes, it's feminine for a few reasons:
1.) It's designed in a way that reduce utility and fuel economy (smallest cargo space & worst fuel economy) while not improving performance
2.) A flower in a cup was an accessory for the car from VW
3.) the TDI version doesn't come with an emblem - what group ya think they're targetting there? The 1.8T in italics (feminine) Turbo

It's a chick car.

Not to say that all women are so vain, many aren't. Just who VW was aiming to sell the car to.

 

[lovemybug]

Yes, it's feminine for a few reasons:
1.) It's designed in a way that reduce utility and fuel economy (smallest cargo space & worst fuel economy) while not improving performance
2.) A flower in a cup was an accessory for the car from VW
3.) the TDI version doesn't come with an emblem - what group ya think they're targetting there? The 1.8T in italics (feminine) Turbo

It's a chick car.

Not to say that all women are so vain, many aren't. Just who VW was aiming to sell the car to.

I still beg to differ that it's exclusively a chick car. It takes a guy who's really secure with himself to pull off driving a Beetle. I guess that leaves you out, then.

For what my wife and I use it for, my Beetle is a perfect car for us. If we need to use a bigger car, then we use her car. '97 Stratus that gets less than two thirds the mileage I get out of the Beetle.

 

[fase2000TDI]

I still beg to differ that it's exclusively a chick car. It takes a guy who's really secure with himself to pull off driving a Beetle. I guess that leaves you out, then.

For what my wife and I use it for, my Beetle is a perfect car for us. If we need to use a bigger car, then we use her car. '97 Stratus that gets less than two thirds the mileage I get out of the Beetle.

There is no advantage in the Beetle over a Jetta sedan. Beetles get worse fuel economy and it has less cargo space. Yeah, you have to be secure with yourself to drive a Beetle - never claimed otherwise. I have nothing against folks that own them, just answering the title of the thread.

A lot of people went with Beetles because it was the only TDI they could find. It's not a bad car by any means and I don't think driving one makes one less masculine. A car is a vehicle designed to get you from point a to point b; if it does that in a efficient manner while achieving good performance and quality of ride all the better. The Beetle TDI does that, and if it's all you could find it's not a bad vehicle - better than 95% of those on the road. However, given the choice of a Beetle vs Jetta/Golf, I'd choose the jetta/golf every day.

I went with a TDI because of the utility. I'm selling my sedan because I bought a Jettawagon. A 23 year old male who CHOSE a station wagon. Does that sound insecure to you, how many 23 year old single guys do you know that would seek out a wagon over a sedan? The jettawagon gets the same fuel economy, more cargo space, etc. It's the utility of TDI's I'm attracted to, and the new Beetle stands in opposition to those ideals.

 

[pm22071985]

There is no advantage in the Beetle over a Jetta sedan.....Beetles get worse fuel economy...

I've gotten better mpg in my bug than my jetta.
I can think of several advantages of the bug, but then again there is no point in bickering with you.
Enjoy your wagon, they are nice too.

 

[fase2000TDI]

I've gotten better mpg in my bug than my jetta.
I can think of several advantages of the bug, but then again there is no point in bickering with you.
Enjoy your wagon, they are nice too.

I'd like to hear them - honestly. I unfortunately have only had the experience of driving neglected TDI bugs, which is probably part of dislike towards them.

A few things I did like: higher roof (at 6'2 it was a welcome change from the Jetta) and the HUGE dashboard to put paperwork on. The instrument cluster not having a coolant temp gauge really bothered me though - I like to keep an eye on it. What's your fuel economy in the bug?

Thank you, I've wanted a wagon for a long time. None of my friends that are male can understand it, except for one TDI owning friend. Most of them can't understand why I'd get rid of a sedan for a "station wagon soccer mom car".

 

[lovemybug]

As far as fuel mileage, I usually get 42-43mpg with my car on the highway. That's with an 01M auto tranny and cruise set at 70. And before anyone starts flaming me about the transmission, I don't beat on my car, and I've changed the fluid three times on it, so far, and changed the differential fluid last fall. Car runs well, and should last for some time, yet.

I actually like wagons, too. My first car in high school was a big station wagon. Not one of these mini-wagons, but a big barge of a station wagon. 1972 Mercury Monterey wagon. Big eight passenger Bradymobile. it was a great car for someone just starting out driving and learning how to maintain a car. It was a rustbucket and the rings were shot. When you filled the tank with gas, you had to add a quart of oil. That was about 250 miles or so, on a 20 gallon tank.

I originally got my Beetle for a business endeavour that didn't pan out. I kept the car because it's actually fun to drive. If I didn't have the Beetle, I'd probably have a Jetta, too. As it is, though, I like being distinctive. It's kind of hard to miss a red Beetle.

 

[FlashT]

Originally Posted by fase2000TDI
Yes, it's feminine for a few reasons:
1.) It's designed in a way that reduce utility and fuel economy (smallest cargo space & worst fuel economy) while not improving performance
2.) A flower in a cup was an accessory for the car from VW
3.) the TDI version doesn't come with an emblem - what group ya think they're targetting there? The 1.8T in italics (feminine) Turbo

It's a chick car.

Not to say that all women are so vain, many aren't. Just who VW was aiming to sell the car to.

1.) What specific design quality are you refering to that reduces performance? If anything it performs better since it is slightly lighter and has a firmer suspension than the Jetta.

2.) I completely agree. That is an absolutely useless accessory. That alone makes it a feminine car. Although, I just bought mine because it was a great deal for me and it gets excellent mileage.

3.) My car actually came with (3) TDI emblems, although it's from Canada. The emblems have thick bold lettering and dull metallic grey paint and look like this: TDI

 

[Helven Ink]

The beetle has poor aerodynamics for fuel economy. The downward sloping backside design of the beetle was originally for an air-cooled engine, so that while driving air would be pushed into the rear engine compartment to cool it down. The new beetle is liquid-cooled, The engine is mounted in the front, and it's not rear-wheel drive. You get a lot of downward pressure on the back end that reduces performance. If the car was rear-wheel drive then it would be useful... if you had the torque... for keeping the rear wheels pressed into the ground at high torque.
MAXMPG on the forum (I think it was MAXMPG) designed a wing for the backend of his beetle that gave it the aerodynamic qualities of a sedan and gained a couple mpgs for it.
I wonder if there is a way to make the Beetle rear-wheel drive... Then the slope could be beneficial...
That being said, I love my Beetle TDi. It's fun to drive, girls love my car, and it's the only car I've ever been in where I didn't have to lean forward to see stoplights if I'm at the front of the line.

 

[Bkcorso]

THE SEATS are what I really enjoy about the beetle, for me its been the most comfortable, vs jetta, golf, passat.

It seems to have the most interior breathing room for the driver.

 

[MichelleRoze]

I think if someone has to question whether or not the Beetle is feminine, then they shouldn't own one. I know a lot of women love the beetles, but think back to the air cooled days. A lot of guys liked the beetle too! And I think the reason for the budvase is to bring people back to the 60's. Flowers aren't just a girl thing ok. "Make love not war" remember? It was all about peace signs, flowers, and love back then.

That being said...I'm trying to eliminate the "aww you're car is so cute" effect. It can be done right. There is a lot more that needs to be done to it than say a Jetta or Passat, but at the same time, these cars don't blend in either. One of the whole reasons that not one beetle says "beetle" on it. It's obvious! I've heard from many people who have rode in my car that there is MUCH more space. Head room and leg room. The backseat has more leg room but less head room, obviously. Even though I don't have much usuable space, I still make do. I can fold my rear seat down and cram in alot of things. Heck, my car was PERFECT for loading tall plants, or even bikes! The dome shape does have it's advantages and it's disadvantages.

If you visit the newbeetle.org. You will find that there are more men than you would think that own a new beetle and love them to death! It's not feminine....it's a blast from the past!

 

[lovemybug]

Amen to that.

 

[das klakityklakk]

I think the mk4 Jetta is just as much a chick car as the new beetle... I see a lot of really preppy/ditzy chicks driving jettas who look like their daddy bought them for graduation...

As a chick myself... I don't want people judging me because I drive a mk4 jetta, I don't want to be in that category of mk4 jetta 'chicks' (most of them are terrible drivers)

...but I have yet to see a chick driving a mk4 jetta tdi... which makes me feel better

Also, it's not so bad because maybe your 'chick car' will get you some chicks... ...like when guys get really cute little girly dogs so women will talk to them...

 

[Helven Ink]

I think that having a TDi Beetle makes it considerably less feminine just from the get-go. My girlfriend's mom thought my beetle was cute... until I started the engine...
Why doesn't the Beetle get a TDi Badge? I need to order one from Kerma...

 

[MichelleRoze]

I just ordered TDI badges from a dealer in SC. $15 a piece. Same TDI badge on the passat, jetta, golf, etc. I WANT people to know it's diesel...and you're right, being a diesel makes it less feminine from the get-go. People will smirk when they see my car, then I start the engine, rev it a bit, and leave a cloud of soot and then it's THAT'S AWESOME!

So yeah...

and I have seen a lot of ditzy chicks drive passats and jettas lately, and man they are the WORST drivers ever. Especially in the newer model years....

 

[MyWifesTDI]

Jetta is feminine?

...but I have yet to see a chick driving a mk4 jetta tdi... which makes me feel better

If your ever in St. Louis...my wife drives a mk4 tdi now for almost 2 years!