New Car Review: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 70s Edition

I have one question regarding the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 70s Edition:

Did they actually ever make them in this color, or anything close to it in the 70s?  I was around for the last decade of the Beetle soft-top, and I remember orange, and yellow and by the final two or three years, very nearly every one was triple-white.  But Toffee Brown Metallic with beige top and beige interior?  Not ringing any bells. Maybe it's an earth tones reference. We were big into those back in the day.

Anyway, despite having no idea what makes this a 70s Edition (where are the Coco Mats?), I have to say the Beetle Convertible is a very nice ride.



Let's face it.  The "New Beetle" from 13 years ago was through. Everyone who wanted one had one.  And the Beetle that replaced it a couple of years ago isn't exactly setting the sales charts on fire. Where to find some charm and some fun?  By making the top go down.

Of course, making the top go down makes the price of a car go up, and the Beetle Convertible is no exception. A standard droptop Bug (am I the only one referring to this Beetle as that?) starts at $24,995, but the 70s Edition with its color-coordination and 18-inch wheels begins at $28,595. So you'll be crowding $30,000.  But unless you go for little add-ons like cargo organizing blocks, custom floormats and the like, the 70s Edition comes as one-price, one-spec package. The only added cost then is destination charges. And that keeps you on this side of $30K (not including tax).

You've got the same basic setup as the base Convertible...a 2.5-liter, 170 horsepower five (yes, five) cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.  For more than that, you have to skip the base and decade models (there's also a 50s Edition, and a 60s Edition) and go for the Turbo Convertible,  which gets you 200 horsepower and starts at $28,470.

But all the stuff you'd imagine as optional are part of the standard 70s package: Cruise control, trip computer, keyless entry, multi-colored ambient lighting, satellite radio, navigation, a killer Fender audio system with 400 watts...the list goes on and on. In the interests of space, just go here for the whole thing.

And as you can see from the photo above (which depicts a Euro-spec version and a manual transmission we can't have), it's a lovely environment in which to take a drive. The interior of the current Beetle is a huge leap over what came before...and the 70s Edition Beetle Convertible's inside is filled with things that delight the eye. I'm struggling to remember anything from the 1970s that was ever this tasteful.

It won't punish you at the gas pump, either, with an EPA estimate of 21 city/27 highway that we had no problem equaling during our week at the wheel.

So despite some struggles with the concept of this being a 70s Edition, let's just say this: It's a fine one. If I were in the market for a Beetle, this would be the one calling my name the loudest on the showroom floor.