...there are Passengers and there are Drivers.

Of Diesels and Other Things Volkswagen

I've been casually looking at cars for quite some time, figuring if something worked out, it'd be better to bite the bullet at my convenience rather than when I was desperate and had to take just anything. My goal was to find something more fuel efficient than the Jeep Grand Cherokee I had been driving. It was running OK, but making a few noises, dropping in fuel economy (at trade-in, it was down to less than 15 MPG) and, not being mechanically inclined, it seemed best to trade it in while it would provide some value.

I looked at a few different cars. The new 2007 Jeep Compass was intriguing, but disappointing; one I looked at cost more than a 2006 Liberty ($19k) despite having manual windows (though the sticker did note that this nearly two and quad-zeroes car did have an A/C). Given that it isn't off road capable, I'm not sure why the model I looked at was so pricey. It is also rather ugly, losing much of the charm of the typical Jeep. It's cheaper cousin and heir to the Neon's job, the Dodge Caliber, looks nicer and was nicely equipped for about three thousand less. It was tempting and not at all unpleasant. I think “Dr. Z,” as current Chrysler Group promotions refer to DaimlerChrysler's Dr. Dieter Zetsche, has given the Star-marquees a touch of German engineering that is really nice, although not as nice as a pure German car.

Drivers Wanted. I'm a Volkswagen man, so I was strongly leaning toward some kind of VW. Primarily it was between a Jetta and a New Beetle. When my parents were looking for a car this spring, I managed to coax my dad into looking inside a 2006 Passat, and despite his dislike of Volkswagens, he saw how nice it was in comparison to the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. It begs to be compared more to the likes of this, only for thousands less. Obviously, then, I really admire the Passat, but it was more than I wanted to spend, and I really don't need that large of vehicle. I did end up test driving a left over demonstrator of the 2005 Passat which was dramatically reduced in price, but I opted against that (in part because of how much I think the all new 2006 model is improved).

The Beetle has been floating through my mind as a car I've wanted to own since the Concept 1 awed everyone in 1994. Call me odd; while most kids dream of getting some kind of muscle car when they finally got their licenses, I dreamed of a Bug. Having grown up riding around in my mother's bright orange 1971 Super Beetle, I am thoroughly a Beetle fan, and (unlike most of my peers) not just from hearing about them: I experienced the real thing. The world's best selling car (ignoring the Corolla which is really a bunch of different cars that have carried the same name) is truly an amazing thing and a pleasure to ride in; although my mother's VW was wrecked probably a decade ago and has been patiently waiting its slow restoration since then, I did not forget.

Nevertheless, I did seriously consider the Jetta. It's a bit more expensive than a Beetle, but better at hauling more than two passengers and features some of the extra bells and whistles of the Passat. I test drove one after I drove a New Beetle, but while it is an amazing car, everything good about Beetles came to mind and won out over the next few days. Volkswagen's 2006 literature calls the New Beetle a “peace pod on wheels” and a “force of good,” and those are good descriptions. Many cars get the attention of people, the Beetle just quietly makes everyone smile. There's something to be said for being in a car that seems to have built in rose colored glasses. Perhaps it is like Steve Job's RDF (Reality Distortion Field).

The Diesel Dilemma. Having settled on the “force of good,” I next had to decide about diesel. One dealer in town had several Beetle's with Volkswagen's amazing TDI diesel technology. If you judge diesels by the old 1980's American diesels, you are getting the wrong picture. The TDI is a turbocharged, finely tuned machine that gives 44 MPG on the highway and provides very good acceleration without making a racket. While its horsepower looks meager (100 versus the gas engine's 150), more torque makes up for the difference. The problem is that people really want these puppies. While I wanted to put my money where my mouth is and support what I think is the best alternative fuel option, I couldn't justify the cost. The TDI only costs $1,200 more than the 2.5L 5-cylinder that comes standard in the Beetle or Jetta, but unlike the 2.5 models, dealers won't negotiate on the TDI. So while you can get a 2.5L for invoice price, you pay the higher sticker price for the diesel. I had figured that at a $1,200 difference, a TDI would pay for itself in two years, but when the difference shot up to almost $3,000, the fuel economy no longer was worth paying for.

Having tried to deal with a dealer farther away that had TDI's, I returned to my local dealer, which I really like and ended up with my car. (If you live in the area and go to buy a VW, Hyundai, Isuzu or Suzuki, ask for Kip Rodgers and tell him Tim Butler sent you — Kip likes to play the negotiating game, but he's also a pleasure to deal with and very, very helpful.) I've always liked beige interiors (as well as the Gecko Green exterior) and the decision on my Bug was aided by the fact that the one other Beetle they had included the sizably more expensive leather package as opposed to leatherette. I liked both Beetles at St. Charles VW better than the configurations at the aforesaid other dealer.

So that's the story of my Bug, which like any New Beetle should, has been given a name. “June Bug.” (it was made in June.) So far, I absolutely love it. I really admire the German engineering that VW puts into all of their cars, from the low end Rabbit (a.k.a. Golf for those of you across the pond, $14,990) through the absolutely stunning Phaeton, which I have had a chance to sit in (starts at $66,700). I could easily be a VW salesman, having admired Ferdinand Porsche's legacy since I was a little boy. There is a different feel to driving and riding in a German car; it rides smoothly, but you “feel one” with the road. It may not be for everyone, but I love it.

By the way, if you connect this post's title to my first post about car buying, you'll notice you will get most of Volkswagen's slogan. Yes, being the devious guy that I am, I included a hint in the title of my post that asked for guesses of what I bought. On the road of life there are passengers and there are drivers. Drivers wanted.