new beetle vs. new mini TS

No, I'm happy with the car. I love the car. It's the VW service department and the price of parts that's made me decide never to buy from them again. It's also because the way I end up treating my automobiles isn't really compatible with a "boutique" vehicle. I need something boring where I won't feel like shit every time somebody dings my door in the parking lot.

But anyway, living in Oxford I *have* to say the Mini - they build them here! I can see the factory from my desk here...it is only about five hundred feet away. And it's quite a factory, really modern and clean inside and with a big window through which you can see the Minis being built. They even have plays performed inside the factory with the actors driving round in cars!

The VW bug seems designed for nu-hippies who listen to Phish.

You have to go to Asia to see any cars that you could really call space-age:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/atcars/special/special42/italy_sweden/img/hyundai_tb_s.jpg

Then she boldly subverts dominant paradigms.

Anyway if I was to get a car I wouldn't want either of those, I want an old fucking fiat convertible.

I loved the new ones when I first saw them, but I couldn't get over the fact that they seem to make the worst use of space of any car, being the same size as the Golf but with hardly any behind-the-passenger room. I guess I'm too practical.

That said, I lub my Bug, it zips around like it has six legs and the first time you get behind the wheel, despite the useable volume qualm, it feels so spacious. Emphasis on the space.

I only wish mine were yellow. Then I'd call him Pikachu.

otherwise Danzig OTM of course

http://pokeseite.virtualave.net/rundum/picture_newbeetle.gif

Also, the last old-skool beetle rolls off the line today.

whereas people say the mini is actually an amazing, well-built car. but while i'm sure dealing with bmw service dept would be a step up in quality, it might be out of my tax bracket. plus i'd have to get rid of the dual turntables i currently keep my new beetle dashboard. hmmmm...

We've got weird ideas about safety in this country. We drive around in 3500lb death traps that are supposed to make us safe. Wear bike helmets religiously but give no regard for making it safer in the first place. etc.

Bring back lawn darts I say.

Both look nice in convertible but I'm not so much a top-down girl.

A question: Where do you buy that yellow daisy that sits in the beetle glove compartment? Does VW manufacture it?

For me, unfortunately, the Mini is not practical because the closest dealer is in Sterling, and I wouldn't want to be stuck with something that would take a long commute to fix.

The Mini also shouts "Anglophile" a bit more strongly that I am wan to do.

I like the dashboard of the VW better--seems more intuitive. But maybe I would get used to the knob-centric control panel of the Mini.

I'm not sure I would get a Beetle though, because it seems like too much money for something that you can't cart anything in. Not that I ever do cart anything, but it seems nice to have the opportunity.

However, I've never driven one. Maybe I would have the same cathartic experience as Tom. If I did get either, the colors would definitely be red, and red with white roof for the mini. The aqua blue with white trim is also beautiful. Saw one for sale at the movie theater the other, but my mom was not willing to purchase for me. The bad thing about the used Minis is that they are still so pricey cause they haven't been around long enough.

I didn't realize that the PT Cruiser is Chrysler's attempt at a building a small, retro car. When we went to Memphis I asked for a compact at the rental dealer, and when I took the keys to it I thought they had given me an SUV. It didn't fit quite the rockabilly vibe we were going for, so I am surprised that some people find it's deign pleasing. It also drives like a tool.

If my local Zipcar had a Beetle I would test drive it, but they only have poncey cars. My sister Zips in SF; I would have asked to hold the wheel but I was younger and more innocent than and did not care about automobiles.

The min has nasty estae agane connotations here in the UK. (One of the UK's leading estate agents gives them as company cars to it's morons). I recon it's the better car though. If only because the Bettle is as big as a golf, whilst ahving none of the practicality, whereas the mini is a small car all round.

http://www.xposed.com/cm3/pictorial.aspx?pict_id=2138

They look even better irl, probably the best-looking new car I see around these days. Not that I'd buy one anyway!