Are all Volkswagen Beatles standards?

Question

I've always wanted a Volkswagen Beatle. My mom informed me that they are all standards. I hate standards. Is this true or is she just trying to make me want a different car?

Answer 1

IF YOUR ASKING ABOUT A NEW BEETLE, THEY ARE AVAILABLE WITH BOTH AUTO AND MANUAL.
THE OLD BEETLE, THEY WERE AVAILABLE WITH AUTO BUT RARELY.

Answer 2

New or Old?

New Beetles are available with automatic.

Old Beetles are almost all standard, but a few were produced with "autostick". With the Autostick cars, you still had to shift gears with a gearshift, but there was no clutch pedal. These were actually kind of tricky to drive because the "clutch" was activated by touching the shift knob with your hand. If you touch the knob and don't take your foot off the gas, the engine will over rev. Autostick cars are very rare now, and they tend to have maintenance problems, so it's probably best to avoid them unless you're a collector.

Bottom Line: If you want an old Beetle, you WILL be shifting your own gears.

Something else to consider...

Can you live without air conditioning? Old Beetles never came from the factory with A/C. Some people put after market A/C units in their cars, but Beetle engines are too weak for it to work well. With the A/C on, the engine will feel anemic and run VERY hot (and not last very long).

I hope this helps.

Oh yeah -

"Beatles" are people (John, Paul, George and Ringo).

"Beetles" are cars.

Answer 3

No they are not all standards. The beetle uses essentially the same drivetrain (engine and transmission) as the VW Golf and Jetta. They are available in automatic or standard shifts.

The old beetles were mostly, but not all standard shifts. Back then automatic transmissions were not very efficient and robbed cars of a fair percentage of their horsepower in transmitting power to the drive wheels. As the old beetles were modestly powered four cylinder engines few buyers were anxious to further diminish their performance by buying the automatics.

These days most automatic transmissions are quite efficient, and the new beetle's water-cooled four cylinder is about three times as powerful. So the choice is really just a matter of what you prefer.

Bye the bye. Don't let a standard shift be a lifelong boogey man. Over the years I've taught a number of people how to drive stick shifts, and it rarely requires more than a couple of hours of instruction and then some practice on hills for a day or two.

Answer 4

I own a 1974 vw beelte with an automatic stickshift. You still have to shift but it has a vacume operated clutch that works off of a switch on the gear shift.

I have never had trouble with it and i drive it all of the time. with regular maintenance everything on a vw bug will usually work for a long time.

I like it because not many people have one.

btw my other 10 cars are all stick shift.

I think it is funny that most people think the only automatic car I own wasn't avalible with an automatic

Answer 5

The old Beetles were standards. Some had automatic clutches, but still stick shift. The new beetles are either automatic or standard. The automatics are pretty quick, and the standards are really quick.

Answer 6

If your talking about classic models there where 3 trim levels standard, deluxe, vert. The us only got the deluxe and vert trim level, overseas you could order the stripped down standard model. As far as trans starting in the early 60's you could get a autostick or manual, but autosticks are rarer, higher on maint, etc. Check out my links below for more info/cars.

Answer 7

Get a New Beetle - they are a great fun to drive, great safety features (for your mom), and the hippie vibe is there too. They come in auto and standard - whatever you like. BTW it's really fun to drive a stick once you learn - you don't know what you're missing.

Answer 8

In 1968 they made an Automatic stickshift. They had a 1 and a 2 and no clutch. If you're talking new beetle, yes they make automatics.

Answer 9

No, but the standards will run Ringos around the automatics. They Paul away from the line faster.

Answer 10

Learn Standard! It's more fun anyways! My 1.8t New Beetle is a great and fun car to drive.

And if you don't want to learn standard they have them in automatic.

Answer 11

No, they come in automatic, as well as an automatic with a sport shifting mode. In fact, I am selling one. A 2006 with 14,000 miles. It is yellow and loaded. Not one feature is missing from this car. Only $21,000!!! Contact me at