This is my dream car. I used to collect models of them as a kid and I can't take mind off of them! My husband said they have no crumple zone, so if I got into an accident, I could get seriously hurt. He is totally against me getting one. Right now, I have a 2007 Honda Civic Sedan. I like it, but I really love the Beetle. What do you think?
2007-07-06 01:25:32 · 7 answers · asked by New Moon Daughter 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
Time marches on & cars get redesigned. So issues of safety vary from model to model.
The original beetle could float. That's right ... imagine a flood ... all the other cars sink to the bottom & drown the occupants, while the VW beetles float to wherever the water is going.
Here are automotive sites with details of crash tests. Study what standards the Beetle has achieved, then compare the results to other autos that your husband reccommends.
http://www.carsdirect.com/volkswagen/new_beetle/safety
http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/volkswagen/beetle/safety/index.html
If you are considering buying one used from a prior year, you can check out safety of that year's models.
http://www.automotive.com/used-cars/safety/11/volkswagen/beetle/index.html
Check out consumer complaints by type of vehicle. Does VW Beetle get more than its fair share?
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/volkswagen.htm
I imagine there must be national statistics.
What are the proportions different kinds of cars on the roads & what are the proprtions various kinds in serious accidents ... do VW get more than their fair share?
Scroll down to bottom of Wikipedia article to find fan clubs of happy beetle owners ... what might they have to say about this car?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_New_Beetle
Ultimately you have to decide what's most important to your heart ... keeping peace with husband, or finding out whether or not he is correct about safety issues & then whether or not you can convince him that the problems have been solved.
Now it is true that on the nation's highways, when a big car has a collision with a small car, the occupants of the big car are safer. So if you have kids, their safety is more assured if they are in a gas guzzling SUV than in an economy sedan. There are many trade-offs to consider.
2007-07-06 05:35:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Moonjogger
At one time it was the only small car to pass the bumper safty test by the Insurance Safty Institute.
The "New" Beetle is a Golf , or GTi with a differant body on it. The guy who answered with the fireball thing was talking about the "Old" Beetle.
Your husband is wrong in this case. It has many safety features and Crumple Zones is just one of them.
Visit their site and print off some stuff to back your dream car. You only live once and life can be taken away in a mili-second.
2007-07-06 01:41:42 · answer #2 · answered by Rick S 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My wife has a 1999 New Beetle with almost 100,000 reliable, fun filled miles on it. The only part that needed replacing was the water pump. These cars are completely safe in all aspects [excellent brakes and good suspensions so you can avoid an accident]. The New Beetle is sold in Germany . This means it has to pass very strict safety standards. Soon our daughter will be zipping about in the bug, and I feel secure about that.
2016-05-19 21:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well there are 4 crumple zones in a VW BUG if that makes him feel better.
Your Civic has 6
So yes it is safe.
Not as safe but still there.......
I like the looks - but not the ride, kinda stiff.
Not enough power for me either, but my brother loves them.
2007-07-06 01:40:19 · answer #4 · answered by cgriffin1972 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
their germans! they make the best cars. a volkswagon will be safe, if not safer. its a small car but so what. have you seen bmws mini. or the smart car. both of those do fine in crash testing. go ahead. my sister has one and loves it! ur husband is worried cause its a small car. no car can take a hummer blow. lol. ur car might go under the larger trucks. :). jk. vw a great company and if u want go to them. the cars has a good crash test rating. get some spunk to ur car. i hate how every1 has civics, priuses, camerys, etc. the beetle shows some personality. im all for it.
2007-07-06 01:34:03 · answer #5 · answered by brandon 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assuming you're talking about the new one, not the old one. The old model was fun to drive, but it was not engineered like the new one. In a head-on collision, the first thing to get damaged was the gas tank. Imagine the fireball you'd have...
Research the car more. Check the car in the Consumer's Report magazine. Maybe you can convince him, or maybe you'll learn enough to realize that he is right!
2007-07-06 01:33:05 · answer #6 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No! Don't get a beetle. Hondas are great cars. Keep what you have, why fix it if it ain't broke? Please listen to your husband.
2007-07-06 04:25:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋