Launched in 1938, the Volkswagen Beetle takes pride in being the car that has been in production for the longest time and got discontinued after eighty-one years of production. The vehicle was tagged as a ”the people’s car”, as it put an entire nation on wheels with its enigmatic styling and insane reliability. The Volkswagen Beetle was so iconic that even a movie was made about it, and everyone loved it.
After its new generation debuted in 1998, the retro-themed New Beetle launched soon after and launched a few variants for the vehicle. The 2005 new Beetle came with some technological advancements and a convertible option, which gave the vehicle a refreshing style. The car also got a much more optimized and refined engine, along with a fresh color palette.
A Look Back At The Beetle Specs
The Beetle is one of the most iconic automobiles in history. The design of the vehicle was appealing and also considered to be timeless. The vehicle follows a very simple philosophy which was to maximize space and comfort for its passengers; hence it had a rear-engine layout which opened a lot of space for the passengers on the inside. In 1998, the Volkswagen Beetle debuted in America, but it got based on the Volkswagen Golf, and enthusiasts went crazy over it due to its iconic styling and retro feel. In early 2000, the vehicle’s design was starting to age, and the carmaker decided to refresh the entire lineup as it introduced the turbo S trim. This new model had a much more aggressive look and spectacular performance to back it up. The hatchback came with a manual and automatic transmission combination, but only the DSG gearbox was available for North America. A new feature for 2005 was the availability of two new engines, the 2-liters, and the 1.8T; these engines got offered with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2-liter engine produced nearly 115 HP, And the 1.8-liter engine, which was a turbocharged unit, had an excess of 180 HP. There was also a 1.9-liter Diesel engine known for its 50 MPG fuel economy and 117 lb-ft of torque. All trims of the Beetle received a 5-speed manual transmission, while the turbo model featured a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The DSG was also available as an option on the other trims, including the diesel. Even when it came to safety, the vehicle had an ABS along with side airbags and curtain airbags. The convertible model also had a rollover protection system. Traction and stability control were optional on the lower trims, but given as standard on the turbo trim.
Talking about the vehicle’s interior, it was a small and compact car, to begin with. However, it could still seat four people with a slight compromise on the rear seat occupants as the backrest angle was too upright, and the knee room at the back got limited. The car also had a small boot that was nearly 12 cubic feet in terms of dimensions and a circular theme. It was evident with the circular speedometer and the round air conditioning vents. The convertible trim had a fabric top that could fold down easily and give the passengers good insulation from wind and road noise. The 2005 beetle was given subtle styling tweaks to feel fresh and youthful. The vehicle’s front bumper gave a radiator grill that gave the car a much more sporty look, and the synthetic fenders were also offered a sharp contour. The headlights are also slightly redesigned, but the signature circular look remains unchanged. The automobile had a clear glass headlight, emphasizing the oval shape even further. Even the car’s indicators made it narrow so that the headlight would occupy more area on the vehicle’s front fascia. The model’s rear was also similarly designed to the front, with the tail lights receiving a subtle change. Another thing that changed on the vehicle was the Volkswagen hood ornament, which was slightly updated for the 2005 new beetle.
Cost of A 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle Today
As the 2005 vehicle is almost two decades old and got launched at a starting price of $16,000, it depreciated fairly. Today one can find a few models of this automobile in the used car market for around $6000. The price of the car can also go up to $10,000 depending upon the trim and condition of the vehicle but can also be as low as $4000. The Volkswagen Beetle is a classic legend, and the value of this model will be appreciated in the future. The iconic styling will remain timeless, and the aura of the Beetle is something unparalleled in the automotive world.
Sources- Cars, Edmunds, Carfax
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