Back in the '70s my best friend had a '60s model Bug. One day we were cruising along the freeway and smelled something burning. Turns out the battery, under the rear seat, had somehow caught the seat stuffing on fire. We pulled over and watched the car burn to the ground. A unique driving experience.
I’m gonna warn you about 2012. They trying to total mine because we can’t find the entire headlight wiring harness. Just the wiring harness connector that connects the light to the car
I currently have a 2018 Beetle and I love this car. All my family members that have driven the car love it. It is definitely a car that is fun to drive. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t really need a flashy car or a very fast car but this one makes it feel fun and it feels fast and makes me happy. I don’t really need that much out of a car other than to feel like I’ve got something that’s fun to drive and looks unique and nice to look at. It’s got a fun styling to it, which makes you feel like you’re not just getting a generic car for the sake of having a car. I can’t tell you much about the convertible and I wouldn’t recommend it but if that’s your thing, then by all means. As 30 year-old man and I highly recommend this car because it gets great gas mileage. It’s fun to drive. It’s just wonderful.
I have a book which seems to indicate the first beetle was the type 60 of 1934. This might have been only a prototype. It seems the first production run was of 60 cars, built by Mercedes in 1936-37. There was a type 30 built by Daimler-Benz in 1937 (from a design of 1934?) and these models were tested by the SS. But the book is very unclear. VOLKSWAGEN MILITARY VEHICLES OF THE THIRD REICH by BlaineTaylor is the text.
The '60's beetle was like a go-cart with a top, the most fun car I have ever driven. I'm too old now to worry about safety, but in Texas in the summer time, without A/C it would be just too hot.
I had a '57 with the fabric sun roof model in 1967. My then brother in-law built the engine (he could build a no-oil leak engine) and sold the car to Dad. Dad couldn't deal with the small size, so I bought it from him and had more fun than is legal in that car. I hopped it up a bit and did some comsmetics. That is a great memory. The new beetles make me drowsey.
Hi Jay, my VW dealer installed an APR ECU upgrade in my 2012 Beetle Turbo that brings the HP up to 254 HP on 93 octane. With a K&N filer, I think it is probably around 260 HP. It is definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing. And it gets about 21 to 24 MPG in the city and between 30 and 34 MPG on the highway. The thing is, unless you go into warp drive and spin the tires, no one knows or cares that it is a rocket ship. It is like the ultimate sleeper.
Right you are Matt. When I go full throttle my boast gauge reads 30+ pounds of boast. Astually, I think it should only read 19 pounds. Usually when I go into warp drive I'm holding onto the wheel and looking straight ahead. The boast gauge which is located on the center line is useless to me under hard acceleration because I can't see it.
My wife drives a '14 Beetle TDI with a manual. It's great to drive, economical, and has all the creature comforts. It's too bad they don't sell one right now. They're fun cars!
What i like about my 2012 VW Tiguan is the diptronic, you can shift 6 gears and automatic D and L and go but i love to shift its more control and it cruse 85 beautiful and also love the 4 motion and thanks for your video.
My step mum drives the 2.0 tdi version of the new beetle it's amazingly quite for a tdi engine it's the same as in my dads scirocco and that's rough at idle with the fender pack sound system and sat nav dab radio it's a great car vw deserve praise for it . And I know you die hard old beetle fans will probably hate me for it but it's a very very good car give it a bloody chance
I love VW's enormous parking deck thing, super cool. I also spotted a '12 CC in that parking deck, I bought mine in the same color 2 weeks prior to this being uploaded lol
Haha for sure. I have a MKVI GLI i love it, im waiting for APR's next sale on ecu upgrades to get my car done. My brother has a stage 2+ MKV GTI that thing is pretty quick. Are you on VWVortex?
Well, to be blunt: A 1973 is NOTHING like the 1938. The 1938 is lighte, smaller, and has bias-ply tires. It's a wonderful vehicle, I'd love to own any beetle from the 30's-40's. The 1973 is a modernized version of that car, but it has radial tires, fender flares, government mandated bumpers, the list goes on and on. If I had the choice between a 2012 Beetle and a 1938 Beetle, I'd take the 1938 model. Between the 2012 and your 1973? I'd take the 2012. Have a nice day, hipster! :)
Most of Jay's vehicles have been out of production for years. Do you think Honda actually paid Jay to review his 1964 Honda SM600? The reason I brought up the S2000 is due to it having an inline-4, 2.0L engine, that produces 240hp (normally aspirated) at 8300rpm; redlines to 9k. I also drive an AP1 (first model) as well. :)
I still remember watching during Thanksgiving Oprah Winfrey unveiling this car (at least the silhouette of it) and the audience going bazonkers. There were a select few who won it. Their reactions were priceless.
"Dual clutch" not "double clutch", Jay. Double clutch usually means when you use the clutch twice when you shift, which you would have to do if the manual transmission did not have synchronizers, like in the early days of cars. Dual clutch transmissions use two clutches instead of a torque converter.
I have the 2013 turbo beetle and I really like it . I've gotten as much as 36mpg in it . The turbo makes it fun to drive and it handles well. I fold down the back seats and I can get my mtn bike or road bike in it with taking both wheels off . It's really easy after a couple times . much more fun then my Jetta I had before.
Yea its a great car my buddy has one. The only thing thats dumb is the boost pressure gauge that say you're running 25lbs of boost lol. When they only run at 9lbs stock and stage 1 apr peaks around 19lbs.
My parents bought our first VW Beetle in 1963 for $1,200! It was cheap, reliable transportation, easy on gas and with that air cooled engine in the rear it had awesome traction in winter snows in upstate NY. We passed the snowplows on the road! Today's so called "modern" Beetles, though nice and sporty, just aren't the same and way too overpriced. That's my opinion.
Unfortunately, here in Brazil VW doesn't even sell the 2012 Beetle, and with the independent Import Car sellers it costs too much, about US$ 60k. Can you believe it?!
Sorry but who goes on holiday in Germany? :P Liking the reposts, easier to watch them here than trawl through a website but that's great too. Keep it up - whoever manages this account :}
I believe I saw this episode, in the past, on Jaylenosgarage. I would be amazed if Jay uploaded these himself. Lol! Jay, please review the S2000 or NSX!
Thanks for the reply MrCoPpolice! the president of Brazil is Dilma, but she have so much in common with Hugo! The taxes are very high for import products, and the national products are more expensive here then in the countries that we export for. For exemple, a VW GOL, that is a Brazilian project and production car, is the most sold car for years here. VW is selling it for about R$35k (US$ 16k) while in MEXICO, they sell the same car for approximadetly R$17k (US$8,5). What u think about this?
Actually, the VW plant was saved my British Major Ivan Hirst, who got the plant to start producing cars for the british army that were dire need of light transport.
So it's basically the same engine as the new Golf GTi (which is an exceptionally good car)? Are they still called the VW Bug (Beetle) and Rabbit (Golf) in the US?
+CorollaNut68 Thanks, but that's not the case in Europe. The Golf (Rabbit) is a far more popular car than the Beetle. The latest two marques of the Golf GTi are very good cars, due mainly to the 2.0 turbo producing just over 210bhp. I was wondering if this Beetle being tested here, has the same engine as the GTi.
You could get a lot more for 22k, like what? A plastic fantastic toyota/honda that are designed by accountants? Obviously the Beetle is a polarizing car, but the fit/finish. interior, suspensions make it very nice package for the money. The Turbo adds some fun to the mix too.
there is an diesel bug and there are only 3 of them (prototypes in the same museum next to the 1938 one) butt you can fix almost any engine in a old bug.
I'd take that 38 beetle over new any day,engine in the back,simplicity,the shape,all mechanical,new one is nice,but its just another car stuffed with electronics you dont need and i agree to the person who said,that they have kept engine in the back,with RWD new beetle would be much cooler
Back in the '70s my best friend had a '60s model Bug. One day we were cruising along the freeway and smelled something burning. Turns out the battery, under the rear seat, had somehow caught the seat stuffing on fire. We pulled over and watched the car burn to the ground. A unique driving experience.
+standingwave73 "A unique driving experience" LMAO. xD
Haha I had my battery short a few times on my Vw due to the springs in the rear seat(and maybe the rear passenger being a tad bit to heavy lol)
My first reaction to your comment,,Standingwave73, was "What the crap?".
I’m gonna warn you about 2012. They trying to total mine because we can’t find the entire headlight wiring harness. Just the wiring harness connector that connects the light to the car
"Its got keyless entry, we had keyless entry when i was a kid, its called steeling a car" made my day!
I currently have a 2018 Beetle and I love this car. All my family members that have driven the car love it. It is definitely a car that is fun to drive. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t really need a flashy car or a very fast car but this one makes it feel fun and it feels fast and makes me happy. I don’t really need that much out of a car other than to feel like I’ve got something that’s fun to drive and looks unique and nice to look at. It’s got a fun styling to it, which makes you feel like you’re not just getting a generic car for the sake of having a car. I can’t tell you much about the convertible and I wouldn’t recommend it but if that’s your thing, then by all means. As 30 year-old man and I highly recommend this car because it gets great gas mileage. It’s fun to drive. It’s just wonderful.
What an honor to drive the "1938". Great episode
Isn't the earliest example, the Porsche KDF wagen that some Nazi officer had as his staff car? I'm no VW expert but saw a show about it.
I have a book which seems to indicate the first beetle was the type 60 of 1934. This might have been only a prototype. It seems the first production run was of 60 cars, built by Mercedes in 1936-37. There was a type 30 built by Daimler-Benz in 1937 (from a design of 1934?) and these models were tested by the SS. But the book is very unclear.
VOLKSWAGEN MILITARY VEHICLES OF THE THIRD REICH by BlaineTaylor is the text.
Well, even a 4 minute vw commercial is good when Jay Leno does it.
1:47 That vertical garage in Germany is just awesome & amazing. Was used in a Mission Impossible movie.
The Ultimate Reductionist I remember seeing the scene they did that!
I think that Jay nailed it they both look kinda the same, it is an iconic look.
The '60's beetle was like a go-cart with a top, the most fun car I have ever driven. I'm too old now to worry about safety, but in Texas in the summer time, without A/C it would be just too hot.
Agreed. I owned a 1969 forest green beetle, best car I have ever owned.
They also seemed to be car of choice for serial killers...
too old to worry about safety. Egotistical idiot or just Boomer?
I had a '57 with the fabric sun roof model in 1967. My then brother in-law built the engine (he could build a no-oil leak engine) and sold the car to Dad. Dad couldn't deal with the small size, so I bought it from him and had more fun than is legal in that car. I hopped it up a bit and did some comsmetics. That is a great memory. The new beetles make me drowsey.
don't hate on the golf. It's a legend too.
Man, i drive an old beetle daily too, and i love it!
Mine is 1980, and yours?!
Hi Jay, my VW dealer installed an APR ECU upgrade in my 2012 Beetle Turbo that brings the HP up to 254 HP on 93 octane. With a K&N filer, I think it is probably around 260 HP. It is definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing. And it gets about 21 to 24 MPG in the city and between 30 and 34 MPG on the highway. The thing is, unless you go into warp drive and spin the tires, no one knows or cares that it is a rocket ship. It is like the ultimate sleeper.
It was funny to hear Jay say "Lorry"
what? you've never been run over by a big Laurie? She's quite fat.
Right you are Matt. When I go full throttle my boast gauge reads 30+ pounds of boast. Astually, I think it should only read 19 pounds. Usually when I go into warp drive I'm holding onto the wheel and looking straight ahead. The boast gauge which is located on the center line is useless to me under hard acceleration because I can't see it.
My wife drives a '14 Beetle TDI with a manual. It's great to drive, economical, and has all the creature comforts. It's too bad they don't sell one right now. They're fun cars!
What i like about my 2012 VW Tiguan is the diptronic, you can shift 6 gears and automatic D and L and go but i love to shift its more control and it cruse 85 beautiful and also love the 4 motion and thanks for your video.
I have the TDI version of the new Beetle, and get almost 50mpg. Can the old beetle do that?
I can now say that Jay Leno has been very close to my work place and that i have driven on the same cobblestone road :) ;).
thanks jay you lighten up my day with your daily videos
I remember my '65 the engine was off a buddy's trike, mild build, what a FUN car, and better off road than some of my pickup trucks!!!
I love my beetle, I've got a 1972 1302, it runs superb and never lets you down. It's jolly good fun driving around in it.
Love that gear change scheme you can see at 0:31...look at that 3rd and 4th gear, lol...
My step mum drives the 2.0 tdi version of the new beetle it's amazingly quite for a tdi engine it's the same as in my dads scirocco and that's rough at idle with the fender pack sound system and sat nav dab radio it's a great car vw deserve praise for it . And I know you die hard old beetle fans will probably hate me for it but it's a very very good car give it a bloody chance
I love this channel! Its better than TV!
I love VW's enormous parking deck thing, super cool. I also spotted a '12 CC in that parking deck, I bought mine in the same color 2 weeks prior to this being uploaded lol
Does the Yellow Springs, Ohio version have a spot for storing joints ?
Haha for sure. I have a MKVI GLI i love it, im waiting for APR's next sale on ecu upgrades to get my car done. My brother has a stage 2+ MKV GTI that thing is pretty quick. Are you on VWVortex?
Question....when was this video MADE??? I know it was posted on Aug 16th but when was it actually MADE?
Well, to be blunt: A 1973 is NOTHING like the 1938. The 1938 is lighte, smaller, and has bias-ply tires. It's a wonderful vehicle, I'd love to own any beetle from the 30's-40's. The 1973 is a modernized version of that car, but it has radial tires, fender flares, government mandated bumpers, the list goes on and on. If I had the choice between a 2012 Beetle and a 1938 Beetle, I'd take the 1938 model. Between the 2012 and your 1973? I'd take the 2012. Have a nice day, hipster! :)
Most of Jay's vehicles have been out of production for years. Do you think Honda actually paid Jay to review his 1964 Honda SM600? The reason I brought up the S2000 is due to it having an inline-4, 2.0L engine, that produces 240hp (normally aspirated) at 8300rpm; redlines to 9k. I also drive an AP1 (first model) as well. :)
I still remember watching during Thanksgiving Oprah Winfrey unveiling this car (at least the silhouette of it) and the audience going bazonkers. There were a select few who won it. Their reactions were priceless.
If there is ANY chance of Jay seeing this...please do a vid of the Volkswagen CC!
I have an 1980 old beetle and really love to drive it daily!
"Dual clutch" not "double clutch", Jay. Double clutch usually means when you use the clutch twice when you shift, which you would have to do if the manual transmission did not have synchronizers, like in the early days of cars. Dual clutch transmissions use two clutches instead of a torque converter.
Nice to see that old bug runs and sounds so smooth- crash box transmission
I have the 2013 turbo beetle and I really like it . I've gotten as much as 36mpg in it . The turbo makes it fun to drive and it handles well. I fold down the back seats and I can get my mtn bike or road bike in it with taking both wheels off . It's really easy after a couple times . much more fun then my Jetta I had before.
I used to hate beetles but now I see the fun in them
I wish VW would return this car to its original DNA.
Rear engine, RWD & cheap.
you can get for cheaper then original if you get it used
Hang on a minute, the new beetle has been at my local VW dealer for well over a month now, how old is this video? (still epic though Jay)
The car silo is on my Christmas wish list!!!!
I could see Jay Leno owning a first generation Volkswagen Beetle or Microbus. Those are great iconic vehicles.
The Old Beetle will outlive the New one.
This comment aged like fine wine. R.I.P bug
Haha "we had keyless entry when i was a kid, it was called stealing a car" Jay your so funny keep it up. 3:24
I wonder how it compares to the 2.0 eco boost Focus.
The old Beetle had amazing aerodynamics, way ahead of its time!
Yea its a great car my buddy has one. The only thing thats dumb is the boost pressure gauge that say you're running 25lbs of boost lol. When they only run at 9lbs stock and stage 1 apr peaks around 19lbs.
please turn up the volume
would love to see what you think about the Mazda Miata MX5!
Wasn’t the 1938 version a reproduction?
My parents bought our first VW Beetle in 1963 for $1,200! It was cheap, reliable transportation, easy on gas and with that air cooled engine in the rear it had awesome traction in winter snows in upstate NY. We passed the snowplows on the road! Today's so called "modern" Beetles, though nice and sporty, just aren't the same and way too overpriced. That's my opinion.
kraftpr there is more technical things in the new beetles, but 1200 dollars in today’s money would be about 16000 dollars
Unfortunately, here in Brazil VW doesn't even sell the 2012 Beetle, and with the independent Import Car sellers it costs too much, about US$ 60k. Can you believe it?!
Jay, can you please make a video with a old bug with a 2276 or 2332 engine??? it would be fantastic
i drive a old beetle as a daily driver cant beat the simplicity better than new cars
Can you do a Jay Leno's Garage on the HPA Twin Turbo VW R32?
Do a review of the old Beetle
My Grandad gave me his 1970 beetle, we fixed it up and got its MOT, just waiting to save up enough for insurance!
Have fun!
I think this is by far the best looking beetle but I still not sure if I would get one
Of all the first drives of cars Jay Leno has been lucky to have, this is perhaps the most ignominious.
I enjoyed the "keyless entry" part!
Aside from the headlamps, it looks pretty cool
Wow Jay my '96 Wheel Horse has 20 horse via twin cylinder Onan engine.
Sorry but who goes on holiday in Germany? :P Liking the reposts, easier to watch them here than trawl through a website but that's great too.
Keep it up - whoever manages this account :}
I believe I saw this episode, in the past, on Jaylenosgarage. I would be amazed if Jay uploaded these himself. Lol!
Jay, please review the S2000 or NSX!
But J, does the 38 have a check engine light that will plague the owner forever?
they did. in advisory terms. you should have a second clutch if you've got 500 hp and wanna rocket off from a standstill)
And we thank the Americans for delivering the raw materials that made production possible ;)
The one youtube page where people are not hating on each other.
Thanks for the reply MrCoPpolice!
the president of Brazil is Dilma, but she have so much in common with Hugo!
The taxes are very high for import products, and the national products are more expensive here then in the countries that we export for.
For exemple, a VW GOL, that is a Brazilian project and production car, is the most sold car for years here. VW is selling it for about R$35k (US$ 16k) while in MEXICO, they sell the same car for approximadetly R$17k (US$8,5).
What u think about this?
The old air cooled beetle had an attribute I can attest to. They are notably soft when you T-bone one on your motorcycle.
That fuel economy drives me nuts. My car can get 20 in the city but with me driving it's my like 10, but it's got the power to make up for it.
You got pull Jay. Damn
I bet it was a great trip over there. Next time you take me with you?
JAY!! I really wanna grow up to be having a garage like yours!!
hope you enjoyed you stay in germany
well that's true, yeah would love to see him review it. he probably won't fit in one haha. i use to own a ap2 myself and really miss it :(
Does it do a burn out jay ?
yes it does I own a 2014
Jay, you are THE MAN! Thank you for all these videos.
Lamborghinis still don't use double clutch gearboxes. Also, they got their start in the old VW R32 and Audi TT V6.
and it looks waaaaay better than the old one
Actually, the VW plant was saved my British Major Ivan Hirst, who got the plant to start producing cars for the british army that were dire need of light transport.
So it's basically the same engine as the new Golf GTi (which is an exceptionally good car)? Are they still called the VW Bug (Beetle) and Rabbit (Golf) in the US?
+Ricky Rose The Rabbit died...they changed the body and called it the Beetle. Same chassis.
+CorollaNut68 Thanks, but that's not the case in Europe. The Golf (Rabbit) is a far more popular car than the Beetle. The latest two marques of the Golf GTi are very good cars, due mainly to the 2.0 turbo producing just over 210bhp. I was wondering if this Beetle being tested here, has the same engine as the GTi.
Oh yes it has air conditioning for those days when it hits 118 here in Phoenix,Az
im not 100% sure but I think the uploader has contact with jay but jay does not upload these himself
WAJAJAJJAJAJA."...keyless entrie when I was a kid....was steeling a car" XD
Btw, "Double Clutch gearbox, Even lamborghini didn't have that until recently"... Am I wrong or did Lamborghini never have a Double-cluth?
Same chassis and mechanicals as a Golf, the most highly regarded car in its class.
You could get a lot more for 22k, like what? A plastic fantastic toyota/honda that are designed by accountants? Obviously the Beetle is a polarizing car, but the fit/finish. interior, suspensions make it very nice package for the money. The Turbo adds some fun to the mix too.
0:43 his hair magically moves
Why is Jay driving on the sidewalk?
family has a 2001 2.0 beetle. nothing but problems. abs lights ,air bag lights. as soon as you repair one thing another thing gos bad..
We had keyless entry when I was a kid too. You just open the door, because nobody ever locked their cars...
one day he drives a Bugatti, the other, a beetle haha gotta love this man, he is awesome
I wonder if Jay owns any Volkswagens.
Colorado Dadalanche oF course and some Fiats also
jay leno in top gear usa!
Jay, I know you would rather drive the '38, but thanks for not creating an international affair.
will it do a burn out ?
A Yugo can probably do a burnout. Yes
there is an diesel bug and there are only 3 of them (prototypes in the same museum next to the 1938 one)
butt you can fix almost any engine in a old bug.
No mention of the Tatra V570...they just "Got the design right the first time".
I'd take that 38 beetle over new any day,engine in the back,simplicity,the shape,all mechanical,new one is nice,but its just another car stuffed with electronics you dont need and i agree to the person who said,that they have kept engine in the back,with RWD new beetle would be much cooler
The video thumbnail is confusing .