AZCentral.com's view

I was followed. I was stalked. I was hounded by strangers who wanted to talk to me, to get close to me.

Well, maybe not me, exactly. Maybe it was because I was driving that little darling of automobiles, the New Beetle. All I know is that I’ve never seen so many happy people looking my way, grinning and pointing skyward with their thumbs.

On the road, broadly smiling people created driving hazards as they sidled up, wanting to get close. Whenever I parked, a crowd gathered around the cartoon shape, though some folks seemed disappointed when I emerged instead of Roger Rabbit.

The word “cute” was heard many times, though not everyone adored the New Beetle. I heard the word “ugly” a few times, too.

Some people just have no sense of humor.

Volkswagen seems to have scored big with its reconstituted People’s Car, a transparent (but likable) attempt to relive its past glory. And perhaps cash in on the enduring legacy of Herbie, the Love Bug.

Not to mention the collective memory of just about everyone who ever had anything to do with a Volkswagen Beetle, which actually is just about everyone.

There’s nothing like this car on the American road. The Beetle is just so funky and playful, more like a big friendly guppy than an actual automobile.

The New Beetle started out as a concept car on the show circuit, but when VW gauged the enthusiastic response, it decided to go ahead and build them. Such things as crash protection and pollution control distorted the original intent, but the result is still pretty good.

As the reincarnation of an eminently basic car last sold in this country during the 1970s, the New Beetle is designed to recapture the style but not the substance.

The major attribute of the old bug – a no-frills, air-cooled rear-engine that was hard to break and easy to fix – is no more. Instead, the New Beetle’s wacky body is mounted on the chassis of a Golf, VW’s current bread-and-butter transport.

Although it may not be a real VW bug, it certainly is a real car that runs well, handles great, has comfortable seats and a decent stereo system. Compared with the old bug, it’s quieter, more powerful and loaded with ’90s amenities. Gone is the darty handling, the engine roar and the claustrophobic interior.

It has heating and air-conditioning, too, which the original bugs were hard-pressed to provide. Also, powered windows, door locks and mirrors.

Like the original, there’s still a tiny bud vase on the dash. Very unlike the original, there are front and side air bags.

The interior of the New Beetle is really sharp, with lots of interesting textures and shapes, plus postmodern, techno designs that look great. The steering wheel has thick silver spokes that seem both fresh and retro. The speedometer, tach and other lights and gauges are set in a round binnacle, echoing the spartan dash of the old VW.

It’s a great interior, but it does have two faults, both attributable to the soaring arc of a roo f line. The dashboard top is vast, at least a yard deep until it reaches the distant windshield, looking like something from a minivan. Just about everyone who peeked inside the Beetle (and there were many) thought the dashboard was weird.

The second problem is limited headroom in the back seat. At least the Beetle still has those straps to help pull yourself out of the tight quarters. The front seats on both sides slide forward automatically to aid rear entry and exit for those small enough to fit back there.

And where’s the sunroof? I can’t fathom why VW would go to all the trouble of producing these things and skip one of the best fun elements of the original Beetles. Many Americans had their first encounter with a sunroof in a VW.

Trunk space (in the back, now) is pretty fair, with the rear tailgate opening like a hatchback. The back seat folds down to provide a substantial amount of space.

The four-cylinder engine, the same as the base Golf and Jetta, ac celerates smoothly and strongly, though maybe not with enough gusto for some. The test car, lent by Biddulph Volkswagen in Glendale, had stick shift, which I think is advisable for fun and power.

There’s also a direct-injection turbo-diesel available, a nice engine that gets mileage in the 40s. Coming next year will be a 150-horse engine for those who crave more power, although a high-performance New Beetle seems like an oxymoron.

The price tag is pretty reasonable for this unique vehicle, though there were those who complained that it was too high, perhaps remembering the $1,700 price tags on the early bugs. This is now, however, and not only have the forces of inflation pushed up the price, but you get a heck of a lot more car, too.

Aside from the Mazda Miata, the New Beetle is a first for retro styling in the United States. The French have been doing this for years, producing revival versions of old Peugeot 403s and Citroen 2CVs. In England, they’re going to release a modern take on the Austin Mini.

Still, there’s no logical reason for this car to exist. The New Beetle is kind of an absurd car, but I like it, and my wife and boys really like it.

So do a lot of other people, judging by the crowd reaction. VW is certain to sell plenty of them, at least in the first couple of years. But let’s see if people keep buying them once the novelty’s worn off.

1998 Volkswagen Beetle

Vehicle type: Four-passenger, two-door sedan, front-wheel drive. Base price: $15,200. Price as tested: $16,580. Engine: 2-liter in-line four, 115 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, 122 pounds-feet of torque at 2,600 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed stick shift. Curb weight: 2,712 pounds. Length: 161.1 inches. EPA fuel economy: 23 city, 29 highway. Highs: Fun styling. Sharp interior. Good driveability. Lows: Weird dash space. Limited rear headroom. Cartoon image.