NRMA Open Road May/June 2013

Got this mag in the mail the other day...

http://www.mynrma.com.au/members/open-road-magazine.htm

Compares a 63 beetle and 67 Corolla to the newest models of the same name. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. After the sort of Beetle bashing we're all used to on Topgear, the article was pretty even handed...

"What impresses novice punters the most about an early beetle is how capable they are as a daily driver all these years later." Trent Nikolic

Nice the see the NRMA honoring it's past membership. 👍

rn"What impresses novice punters the most about an early beetle is how capable they are as a daily driver allthese years later." Trent Nikolic

I could of told you that. Use mine daily, and doesn't give any real trouble. I see more late model cars on the side of the road with their bonnets up.

The writer, Trent Nikolic, owns the blue " Fairfield Floor Sanders " single cab splitty,
he has a great job & gets to travel all over the world & drive all types of vehicles, yet still loves to drive his VW when he's at home !

Really positive article, nice to see as the NRMA Open Road doesn't usually have much Volkswagen content.

Only a few minor mistakes. The 2013 Beetle is the second generation of the New Beetle, not the third. The '1962' Beetle is technically an Australian 1962½, as it has the later 3-segment tail-light as well as spring-loaded front bonnet, seat belt mounting points and door check rods. And it is not the 'third model of the first generation.' The earlier split and oval models, which is the author is probably thinking of, were the same model (Type 11). Only the later Superbug could be described as a different model - Type 13. It's not a 60-year old vehicle - 2013 minus 1962 is 51. Hydraulic brakes were fitted to German export models from 1950 - Australian-sold cars (1954-on) NEVER had cable brakes. And the windscreen washer was NOT operated by compressed air - that's German cars. Australian cars used the 'pull on the wiper switch' bellows. The compressed air washers didn't come in here until the 1968 12V model.

Otherwise nice article and photos. Maybe next time the NRMA could compare a 1976 Golf with a 2013 Golf, or a 1974 Passat with a 2013 Passat...