Check out this 911 that I rented!

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
04/16/2018 at 17:40 • Filed to: None

Something about “heritage” meaning that this car is basically a 911 if you squint at it! Last week I had a choice between a Ford Focus sedan or two VW Beetles. Considering the Volkswagens had Turbo written on the back of them, this was an easy choice. I nearly went with the Focus just because in the world of cheapo rentals, the Focus is not half bad. I kind of had a preconceived notion of Beetles being girly cars. But as a Miata owner, that thought made me chuckle and I figured I would try something new. It did indeed say TURBO on it after all so how bad could it be? Then my next choice was the red or black one. Red seemed more exciting so I just went with that.

Did I mention this thing had a TURBO???

The only other VW that I have driven in the past has been a GTI. That was a very fun car and thoroughly convinced me that I needed a turbo hot hatch (or sedan) in my life as my daily driver. I was fairly pissed off at the torque steer as well as constant burnouts anytime I wanted to lay down power in the GTI, which could have just been the tires, but nonetheless was a primary motivator to go Subaru for that AWD. Anyways, in the case of the Beetle I was plesantly surprised to find it had adequate go and none of that GTI drama that just caused disappointment. Plus the suspension was actually quite capable and didnt feel like a boat and/or lawnmower like many other rentals I have had (Corolla, Versa, Forte). Overall the car really reminded me of a GTI, the interior had similar aesthetics to it, the car accelerated/handled similarly, and it had some of the same smoothness to it.

All rental cars with sub 1000 miles are excellent.

Due to the “less wrong wheel drive drama” encountered with the Bug, it was actually quite enjoyable to beat the crap out of and drive hard. Sure I would still prefer the GTI since it is certainly faster but this car definitely made me think there is a real limit to power you can put down with FWD before it becomes stupid. Of course this is different if you just want to go in a straight line but I only care about acceleration on curvier stuff. I like to think that I would really enjoy the silliness of a GENWON Mazdaspeed3 but with even thinking the GTI was kind of overpowered for a FWD car would really make me sick of that crap in the MS3.

Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this VW Beetle TURBO rental and would definitely pick one again if given the choice. It is definitely my favorite rental that I have gotten from a traditional (not Turo) rental company. The SLK250 I got once or the Camaro vert are close rivals in my rental preference but those cost quite a bit more and were EXTREMELY overweight pigs in comparison. This car was just a nice tossable regular car that gave me many smiles going fast in a straight line as well as the few turns that I encountered at high rates of speed. It did unfortunately get ~20mpg although considering how I was driving it isn’t all that bad and with it taking regular gas, it would still surely be cheaper than my STi.

DISCUSSION (20)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:44

All it needs is a lower roof line and less bubble on the trunk and hood and then you got a mini 911, this would be a good conversion kit or something!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:44

You forgot to mention it has T U R B O written behind it

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
04/16/2018 at 17:46

Shit, I knew I missed something! Volkswagen Porsche needs more badges on the sides and front so that its harder to forget.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
04/16/2018 at 17:48

The funny thing is with that giant bubble, it still has like no front headroom and the windshield is TINY. It is like looking through a pillbox a bit, although not as bad as the rear view of a Camaro. I just was thinking that there is no way I would fit with a helmet on in that drivers seat.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:48

...and I took a toyota RAV 4 for a rental last week. I feel slighted.

Axial > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:49

You didn’t like the torque steer in the GTI? I thought it was so mild as to be entertaining, a fun quirk to tame. And chirping the wheels peeling out of the lot compelled me to release a giggle.

I also discovered that the 1.4L Turbo Jetta has a decent amount of pep to it and can also crack smiles with the manual.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/16/2018 at 17:49

anything is better than a Versa. Including a bicycle.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:49

Glad you enjoyed it. It’s more or less a GTI with like 7 less hp, slightly shorter wheelbase, and softer springs/sways. I really need better tires for mine but other than that it’s a pretty fun car.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:55

I didn’t know you rented a 911 Carrera.

Nice.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:55

Wait are these still rear engine RWD?
I thought these are now a GTI in a pretty frock

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 17:57

I’ll never stoop as low as a versa, I think I got a chrysler 200 once, only once.

You see I was bummed because when I was leaving the lot I noticed a Legacy sedan and several 4-door 4wd toyota tacomas. Either choice would have been more interesting than the RAV4, I should have parked it and switched cars. The Legacy would have been best given the 60 mph cross wind I had to drive in.

LOREM IPSUM > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 18:26

Did you happen to see the Jalop article about which cars rear end would make a good front end?

If one could reverse the complete interior, add some steering to the current ass-end, switcheroo the lights....

You’d have hot garbage.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LOREM IPSUM
04/16/2018 at 19:39

Haha im guessing that was a Torch article? That sounds like an entertaining read.

LOREM IPSUM > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 19:41

IIt surely was. :)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/16/2018 at 19:41

The thing is I generally just want the cheapest possible transportation. I will ocassionally then upgrade if a good deal is offered. But usually its “upgrade” to a Sentra, Corolla, or Malibu. And honestly its hard to explain that im not being cheap when I say no, I genuinely just like the lighter, smaller vehicles.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
04/16/2018 at 19:42

They pretty much are GTI in a dress. Should have kept them rear engine though, then I could do wheelies with this much power!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 19:44

If you can sign up with national, you get what ever is in the Emerald Isle. It’s a crap shoot but a fun crap shoot.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Axial
04/16/2018 at 19:49

It was less so the torque steer and moreso the burnouts with any amount of steering input that got annoying. It would be different if it were a random rental but since it was a Turo car, I wasn’t actively trying to destroy the car. The GTI was enough of a wonderfully great car that I really liked, but it just reminded me why FWD is just garbage at putting down power. It certainly is fun to roast tires with no risk of spinning the car like an idiot but its almost gimmicky fun where I would just get sick of it over long term use. If I had lots of boring highway miles though the GTI would be my number one car to pick. It was INFINITELY less jarring/uncomfortable than my STi is. But canyon carving that I do on my commute is much more raw/entertaining with the Subaru.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/16/2018 at 19:54

It is a TURBO after all!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/16/2018 at 19:57

I have yet to use National, but I dont really rent stuff much for myself. All of my rentals have been for work and they get me whatever is cheapest. Unless I am carpooling, then I can get a full size. But either way its plastic fantastic base models usually. Budget in Dallas is pretty nice just because they usually have a decent amount of options in their Fastbreak row.