Men driving "new" Volkswagen Beetles?

[KristaTX]

The men/cars thread got me to thinking about this. My husband and I have had this discussion several times while driving around. We have never ever seen a grown man driving one of the "new" VW bugs. Maybe it's just a Texas thing where so many people drive pick-up trucks, mini-vans, and SUV's.

BTW - Neither my husband nor I have anything against Bugs or men driving them. We are Prius drivers ourselves and like Beetles just fine. It's just an observation we have made. Men will drive Mini Coopers around here, and at least half the drivers of those seem to be male. But I've never seen one driving a Bug. That part kind of baffles me. They seem kind of alike in their small European-ness.

Have you ever seen a man driving one? And by "new", I mean the ones that came out in the late '90s or newer.

 

[merryweather20]

Absolutely, all the time, including one big tough long haul truck driver who owns one that matches his wife's VW.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think this may have something to do with the way the cars were marketed when they came out.... an the bud vase on the dashboard.

 

[EMom]

No.....haven't seen a man in a bug. I am in Texas too. Several years ago, DH's obnoxious brother bought a "sports utility wagon." DH said to him, "Call it whatever you want, when I look at it all I see is a station wagon."

Bear in mind that BIL was in his 40s, had atrocious social skills and never seemed to date anyone. I muttered to DH, "BIL is never going to get a woman driving that station wagon. A woman may not need a guy to have a sports car, but a single man with a station wagon!?!??"

Since there has always been an unspoken question in the air as to whether BIL might be gay, (I tend to think he's more asexual) DH said, "Maybe he doesn't care if the car will run off WOMEN."

I had to point out, "Well, he's not going to get a MAN driving a station wagon either, because no self-respecting gay man is going to be caught dead going on a date in that thing."

I would rather see a man in a bug than a station wagon any day of the week, unless he has a mess of kids.

 

[chisnpeke]

I drive a beetle and love it. But I am a woman so I guess that doesn't count.

I have seen a few men driving them. I think the 2012 New Beetles are supposed to appeal to more male drivers.

 

[Squirlz]

The Beetle is all about style. It's a Golf under the sheet metal and the Golf is much more practical. Maybe that has something to do with it.

I drive a modified MINI Cooper S. If they didn't exist I'd probably have a Golf, but I wouldn't want a Beetle.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I live in Texas, outside of Houston, and we have had two Beetles that my husband has driven at various times. One was a Turbo and it had quite a bit of pick up. I would love to have another Beetle but they are manufactured in Mexico and their quality is horrible.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I'm in the boonies in TX, the man across the road drives a new red VW, his wife drives a big black SUV.

 

[Diznygrl]

I have seen it, but it is rare. I have a Beetle, and I know my brother HATES driving it when he has to borrow it. The big plush Volkswagen flower I have in the little vase doesn't help matters.

 

[low-key]

My daughter has one, and I occasionally drive it to the repair shop or put gas in it. Its fun to drive but I'm embarrassed in it

 

[diznygirl]

Beetles are all over the place here. I know this because my kids play the Punch Buggy game. So we do notice them, and we have seen men driving them.

 

[KristaTX]

Its fun to drive but I'm embarrassed in it

We definitely need a picture of that .

 

[low-key]

We definitely need a picture of that .

, no pics

 

[bumbershoot]

I leased a Beetle, and hubby quite enjoyed driving it.

It's also VERY comfortable for a bigger or taller man. The hump in the ceiling goes together with the seats that can go down towards the floor, and the combo makes it quite easy to fit. I once gave a ride to an acquaintance of mine, he's 6'8" and thought he was never going to fit, but then his head didn't even touch the ceiling. He said it was the most comfortable he'd been in a car.

The Beetle was also rated highly among disabled people who drive, because for some reason that seat is just really easy to get into and out of.

No.....haven't seen a man in a bug. I am in Texas too. Several years ago, DH's obnoxious brother bought a "sports utility wagon." DH said to him, "Call it whatever you want, when I look at it all I see is a station wagon."

Bear in mind that BIL was in his 40s, had atrocious social skills and never seemed to date anyone. I muttered to DH, "BIL is never going to get a woman driving that station wagon. A woman may not need a guy to have a sports car, but a single man with a station wagon!?!??"

Since there has always been an unspoken question in the air as to whether BIL might be gay, (I tend to think he's more asexual) DH said, "Maybe he doesn't care if the car will run off WOMEN."

I had to point out, "Well, he's not going to get a MAN driving a station wagon either, because no self-respecting gay man is going to be caught dead going on a date in that thing."

I would rather see a man in a bug than a station wagon any day of the week, unless he has a mess of kids.

FWIW, my BIL is gay and while he loves cars of all kinds (and loves workign on them), he just LOVES Ford Fiestas. Now that's not a wagon, but it's not a car one generally is mad for, either. But it's pretty much what he always drives!

Also, around here, a wagon is seen as a "I love camping, hiking, and wilderness" car...also a "I have dogs" car.

DH had this awful Sundance Duster thing when we met...if he'd had a Legacy or Outback I would have appreciated that much more!

 

[Buckalew11]

I answered "Come to think of it, I have never seen a man in new VW bug."
My dad used to drive one that was burnt orange back in the late 70's.

My DH drives a Volkswagon Passat wagon. Good to know that he won;t be able to pick up women in that thing! lol

He's a runner and mountain biker so he sorta fits the comment bumbershoot made.

 

[dallastxcpa]

That's too funny that you posted this poll. I was on Main street in Lewisville and saw a middle aged gentleman driving a Bug and I thought "Wow, I don't think I have ever seen a guy driving one of those"

 

[Zandy595]

My mom has a neon green bug. My step-father drives it once in a while. I've seen a few men driving them around here, but not many.

 

[hereyago]

i've seen more guys drive the old style punch buggies, newers ones even with women driving it, isn't something i see every day. but of course if dd12 is with me, i swear she has punch buggy radar

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Can't say I've seen many men driving the new Beetles, I really can't remember any man driving a Jetta though (maybe not the very latest version)... now that is a girly car.

 

[Vwdiva93]

I come from a VW obsessed family (hence my username ) and I drive a new beetle. My Dad is a fan of the older Volkswagens but he LOVES driving my car.
After my parents got me mine, my Dad has so much fun with it that he stated he wouldn't mind having a black one.

And we actually do see guys driving them around quite a lot where I live. As other posters have said though, the new 2012 beetle is definitely geared more towards males.
I'm heading off to college this fall and I'm sure my Dad is secretly happy that he will get to drive my car all the time now