VW Golf Club

Stories and history of the iconic Volkswagen Golf

Was the Golf Line a Replacement for the Beetle?

June 2, 2013

Was the Golf Line a Replacement for the Beetle?

The VW Golf offers a dependable and affordable transportation solution for those who may be seeking a quality vehicle that will not put too great a strain on their budget or finances. Learning more about this model of vehicle and what it has to offer will ensure that you do not overlook a superior option for your next vehicle. Conducting a little research and learning more about the features, dependability and options that are available will ensure you are able to make wiser and more successful choices when it comes to selecting a new car.

The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most successful and beloved cars of the 20th century. Its rounded, distinctive shape and air-cooled rear engine made it instantly recognizable worldwide. By the early 1970s, however, the Beetle was aging and Volkswagen needed a successor.

The Golf was designed to be that successor, though in many ways it was a completely different car. Where the Beetle was rear-engined and air-cooled, the Golf was front-engined and water-cooled. Where the Beetle was rounded and organic, the Golf was angular and modern. Despite these differences, the Golf proved even more successful than the Beetle, becoming the world's best-selling car.

Whether the Golf was a "replacement" for the Beetle depends on how you define replacement. Commercially, absolutely yes — the Golf filled the void left by the aging Beetle and then some. Spiritually, the answer is more complex. The Beetle had a unique personality and cultural significance that no car has quite replicated.