The VW Beetle That Cost as Much as a Porsche
Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle•
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Forget the cute image of the New Beetle. The 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle RSi packed a 3.2-liter VR6 producing 221 hp and 236 lb-ft, paired with a six-speed manual and Haldex all-wheel drive.
Volkswagen built just 250 examples, and this one is number 176. Its recipe included carbon-fiber bodywork, wide 18-inch wheels, fixed-back racing seats and an interior dressed with aluminum and carbon fiber. Even the dashboard had a grab handle for nervous passengers.
At launch, the RSi cost roughly $80,000 in today’s unadjusted historical comparison? No — that was its equivalent price at the time, making it more expensive than an ordinary Beetle by a staggering margin. It was even considered one of the priciest Beetles ever sold new.
With its Golf R32-derived engine and serious cornering grip, this rare VW was anything but ordinary. Would you spend Porsche money on a Beetle? Or is its wild engineering exactly what makes it collectible today?
