In Mexico alone, where the Beetle Bug is affectionately known as the vocho, there are 90 fan clubs and around 1.5 million Beetles in circulation. The word vocho is word play on Volkswagen. The Chicago Tribune quoted Yasep Neito, 43, saying: "In a vocho, you can do everything--from trying to make a child to taking care of business deals. And yes, I have done both."
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| According to the Guinness Book of Records, Paul Cahill holds the record for the longest ownership with his 1961 Beetle. (Photo: Volkswagen) |
Reuters News Service pointed out that Paul Cahill holds the record for the longest ownership, according to the Guinness Book of Records. Bought in 1961 in Australia, he has clocked over 500,000 km (310,700 miles) in his 'bug', driving it nearly every day.
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| Devoted fans will ensure that the Beetle will never disappear from the hearts or roadways of the world. (Photo: Volkswagen) |
As with most things in life, even the longest trend in automotive history and perhaps one of the longest cultural trends, all things must come to an end. When sales nearly halved between model year 2000 to 2002 (~ 24,500 cars), Volkswagen decided to pull the plug.
New technology and designs that are providing the consumer with compact, fuel efficient and safer vehicles are edging this classic into retirement. Volkswagen's Kuhlmeyer hit it on the nail when she stated, "At the end of the day, it's the customer who decides." I agree, no matter how many 'bugmeisters' would like to believe otherwise.