VW Beetles in Cape Town

Hiring a Beetle in the Mother City: hipster cool or just plain practical?

Last modified 11 July 2017

The Beetle, first produced as an economy car by Volkswagen in 1938, is, in fact, the longest running and most produced automobile of a single design.

We spoke to Deon Goosen, owner of Fun Car Hire and one of the grease monkeys credited with bringing affordable Beetle car hire to Cape Town, to find out why this car has withstood the test of time.

Cape Town Car Hire with Charisma

Deon started Fun Car Hire seven years ago and has since grown an original fleet of two Beetles to 15 models; ranging from 1961 vintage rusties to more modern 1972 models.

“Nicknamed the ‘Kewer’ (which literally means ‘ladybug’ in Afrikaans), this car boasts a mechanical design that has graced our roads for some 70 years, with very little changes. The Beetle has unbeatable character on the road – the fleet are not always in tip top condition due to Cape Town’s weather, but a little wear shows their age and gives them a retro, charismatic look,” says Goosen.

Modifying and maintaining his fleet of vehicles is an ongoing project that Deon is clearly very passionate about, and with the help of his 82-year-old engineer, he makes sure there are plenty of bugs available for interns, holidaymakers or those simply looking to rent a car for a reasonable amount.

A Bug’s Life: Practical And Reliable

Despite its cult-like pop culture status and its retro lure, Beetles are above all else practical and reliable. Their engines are similar to the engines of a Porsche, and their parts are easy to fix and replace.  

“Not to mention, the Beetle is synonymous with surfing culture, as it can make room for a roof rack and has plenty of luggage space in front-facing luggage compartments,” says Goosen.

“It’s the perfect car for interns, students and contract workers who do not want to commit to purchasing a car, but want to hire a short-term, reliable vehicle, ” he adds.

Beetle Car Hire For Everyone

Fun Car offers a rainbow of Beetles to match every mood, and there are even two Cabrio Beetles within the fleet, which Deon has modified to sport an open top, with a roof that is easy to put up and down.   

“It’s a lovely city car for those who like to take it easy and take in the city views.”

Deon’s personal favourite is the 1976 Baby Blue Beetle, which is in perfect mechanical and cosmetic condition. Deon likens “Ouma”, his nickname for the vehicle, to ‘driving a brand new car’, and says it’s very popular among visiting models, stylists and photographers. This stunning car is regularly hired out to modelling agencies and production companies for photo shoots.

TIP: Not to mention, if you pay for three months rental in cash up front, he’ll give you one of his fabled “special prices”.

---

Giant bugs once roamed the earth, and they’re back at the Big Bug Expo. 

Learn more about reptiles at the Cape Town Reptile Expo.

Read more here about Fun Car Hire and their great discounts for CapeTownMagazine.com readers: Fun Car: Cheap Car Hire in Cape Town 

If you are curious to find out what you can do with a rental car, we have created a list of 5 exciting adventures that you can hire a car to experience. 

---

Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of happenings in Cape Town. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, check out our photos on Instagram and follow our Pinterest boards for updates on what’s happening in and around the Mother City!