New Beetle Proving To Be Popular Car

Would-be New Beetle buyers are finding it’s dog-eat-dog - or bug-eat-bug - when it comes to nabbing their prize.

Waiting lists are 60 people deep at some dealerships, even though each of the nation’s 599 Volkswagen dealers was expected to have at least one bug by Tuesday.

Several dealers said it could be months before demand is satisfied.

“It’s crazy,” said Robert Klein, VW manager for Gunther Volkswagen in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. About 100 people put down $1,000 deposits for cars, but only 40 people have received their bugs.

In all, about 4,000 New Beetles have been shipped to dealers, and at least half of those have reached consumers, said Tony Fouladpour, a VW spokesman. Final sales figures for the month will come out later this week.