Here's A Rare Chance To Buy A VW Beetle RSI

Just 250 of these VR6-engined Beetles were made, but we're not sure that quite justifies the price of this one
Here's A Rare Chance To Buy A VW Beetle RSI

At the Geneva Motor Show this week, VW’s R&D boss Frank Welsch confirmed that the VW Beetle is effectively being killed off. There won’t be a replacement for the current version, so once production ends, the Beetle name will once again disappear from VW’s range.

We’re not likely to shed a tear - the retro pastiche, Golf-based machine hasn’t ever been an object of the average petrolhead’s affection, after all. But, there was one version of the earlier, Mk4 Golf-underpinned ‘New Beetle’ which we are rather fond of: the RSI.

Here's A Rare Chance To Buy A VW Beetle RSI

This is no ordinary Beetle, as you can tell from the brilliantly OTT bodywork - complete with a comedy-size rear wing - and the orange leather bucket seats in the cabin. The reason for those lairy additions is what’s under the bonnet - a 219bhp 3.2-litre VR6 engine.

This narrow angle sort-of-V6 sends its power to all four wheels via a Haldex clutch-based system, and that should sound familiar, because the Mk4 Golf R32 used the same configuration. Some two years after the debut of the RSI.

Here's A Rare Chance To Buy A VW Beetle RSI

The RSI was - in a way - as an expensive, exclusive test mule for the R32, with only 250 of the steroid-injected Beetles built from 2001 to 2003. Today, there are just two right-hand drive cars left in the UK, and that’s had a dramatic effect on the prices surviving cars are being listed for: the RSI you see here is up for auction on eBay with an eyebrow-raising starting price of £40,000.

Here's A Rare Chance To Buy A VW Beetle RSI

Quite a figure, especially given that you can have the aforementioned R32 - with the same platform, engine and four-wheel drive system - from about £6000, and the related Mk1 Audi TT V6 for even less. Unbelievably, there are left-hand drive examples being flogged for even more. Yep, the modern classic car market has well and truly jumped the shark.

eBay auction via Lewis Kingston

Update: the auction has since - unsurprisingly - ended with no bids…

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Comments

The Silver Paseo EL54

Plus, it has the exact same bodykit as the racing “Cup” version! That’s badassery!

03/08/2018 - 18:27 |
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Rekord 86

This is so weird, I want one

03/08/2018 - 20:16 |
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Anonymous

I miss midtown madness but nothing beats that and juiced for nostalgia

03/09/2018 - 21:39 |
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🇯🇵WP

I love these things, I used to have a toy Beetle RSI and I loved it

03/09/2018 - 22:26 |
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axcentrik

The fact that VW is ending production for the Beetle caught me by surprise honestly… Who knows, they might come up with a modern version or simply end production forever

03/12/2018 - 03:18 |
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