Nothing screams “Chick Car” like a pastel-colored Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible with a flower in the dashboard vase, Justin Timberlake blaring out of the 10-speaker Monsoon audio system, and a witty personalized license plate frame that says “Life Is More Fun With Your Top Off!” It is the image you see right now that keeps 9 out of 10 men from buying this Volkswagen, even if they secretly covet a modern interpretation of an iconic original that died in 1979 after a 34-year run.

At least our test car was silver. And no, we didn’t have a flower in the bud vase, or Justin rapping: It feels like somethin’s heatin’ up, can I leave wit you? We kept the top up, put on dark sunglasses and a baseball hat, and went incognito during our week behind the wheel, just like Brit-Brit would.

Either a wheezy 115-horsepower inline four-cylinder engine, a torquey turbodiesel that gets great gas mileage, or a turbocharged version of the standard 1.8-liter powerplant that makes 150 horsepower powers the 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible. Even though VW’s turbodiesel doesn’t smoke much, we cannot imagine that the scent of the exhaust is pleasant with the top down. Choose between a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to the front wheels.

Our VW New Beetle Convertible had the base engine and an automatic transmission, resulting in a very slow car that got terrible fuel economy. We averaged 18.1 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving. Indeed, the New Beetle Convertible is likely best when matched to the 150-horse turbo motor.

Where this car shines, literally, is in top-down driving. The roof stacks behind the rear seat in just 16 seconds, and raises in equal time when it starts to rain. When dropped, the New Beetle feels more open than any car on this list except the Wrangler, thanks to the forward location of the windshield. There’s plenty of blue sky above and a little bit of room to bring three friends along for the ride. Wind buffeting is significant unless the wind blocker is installed, and rearward visibility is unimpressive whether the top is raised or lowered.

Prices start at, like, just under $22,000. “I’m Justin’s Girlfriend” wife-beater not included.

Photos courtesy of the vehicle manufacturers