It’s time to move on from the Volkswagen Beetle

It’s time to move on; Volkswagen did, so we fans can be cold and calculating, too. Solutions journalism, my click-counting colleagues might say.

So where can buyers turn for their retro/oddity car fix now — without buying something previously enjoyed?

I’m glad you asked. Here are some options:

Jeep Wrangler: Not the four-door hulking beast. Jeep parent FiatChrysler still produces the two-door version with a removable top and doors, and fold-down windshield — and they’ve made all the adjustments easier than ever for 2018.

So easy that even Mr. Driver’s Seat, Sturgis Kid 4.0, and two of the Sturgis’ boyfriends could get it disassembled in about 15 minutes before heading off to a game of tennis.

Not as economical as the Volkswagen, the Jeep comes with a 3.6-liter V-6 or a 2.0-liter turbocharged four. Jeep is making money off this bad boy, with a starting price of $29,240 and a fully loaded model like I tested running $48,060.

You can’t feel any cooler — there’s something about maybe dropping something out the doors that’s oddly entertaining. Check out the full Mr. Driver’s Seat review next week.

Mazda MX-5/Fiat 124 Spider: The two-seater convertible or hardtop MX-5 RF version sits low enough to the ground to take you back 40 years, and turn even the worst commute into a romping good time.

Much to my surprise, I found the Fiat the more fun of the two, but either one’s a winner. They both make 155 horsepower, though the Fiat engine is torquier.

The 2017 MX-5 RF review from July of last year goes into detail.

Mini Cooper: This covers a wide range of Minis, from the little Hardtop or Convertible to the bigger Clubman or Countryman models. They’re all riotous fun and handle superbly. And though the Hardtop has grown over the years, it still looks the same as ever.

Hardtop, Countryman or Clubman all start at 134 horsepower, moving on up to 228 horsepower in the John Cooper Works version, with most stopping at 189 as well. Prices start at $21,700 for the Hardtop.

Inside, toggles across the dashboard delight, and the gigundo speedometer is smile worthy. It’s been a while since Mr. Driver’s Seat has been in a hatchback or convertible, but check out the Countryman Hybrid review from March.

Buick Regal TourX: It’s one of the last full-on station wagons sold in the states. Maybe it’s not the brand of retro you’d been dreaming of, but with this one, you can have your retro and load some cakes into the back, too.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine creates 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The TourX starts at $29,070, and ran $37,485 as reviewed in July.

Tesla Model 3: What’s this doing here? you ask. Nothing could be more modern than this electric car from the newest car builder in the States.

True, this fits more with the oddity portion of our thesis statement. Look at the front of one closely, and you’ll see bug eyes. And this little car is a whole lot of fun on the road as well. It starts at $36,500, and our tester had a 310-mile battery, Autopilot and luxury upgrade lowers the old bank balance by $57,500.

Look for the review — a comparison with the Chevrolet Bolt EV — in columns in November.