Leinroth and the “Buglet” are surprisingly not in their typical parking spot, which was lost to senior Emily Hardin that day.
The surprisingly spacious front seat
Abby's Junk in the Trunk includes includes her multiple textbooks, her tote of ASR research, and some gloves and a snow scraper for the upcoming winter months
It is next to impossible to miss the yellow 2005 Volkswagen Beetle amidst the ocean of Jeep Wranglers and Hondas – almost as impossible as it is to resist playing punch buggy to fight the boredom of class. To most Darien High School students, the adorable car seems to glow in the parking lot on a gloomy day. However, to senior Abby Leinroth, the car is her everyday ride.
The VW bug came into the Leinroth family years ago to be used for her dad’s work commute. It then went to Leinroth’s older sister, Alex, who graduated in 2010. When Alex left for the University of Virginia after Abby’s sophomore year, Abby got the ride.
For a lot of girls, owning a VW bug is a childhood dream, but for Leinroth, this was never the case.
“I didn’t want the bug initially and I always felt like it was my sister’s car,” she said, “but once I started driving it, it became my own and now I really like it.”
In addition to the iPod jack and the plastic flower and vase that come with the car, the VW bug has added benefits due to its petite size. “My favorite thing about my car is the fact that I can really fit into any parking space and squeeze by obstacles,” Leinroth explained.
“My car can be virtually diagonal and still fit in the lines, so I don’t usually have to worry abut being over the line. Whether that has made me a bad parker is another issue.”
However, the size of the VW bug is extremely deceptive, as the car’s interior has more room in the front seat than many would think. Even Leinroth’s dad, who used to drive the car before his daughters could drive, found it roomy. “It was a clown car for my dad because he is 6-foot-4, but [the car] is surprisingly spacious and it’s the only car that he feels comfortable in.”
As owner of the only VW bug at DHS, Leinroth’s car is definitely noticeable as she drives around town. “If I’m out somewhere people always know where to find me,” Abby said.
“I guess you could say that a surprise party would be hard to pull off with my car.”
For the rest of the Darien residents, the car will be the subject of the punch-buggy game, but for Leinroth, the yellow VW buggy will continue to be a favorite ride that will surely be missed next year after Leinroth’s graduation.
Have a cool car that you want to show the school? Email Mrs. O’Hare to see if you too are hot in the lot.
