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Visitor,
Saint George, UT, April 25, 2012 20:54
love the car one glitch with the radio but other wise it is great
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Visitor,
Commerce, GA, March 06, 2012 09:30
I bought my 2000 V/W beattle brand new but I had problems with it as soon as I put it on the road the coolong light come on have taking it to the dealer and so they said is fix that light is back on now I TOOK IT TO ATHENS V/W FOR OIL CHANGE THE CAR WAS GIVING ME PROBLEMS"after so many miles driven the car didn't want to start here comes and certified mechanic that my husband knows check the oil and guess what oil hs not been change for awhile,giving my money to the dealer and they never change my oil,filter and everything else that is include it,now the oil line is starting to cumulate some kind of greasy form and water I HAVE PAID HIGH DOLLARS TO HAVE MY CAR IN GOOD SHAP AND THE DEALER HAS RUIN MY CAR.... now the engine lite comes on in other words what I thought it was going to be my toy it has turn dow to a nitmare,no more V/w for me and no more dealers this goes to Jim Ellis and V/W of athens they suck and dont do the job just take your money.
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Visitor,
Lakeland, FL, January 25, 2012 11:13
bought this car in 2004 with 36000 miles, have had nothing major go wrong except for headlights went out twice and needed cv joints after 206000 miles, the key to this car is to find a good NON dealership mechanic that will do the work reaonable and do regular oil changes and it will go forever,,,, love my car. cosmetically the interior is rather cheaply made , the plastic knobs will break after time, but it still runs like a top
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Visitor,
Winter Haven, FL, January 20, 2012 10:49
I owe a 1998 VW Beetle in wish i loved, when it was in good conditions i drove it for 1 year than everything started to fall apart. I replaced the motor, changed the radiator,double cooling fans, thermostat, timing belt. cat. converters, did a complete 2 times tune ups in 6 months, changed the cables and all, water pump starter, and still check engine on. the interior started breaking, door panels, door locks, upholstery fading. headlights moldings broke, it seems that nothing works, but yet very expensive to get it going. I already spend $6,056. replacing everything. I didn't know what I was getting my self into. sucks!
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Visitor,
North Las Vegas, NV, December 11, 2011 15:04
I bought my 2001 New Beetle New; while the warrentee was in effect, only some minor problems, after the warantee expired, so did the beetle, slowly, piece by piece. The handbrake broke, came off in my hand, the catalylic converter went out, 600 bucks, the timing belt had to be replaced twice, the clutch went out, the air conditioner went out, the seat upholstery split, water pump went out... the headlights and tail lights take turns at going out, the tail light assembly popped out of the fender, seems the clips or whatever keeping the tail light assembly in place just simply disintergated, broke, to replce the tail light assembly about 300 bucks...all these repairs were very, VERY costly. I pity the fool who buys, and owns one. The ONLY GOOD thing about the beetle is the VW advertising....Das Volks is German Engernerring.
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Visitor,
Ypsilanti, MI, October 24, 2011 14:34
I bought mine used in 2006. Loved the way the body looked, and I even named mine. But to be honest, it is not a good car. Everything plastic on the car gets brittle and cracks/crumbles to pieces, without even being touched. Always throwing trouble codes; get them fixed and cleared and two days later it's something new. Working on it is a nightmare, it is major surgury to replace a fog beam or even things that should be simple like a bulb in the headlight. While driving to work this morning, I started smelling a horrible burning plastic smell and noticed smoke coming from my dashboard. Turned the car off but by then a fire had broken out in the wiring and plastic within the dashboard. Called 911 and fire department came quickly and put it out. My insurance claims representative says it looks like a total loss.
After the incident I started searching online and found many, many similar if not identical stories of electrical fires on this car. I wish I would have known this before learning the hard way.
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Visitor,
Anaheim, CA, October 17, 2011 08:21
I purchased my 2001 Beetle used, based only because it was cute and I had always wanted one since High School, big mistake, I had it for ony 6 months, and the engine completely went out, (it had only 54,000 miles on it), thank goodness for the extended warranty, they kept my car for a 1-1/2 months..ridiculous, it is now slowy falling apart, all the cheap plastic parts in the interior, glove compartment cheap handle broke off (replacement $200, because you can't just buy the handle),antenna rotted and snapped off, all the cup holders brittle and broken, the plastic covers over the seat adjustments, the cheap brittle plastic that sits inside adjustment, broke off. I have also replaced the plastic cheap emblem wheel covers at least 6 times, and gave up after two more fell of (at a cost of $30. each). Also the front lights and rear lights constantly going out at around $30 to $40 each time. The only positive thing I have to say, is alot of head room and width in the front seat. BUYER BEWARE!
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Visitor,
New Bedford, MA, August 13, 2011 04:57
OMG, getting this car is the worst thing i'v ever done. Its been giving me problems from the start, water,pump,ac compressor,transmission slipping,oil leak,doors wont lock,trunk wont open by the button,and now my fans wont shut off.
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Visitor,
Middletown, OH, July 24, 2011 11:42
mother in law sold the car to us this june 2011, 1998 red beettle 26k ,bad part she stop driving a few years back, so far driver side window motor $350.00, rear brakes,capiler $200.00,alarm system sounds at any time whem locked.#400.00 for plastic cover under the engine.no fun
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Visitor,
Lebanon, OH, June 24, 2011 14:00
Overall the car is performing as expected. Approximately 75,000 miles on the car and nothing major has failed. I have had to replace the headlights 3 different times which I feel is unacceptable. I wish the day time running lights were not the headlights, maybe another bulb or they would use the parking lights. I just replaced the original tires at 70,000 and now the left front wheel bearing is getting replaced. I just change the oil regularily and drive it.
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Visitor,
Atlanta, GA, June 08, 2011 13:28
This car is cute as a button but it's been my worst nightmare...after two months after purchasing at a used car dealership with 74K miles the engine went out!!!!!!!!!! I'm paying for a car that I can't even drive!
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Visitor,
Arlington, VA, May 26, 2011 09:33
Never again! I purchased this car used at 74,000 miles. It now has just over 100,000 miles in the three years I've owned it. I've replaced brakes, rotors, tires, the left window, battery and ignition coil. Now I'm told I need to replace motor mounts and the gear shift - it's a stick. So, I still owe $3,000 on a car that is worth $2000 and will take another $4,000 to fix. Enough!!!
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I have a 2001 Volkswagen and have had it for 3 years, I have had no real problem with my car. I do regular oil change and filter. I use only synthetic oil. I drive my car all winter, with snow tires and it is great. I really like my car and plan on keeping it for a while. Great little car.
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Visitor,
Omaha, NE, April 30, 2011 05:26
I've owned my new beetle sence it was new,and I incountered many problums. First it was the air mass indcator,next was the breake light switch. BUT THE PROLUMES GET MUCH WORST. As the car aproced 60k I tried to run on different tires.The tires were to high,and caused me to fill with air ever 4 to 5 days.The tranmisson went out (auto) at 95k,and the adle agustment went bad.
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Visitor,
Ringgold, GA, April 17, 2011 05:21
it need a fuel pump
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Visitor,
Colony, KS, March 09, 2011 20:27
I was so excited when my parents bought me this car for my high school graduation. I have been driving it for about 3 years now and it has done nothing but cost me money and problems. We have put over $7,000 in repairs to the car. I have had to replace the water pump, fuel pump, transmission, belts, batteries, breaks, for lights, the motors in the windows and more. The car is built for looks and not for relability, plus all of the parts are more expensive to replace vs. parts from GM or Ford. For the interior, the rubber surface of the dash was a terrible idea. My dash, door handles and around my raido are so scratched up and I dont know how to fix it because of that horrible rubber surface. Overall I cannot wait to get rid of this car. Yes, it does look really cute and its nice to drive around with the top down but overall its horrible! I would not reccomend it to anyone.
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Visitor,
Westerville, OH, February 23, 2011 08:18
I love my little Beetle. She is perfect for me. I've never had a bit of trouble with her. She is by far the best car I've ever had.
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Visitor,
Campobello, SC, February 14, 2011 06:45
The 2001 VW Beetle is the worst vehicle I have ever purchased. I would take much pleasure in burning it. Nothing wrong with this vehicle mechanically; simply plagued with electrical demons. Only get the dealership to repair and wait for the lies and ripping you a new one every time period.
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Visitor,
Miami, FL, January 26, 2011 14:25
Worst car I've ever owned and I've owned quite a few. JUNK!
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Visitor,
Sedona, AZ, January 12, 2011 12:45
I had a 2004 New Beetle convertible with the turbo and automatic. The things I liked: very quiet on the hwy. for a small convertible, I'm 6' and I found the seats to be comfortable and plenty of leg room up front, good performance for what it is. What I did not like: power window regulator failure (rear quarter cost $750.00 to replace) - VW is known for window regulator problems, top mechanism failure - if you are going to buy the convertible, buy a later model starting with an 06 - note: I used to work as an auto trimmer and one of my jobs was to install convertible tops and in my opinion this top on the earlier models is problematic due to poor design, also related to the top - the top can develop a rattle at the point where it connects to the windshield header, overall the interior looks upscale - but looks are deceiving - the plastics are low grade and trim and accessories can easily brake under normal use, radio - so-so, battery and headlight bulb replacement - a pain in the $%^^. I bougnt the car with 16000 miles on it and sold it with 31000 mi. on it. I did enjoy driving it. But after owning it for a while I came to the realization that at the very least I would be fixing the little things that kept breaking.
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Car interior is small. Cupholders do not work well for any drinks. No armspace. Brakes wear out quickly. Drive train takes a while to shift or pick up speed. The electrical system seems to malfunction randomly. Bulbs are often replaced. The engine gets extremely hot. The air intake system seems to always need cleaning. The suspension leaves a lot to be desired. I feel like I am intensely hitting every bump.
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I bought a 2001 VW Beetle with 9K miles on it. I've had it for years and it has over 100K miles now. I love the way it drives when it is working, but the Turbo has been a problem over the years. There has been lots of money spent in repairs and unfortunately I can't say I would buy another one. I'm on a first name basis with my mechanic and his dog, so if you can stand the trips to the repair shop every 3 months, it is a fun car to own and drive. But if you are looking for something more reliable, I can't suggest the Beetle. I have one with a sunroof and it has leaked and caused a lot of interior damage as well. So if you do choose a Beetle, make sure you demand they check the sunroof at each maintenance scheduled.
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Visitor,
Arkadelphia, AR, December 02, 2010 10:55
This car has always been my dream car and boy it wake me up from my dream real fast. This car will make you spend a lot of money if you're not careful. It's good for short distances but I would never drive my car from Arkansas to Texas. I've had so many problems out of my car since the day I got it. You know the old lingo "lemon" well my car is bright yellow and yes I did buy a lemon. It's a waste, and I'm so ready to at least attempt to try and sell my car or get another one. This is my one and only volkswagen and I don't plan on ever buying one unless. I'm in desperate need of a vehicle. Dont' waste your time.
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Fizz,
Oakland, CA, November 30, 2010 13:46
I love my Beetle. I don't drive a lot but I still love my car almost 9 years after buying it.
I've had some bad mechanics but the car is great!
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Visitor,
Ridgewood, NY, November 15, 2010 20:24
Lots of problems with this car....a money loosing hole.....cheap plastics, transmission slipping already at 2000 RPMs ……(90000 miles on it) parts are expensive to fix....electric problems ...water pump died around 75000... now leak inside from the A/C flooded the carpet by the front seat…broken springs before 60000 miles ….the plastics masks under the engine keep falling…catalytic converter died at 70000…..brakes that squeak …radiator replaced due to corrosion…...overall bad purchase...stay away from this ....what German engineering?!!! An embarrassment ....made and assembled somewhere in the basement ……rushed design....did I mention….. terrible coverage...lots of dead spots......dangerous for ramps and changing lanes on highways….
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Visitor,
Asheville, NC, November 15, 2010 20:24
I just got my 99 beetle and i love it.Its got 140000 miles and still going strong. What ever you do dont let your husband work on it.
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Visitor,
Eldorado, IL, October 14, 2010 07:22
I have a 2001 VW Beetle turbo 5 speed. I always wanted a beetle and finally got one. Has been nothing but problems unfortuantely. I love this car but its a money pit. Something always goes wrong even if its minor it costs a fortune to get it fixed. Now my beetle won't even start and were trying to figure out what the problem is. IT has a lot of electrical issues. I would NEVER suggest this car to a friend. I love the car but I hate it too. Its a love/hate relationship. Piece of JUNK!!
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Visitor,
Derby, KS, September 04, 2010 13:51
Bought this car at 83,000 miles. Spent a lot of money putting in repairs. Couldn't even replace the headlight without taking it to the shop. Same with the battery. Just to fix my gas gauge is $400. Have to get the brakes cleaned yearly because they get dirty in the winter and screech. Weird things like that.
It's a very computer-electrical based car, so it's very difficult to do even basic repairs yourself.
It's a fun car, but it's a pricey car. I think I'd enjoy it more if I bought it brand new, as opposed to used.
Overall, I'd buy another car.
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Visitor,
Salt Lake City, UT, September 02, 2010 09:14
I really enjoy my 2003 New Beetle! It's super fun to drive (it's a 5 speed manual). I bought the car one year ago, it had 64,000 miles and it now has 75,000 miles.
The biggest downer is that we've put a total of $1,300 for repairs (that includes the oil changes and 2 new tires-the dealer we bought it from paid for half of the amount). All in all, that isn't too bad.
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Visitor,
Columbia, SC, August 09, 2010 14:38
Bought mine at 60,000-replaced front and rear brakes,cooling fans.Did the regular maintance-oil change,replaced tires,a/c charge ups
At 85,000 replaced the timing belt and water pump,a/c compressor--After 100,000 miles:
front and rear struts/shocks
new tires
cv axle
radiator,cooling fans,thermostat,thermostat housing $2,000
alternator
a mystery cooling fan demon-cooling fan will not come on when needed,3 modules regulate need to take to dealer to remedy-
NOT-I'm selling this car
It 's a FUN CAR til 100,000 miles after that-you better get rid of it and get some other brand.This is not the VW of the 1960's when YOU could fix it-This is the NEW VW and One of the biggest mistakes I ever made was to buy a VW
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Visitor,
Houston, TX, June 03, 2010 16:43
This is a great little car. The 2.0L 5 speed has lots of power. However the electrical system overall leaves alot to be desired, from the CEL coming on intermittently to the dashboard and interior lights wacking out. I rated the body a 3 because if lights need to be replaced, the whole front clip has to come off. HASSLE!
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Smilodon7,
Woodland Hills, CA, May 20, 2010 01:45
This 2008 VW Beetle S hatchback, with 5 cyl.-6 forward gears, 4-wheel ABS Disc brakes and has really great suspension plus airbags, I think its the same as the Passat, because I have a 2001 Passat GLX and dang that auto handles really good, just like my Black Trident. I mean gaaht dang German engineering. I get 30+mpg when I drive like a civialian which is rarely because das auto handles so good and really zips, I have run circles around street traffic and zoomed past beamers and benzes on the freeway, this car is so much fun to drive, I pray to God I never crash considering the maneuvers I've pulled with this baby!
I bought it with 12.7K miles on it from the dealer in September of 2008. I have 25K miles on it now and have needed no repairs, I purchased the 100K mile extended factory warranty, I use Castrol Edge 5w-30 and Fram oil and air filters.
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Visitor,
Hillsborough, NC, May 01, 2010 13:37
I will NEVER buy a Volkswagen car again - this car has been the biggest financial burden of my life... I bought it used, I've had it for 6 years - it has 180,000 miles on it... it is absolutely worthless. I have a major repair on it every other month - each one costing at the very least $1000... the electrical system is completely screwed - lights and functions go out constantly. The tie rod ends wear out within months of replacing them. The plastic parts are literally falling off of my car and have been taped into place (lights, body, knobs, the sun roof)... It looks like a 30 year old car. I do not abuse the car, or treat it abnormally, I use it to drive to school and work... on the highway... I have it maintenanced regularly...
there is no excuse for a car to be literally falling apart before the owner's eyes within ten years of being made.
Completely pathetic ... I would never recommend that anyone waste their money on one of these Mexican built pieces of crap. German engineering my ass!!
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Visitor,
Absecon, NJ, April 08, 2010 07:16
WHAT A SHAME ON TRYING TO CHANGE HEADLAMPS
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orly_1,
Santa Monica, CA, December 18, 2009 20:48
I have a 2001 VW Beetle and am really like this sturdy little car. It has lots of style and does the job of driving me everywhere. I have no complaints. My car does not age...or ages gracefully depending on your point of view. I hope to keep this a while longer.
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I bought this little cutie used from a dealer and I love my 99 VW Beetle! It had 90,000 miles on it and now has 125,000 and still going. Gas mileage is GREAT and constant. My only problem is a nagging brake light that I just found out is under a recall. (Thanks Repair Pal!) and I've had one dashboard fire behind the AC and FAN switches. Look out for this problem. I'm on my third Temperature Control Module and they like to ARC and smoke out... or FLAME out as mine did. Makes the AC turn itself on and off without you touching the switch!
They cannot find the cause of this "ghost in the machine" type problem... but other than that... she's a beauty to drive and use. I'm hoping they can remedy this because I've never enjoyed a car so much as this one! She's called "Blue Eyes" and she's Ocean Blue!
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hully01,
Stockton, CA, August 25, 2009 09:25
2001 1.8L Turbo. I commute 110 mls a day RT. Bought used w/ 80k mls, almost 140k mls now & although I had to do the major 100k ml repairs, I love my car! No it is not perfect but what car is? Has a few glitches here & there but it hasn't really failed me. Its such a cutie & quick as a bullet!
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This is the worst purchase decision I have ever made. I have owned the car for less than nine months and have spent over $1200 on electrical and mechanical problems with the car. I purchased the car from a used car dealership and had the car checked by an independent mechanic before my purchase. I have had to have my car towed twice, have had the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, brake light sensor, mass airflow intake sensor, and several other things replaced. I was going to try to sell it, but now the MIL came on and I can't afford to get it fixed.
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scastigl,
Freedom, NY, August 11, 2009 14:15
Good little car - we're at 96K miles, and still going; however, lots of electrical problems over the years (both windows, various front and rear lights, radio, etc); also an almost constant oil leak for the first six years until a non-VW mechanic replaced a simple seal
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NewLeaf,
Mountville, PA, April 08, 2009 10:42
I LOVE my car! It has been a great run with 123,000 and counting. Yes there were some electric window issues...but an all electric model will have this after a while I'm thinking. Replacing the headlamps are an expensive pain but have only replaced them once. Heat is fantastic and air conditioning is still freezing which is a good thing! No drive train troubles, suspension, steering, exhaust and emmissions trouble either. For a 9 year old car....it is amazing. LOVE this car and hope to get 200K out of it. So far so good! Minor issues due to age....that is a given.
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I have much love for Beetle!
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xomed28,
Jacksonville, FL, January 31, 2009 04:27
I bought my 2003 turbo VW beatle new. My headliner is falling down. I keep the windows cracked so it does not get so hot inside. I have had some problems with my left headlight not working.My air conditioner went from cold to now to not cooling. I have 57000.00 miles on this car. It is fun to drive but if I had to do it over again. I would not buy another one.
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hahn1200,
Roswell, GA, January 06, 2009 11:30
We bought this TDI in 99 and at the time the bug had 10,000 miles on it. We had problems with the power window controls and the turbo during the warranty period and they were fixed under warranty. However, we experienced additional turbo problems and the repairs cost us over $500. We experienced problems with the front and rear lights. Getting the Rear lights fixed was very expensive. I was unable to fix myself because the space to work in was so tight..Cost over $100 to have a bulb replaced. We are not happy with the wear on the interior. Material is frayed and the plastic on the door handles is chipped.I am also unhappy with how much it cost to replace the timing belt - over $600 a pop. And they must be replaced every 60K.
Having said all that - my wife loves the car which now has over 100K. We are delighted with the MPG 44+ and like the way the car handles and the surprisingly large storage area when the back seat is down. The only caveat I have is the cost for repair on any component of the VW - Any owner must find an independent repair shop to avoid the cost of repair at the dealership which can be 30% higher. We intend to drive this car for another 100K or until the wheels fall off
Would we buy another beetle - probably not
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ehodges05,
Houston, TX, October 12, 2008 13:50
I just got a new car but HAD to leave a review..
I drove a 99 vw beetle {turbo, standard} and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. I sold it at 111,000 miles on it, but only because I got an offer to buy another car that I couldn't pass up. I am in my 20's and this car got me through college and my first few years out. It was perfect, SAFE, reliable, great gas mileage, cute, and had fun features. I ALWAYS got asked about it and people were shocked it was a 99.. It looked brand new.. It held it's value, and had some issues, but really they were just standard, car is getting older replacements, etc. I also learned how to do alot of things on my own {aka replace headlamps} and that saved $ b/c only certain shops could work on them.. You basically are getting a quality, foreign car for a great value, think about what a 99 kia looks like, no comparison. I would get another beetle, or VW and rec to ANYONE.. It's especially perfect for people just starting out in school and careers. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I cried when I sold it and still miss it!!
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spyder,
Oakland, CA, October 08, 2008 13:45
I've enjoyed the beetle since new.Stylish in it's own way.It grows on you.Simple 2.0 Liter
engine runs and runs.
I wore out the clutch at 50,000 miles , replaced brakes now and than.
I drive hard , the car does well.
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