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Road Tests: Long-Term Test
1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
December, 1999
By editors at Edmunds.com
Date Posted 01-01-1999
"At first, the New Beetle and I didn't get along," writes senior features editor Brent Romans. "Primarily this was due to my expectations about how a modern car should accelerate. After all, the New Beetle is a fairly lightweight and small car. Ah, but the Beetle isn't about that. At least not with the turbodiesel engine under the hood. The New Beetle couldn't care less about going fast."
Once Brent gave up on asking for things that the Beetle couldn't do, they got along much better. At some point, Brent decided to drive the New Beetle like an old Beetle. "That is to drive with the flow. Let things happen. Be harmonious with the world," as any good flower-child would do.
Utilizing this philosophy, Brent enjoyed the New Beetle much more. He also could understand why people call the car fun and cute, and observed that nobody wants to offend the cute New Beetle.
To demonstrate, a little real-life dialogue direct from Mr. Romans:
Scene: Sitting at a light, pole position (first row, to the left). A Honda Civic pulls up next to Brent in the Beetle. The young woman driver yells for his attention. He turns down the radio and looks over.
Brent: Yes?
Woman: Excuse me, but I'm going to cut you off as soon as the light turns green.
Brent: Uhh, OK.
Woman: Really. I just don't want you to get mad at me. I need to get into that parking lot over there. [indicating to lot on left, immediately after light]
Brent: Oh. No problem.
Woman: Thanks.
Brent noted that this would never happen in any other vehicle, "It would be like TP-ing Mr. Rogers' house -- you just couldn't live with yourself if you did it."
Brent commented on the good low-end torque, but didn't like the sloppy, long-throw shifter and the clutch that engages too quickly off the floor. The ride was also a bit harsher than he thought it would be, but there is less body roll than he anticipated. The chassis provides quick, zippy handling in city driving.
Grant Whitmore took possession of the keys next, and, although it wasn't his choice to drive the New Beetle like the old Beetle, he found he had no choice, because he said, "the New Beetle is starting to feel like an old Beetle." He was struck by our "battered and bruised" tester, "The overall feel of the car is a far cry from the taut Teutonic machine I took to Arizona 18 months ago."
His first complaint was about the misaligned steering and strong vibration the car experiences at freeway speeds. This reminded Whitmore of his high-school days bug experiences, with the wheel shaking in his hands when the needle edged past 70 mph. He also commented on the car's "un-VW-like" tendency to wander over the pavement, even when the road was fairly smooth. "This is a stark contrast to how Volkswagens are supposed to handle (Drivers Wanted?), and a definite departure from the handling of my same-vintage, older-platform Golf."
Once again, we received complaints about the Beetle's interior rattles. Whitmore said the oversized door panels "seem to amplify sound like a kettledrum, and the dashboard rattles made me check the glove box for maracas."
On a positive note, Whitmore was impressed with the New Beetle's ability to pack a hefty amount of gear for the drive home to Arizona. With the rear seats folded, he was able to fit two large suitcases, one bass guitar, one bass amplifier, one small wine rack, supplies for feeding and entertaining two dogs and three cats for one week, one Hillshire Farms Salami and Cheese Pack, and one pet taxi. But he'd still appreciate a place to stow his cell phone.
Total Odometer Reading: 29,059
Best Fuel Economy: 41 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 30 mpg
Body Damage: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None.
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