1998 Volkswagen New Beetle Review
- 125,456 milesNo accidents, 2 Owners, Personal use only4cyl ManualSouth City Motors (618 mi away)
Close
Located in South Saint Paul, MN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VWBB61C4WM009060
Stock: 10025
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-18-2024 - 143,565 milesNo accidents, 7 Owners, Personal use4cyl ManualLithia Toyota of Klamath Falls (2,012 mi away)
- Keyless Entry
- Heated Mirrors
- Alarm
Close
Located in Klamath Falls, OR
Black exterior and Cream interior. AND MORE! KEY FEATURES INCLUDE Volkswagen New Beetle with Black exterior and Cream interior features a 4 Cylinder ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VWBB61C8WM037931
Stock: WM037931
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-21-2024 - 161,607 milesNo accidents, 6 Owners, Personal use only4cyl ManualApex Motors (2,019 mi away)
Close
Located in Tacoma, WA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VWBB61CXWM041298
Stock: 2123
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-23-2024
Edmunds' Expert Review
Pros
- It's cute. It's quirky. It's retro. It's an image car we can all afford.
Cons
- It's a fancy-schmancy Golf, which means it's not the same as the original. Good or bad? You decide.
What’s new
Volkswagen revives a legend using retro styling touches wrapped around Golf underpinnings.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatchback and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.52 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Vehicle overview
The New Beetle is a bundle of contradictions. It's a blast from the past and a gateway to the 21st century. It's small but it's safe. It's pretty but it can also be pretty powerful.
Volkswagen's New Beetle debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past January to classic 60s tunes and daisies dotting the dashboards. As a Volkswagen executive said, "It's the birth of a legend, a love affair continued, a dream come true."
The VW folks dubbed it a car that makes people smile. We certainly did. Mixing design elements from the old Beetle of the flower power era with modern technology and luxuries, the Concept 1 design study that was presented at the same show in 1994 has become a reality. A groovy, cool, or phat one, depending on your age.
The trademark Beetle body shape is immediately recognizable, though it shares no parts with the old Beetle. It's both larger (161.1 inches in length and 96.3 cubic feet inside) and more powerful than its predecessor, and the engine is no longer in the back. The car is available with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder 115-horsepower engine or a high-tech Turbo Direct Injection diesel engine that gets 48 mpg on the highway and has a driving range of 700 miles. Later in the production cycle, a 1.8-liter 150 horsepower turbocharged engine will also be available. With 16-inch wheels, modified front and rear axles and front-wheel drive, cruising in the New Beetle "may remind you of the first time you drove the go-cart around the track," said a company official.
This car is not just for nostalgic Baby Boomers, according to Volkswagen. Its appeal crosses all lines of age, race and class. Its target audience is men, women, young people or people who are simply young at heart. Drivers are wanted by "the company that loves people." And essentially, they want you, whoever you are.
The safety system features energy-absorbing crush zones, pretensioning safety belts, daytime running lights, dual airbags and side airbags for front-seat passengers. Other cool standard features include four beverage holders, a remote locking system, anti-theft alarm, a passenger assist handle above the glove compartment, driver and passenger height adjusters, mesh pockets on the doors, and a bud vase on the dash. Nice touch.
Volkswagen says you'll want to hug this car when you see it; we say you'll have to have it. Especially after we tell you how much (or how little) it will cost you. The base price for the New Beetle with a 2.0-liter engine is only $15,200. For turbodiesel power, your price will bump up to $16,475.
The icing on the cake for this ultra-happy automobile is the array of fun, cheerful colors that are available: red, yellow, white and black in non-metallic finish, and silver, bright blue, (lime) green and dark blue in the metallic options. You'll be able to purchase the car in March if you live in the United States Exports to Europe will begin in the fall. Volkswagen executives predict that 50,000 Beetles will be sold this year in North America. It will be Beetle-mania all over again.
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle.
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
3rd owner 98 beetle TDI
Rough around the edges but never one to let me down :)
It's worth the few flaws!!
Fantastic Commuter Car!
1998 New Beetle Highlights
Engine Type | Diesel |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 38 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $133/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.0 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
Related Used 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Toyota Tundra 2020 Review
- Toyota Tundra 2021 Review
- Toyota Tacoma 2020 Review
- Toyota Sienna 2021 Review
- Toyota Tacoma 2021 Review
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Volvo V60
- Toyota Tundra
- Volvo Volvo XC40
- Mclaren 720 S Spider
- Ford 450
- Audi RS6 6
- Mercedes Metris
- GMC Sierra LTD
- GT Shelby 500
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid