Used 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Consumer Reviews
A Very Satisfied Husband and Wife
Francis J Wanat Jr, 03/28/2016
updated 09/30/2019
2.5L 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
For the price and condition this was a fantastic purchase. My first car forty- six years ago was a Beetle Bug and although the air-cooled engine is no longer, the reliability and technology are very much in the product. My wife and I have no regrets. We have a loaded SUV and she claimed the Bug as hers before we returned home from the purchase. It was also a wonderful purchase experience as we were already qualified for credit and knew what we wanted having done extensive on-lineresearch.I One year later - March, 2017 My wife and I are still very satisfied with the Beetle and could not be happier. It is a second vehicle that we garage for about six months of the year as we go north to Maine with our SUV. That being said, we put 3,000+ mph on it and are more than pleased. It is a very good product which has protected its reliability. It is true that my first was German made and this was manufactured in Mexico, but VW has certainly maintained the integrity of the Bug!!! We traded our former Beetle for another one a year older with lower mileage. It has been another year and our new "Bug" is just as loved and appreciated. It's a 2013 convertible with about 26,500 miles at present that we affectionately refer to as our "Platinum Grey Ghost". We try to keep it well maintained and have no plans to either sell or trade it. Another WONDERFUL car and if I can hyperbolize, an integral family member!!! My wife always had her heart set on a convertible. It was in mint condition so we traded our other. It seems another year has come and gone when I hear from you folks at Edmunds. The 2013 convertible beetle has been garage for almost five months which is kosher. We return to Florida on October 23 and that is the due date to place the "bug" back on the road. In turn, our Santa Fe Sport will go into the garage only to be used for a periodic long drive with the pooches. As to our grey ghost, it will get a fresh oil change and will probably do another three thousand of so miles before being stored for another five months or so. She will probably not the 30,000 mile mark between November and April. I am about to turn seventy-one and still find the Beetle a fun car to drive. I find it an easy car to enter and exit. It gets me a zippy go being a 2.5 five cylinder. I loved the Tornado Red 2014, but my wife always wanted a convertible and what better place to have one but central Florida. If there is any drawback, it is that it does not have anywhere the cargo space of the former red devil. Nevertheless, it has everything my wife and I need and she is extremely happy with it. That is what counts after all. I look forward to washing and waxing it. It's impeccable to us and paid for....what more can I ask. As for our Hyundai SUV, it is going to turn about 50k miles by the time we drive from Maine back to our primary dogs and that is another vehicle I am extremely happy with having purchased it new. I just purchased a new set of tires for it so we are good to go. I always enjoy your auto reviews at Edmunds.
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1st VW - 1st diesel
marltonman, 08/22/2014
2.0L TDI 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a 2 door hatchback on Edmonds.com and frankly, didn't know the Beetle was a hatchback. After reading the general reviews I concentrated on the TDI rather than the gas 2.0 Turbo as it requires premium gas. (I have a fairly long commute) I test drove the TDI as was totally impressed with the ride. This car is tight. My biggest concern was how the TDI would handle acceleration onto the interstate and passing at high speed.... Wow! This car can keep up with anything. The fit and finish is excellent and you can't beat the styling. I bought it on the spot. I've only had it a month but I can't say anything negative about it. It's a kick to drive.
I love this car!
Stacie Towe, 09/25/2018
1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
This car is so fun to drive and is fantastic on mileage! It looks small but is surprisingly roomy on the interior, and thanks to the turbo, much faster than I imagined as well!
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Best Beetle ever made...Got me back into VW!
Sean, 02/09/2016
updated 04/01/2022
R-Line PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L Turbo 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
VW should advertise this car. It is so much fun to drive. Gets better gas mileage than advertised. Faster than 2014 GTI. Great handling. Powerful Turbo Motor. Looks like old bugs again...Only.... the new one has a great heater......AND it Is really safe. My R-line beats up on classic muscle cars. I love my R-Line and plan to keep it forever! Test drive one. The R-Line Beetle sells itself. With new Civic having engine troubles this year 2016...Time to look at a Beetle? Because of my R-Line I am building a 1965 VW Beetle. Got me back into VW's as a hobby! Again; I love my VW Beetle R-Line Coupe. It honors the old Beetle and has the tech to make it relevant now! UPDATE: 3 years owning this car now, and I love it even more! BEST BEETLE EVER MADE. Test drive one and you will understand. Even the 1.8T is quick compared to other cars in the range. My sister and parents now own modern Beetles and a New Beetle convertible. Unitronic and APR for this car! Stage 1 will blow your mind. Peace, Love, and VW! (#1 Automaker in the world at time of this update. 2-10-2017) Year 4 ......2018 My 2014 RLine continues to amaze me. Best car I have ever owned. APR tuning now offered thru VW. Cars in high altitude should stay away from Unitronic. Trip to Boulder and a run up Tanglewood. 34 mpg. The lil Bug carved up windy road like butter. The car is smooth. The VW Beetle is best car in ARX Rallycross. Will be 2018 Champs. 4th year of total racing domination over Ford, Honda, Subaru (Subaru fans hate the Beetles), etc...... I am a fact guy. The car continues to be my favorite by far. VW dealer has supported me on any need. Great experience owning my Beetle. 2014 R Line is the best bug ever! Peace! #savethevwbeetle 2019 Update My favorite car ever. Period. VW should have put in a TCD button. Rear Headrests affect rear visibility. Rear seats are comfortable, but not for big people. APR is a way better company than Unitronic. APR now offered through VW. This supposed to be last year for the car. That is a shame. 12 up never got love from new CEOs. Killing it will be another mistake by VW management. #savethevwbeetle It’s time to build an Electric Bug. If you can find a used R Line in good condition; buy it! The current model is less car. Still great, but the R Line is its own beast. It’s the best bug ever. 2019 update Drove from Elizabeth, Colorado to Roswell, New Mexico. Love this car! With my APR stage one I have all the power I could want. My added traction control delete button makes the car launch like a beast . Killing the beetle this year; Volkswagen is making the biggest mistake they’ve ever made in the history of the company. #savethevwbeetle #foreverbeetle #ARX #Rallycross The current 2019 model is less car than my R Line. Also a huge mistake. Also the car was not offered in a manual for 2019. Also a mistake. It is a retro car. I bought another Bug to protect my R Line from weather and idiots. It’s to special to be a daily driver. Again; it’s the best car I have ever owned .....It has been extremely reliable! 2020 update! Text: R Line was a special Beast. 2014 was a special year. I would not trade my Beetle R Line for anything. This is my favorite car that I have owned period. Mine has 250 hp. It runs with muscle cars. It handles better than those cars. More fun on a mountain road than anything I’ve ever driven! If you can find a nice R Line Beetle; buy it! It will make you happy! #savethevwbeetle Update: 2022 The car is worth as much as I paid for it. That speaks for itself. 110% of black book. Best bug ever, and the biggest mistake by VW ever to quit making it. My 2014 R-Line Beetle continues to be my favorite car.
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Retro design with minor flaws
Patrick H, 07/20/2016
2.5L 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I've always been a Beetle fanatic since they came out with the second generation in 1998 when I was 8 years old! This 2014 Beetle was my 3rd Beetle since obtaining a license at 17 years old in 2007. I was obsessed with the car! It was a great color and loved the acceleration compared to my 2005 Beetle with only 115HP. I have driven so much in the last 2.5 years of owning it! I have racked up 70,000 miles in just 2.5 years! Yes thats a lot and I haven't had any major repairs yet! Although i'm getting nervous for the water pump/ timing belt replacement that comes between 80-100k miles and the dealerships charge about $1k. Besides that I only take my car to my local VW dealerships for oil changes. The only problem I've had with my car are the breaks. Even when I had my car for a few months they started to squeak when I would slow down. Especially during cold temperatures! Sometimes it gets very loud and my passengers are like wow you need new breaks already? I did take it into the dealership and they said they would have to send a request for them to replace it for free since it was still under the warranty. weeks went by and i never received a phone call. and summer rolled around so it made less noise and it didn't bother me. Before I knew it I was over the mileage for the warranty. Hopefully when i replace my brakes sometime this year the noise will stop. Another problem is my passenger seat sucks! I'm assuming it broke somehow. When someone wants to get in the back seat i pull the seat forward but when i push it back, it goes ALL the way back and the upper part of the seat does not come forward like it should. I have to aggressively pull the seat back with all my force and my passengers are again shocked! Another interesting tidbit is i am a 215 lb male and i noticed either of the front seats if you are heavy, and tend to move or when you make a turn, the seats will squeak! Its' kinda embarrasing if my friends are in the car. Also, I think my speakers really suck! I mean i know i don't expect the base speakers to sound like Fender, but I was in my friends 2011 Jetta and his speakers sounded way better than miles. I was surprised considering mines a 2014. The Beetle that I got happened to be one of the last 2.5L 5-cyl engines made.. a few months later they rolled out with the 1.8L's. Like I said I haven't had any major repairs or been stranded. I know I am getting close to 100k miles and i just get very nervous thinking about what i may need to replace. and since i am a student and work part time in California, money plays a factor. One thing i also don't like are the seats, they are in a way uncomfortable especially on road trips. I am 6'2" and i will get back pain. It feels like i am sitting on top of something. I don't really like it. The gas mileage is not too bad and not too good. I feel like this car shouldn't be your everyday car. But its mine. Its definitely fun to drive. I really wanted the turbo 2.0L r-line but i can't afford the higher gas grade or any major repairs in the future especially since its a turbo. One thing i did notice is that since 2010ish, VW has downgraded their interior quality by using cheap materials which makes it sad. One thing about the newer Beetle is that we all know its retro design, but when you're actually driving and holding onto the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 marks it really does feel like you're almost driving the older ones. not sure how to explain it but it may have to do with the steering wheel design/structure.
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