M Prim, my wife. She's more upset than I am at this point. I'm just becoming more and more disappointed with VW with each passing day. My 25yr love affair with them is dwindling. Yes, the windows when it was new, was something I lived with. I truly loved the car. Besides who rolls down windows in Houston, TX during the summer? The Beetle has been awesome fun to drive and I even cherished washing her. At the 80k maintenance, i had to have a valve cover gasket and another gasket replaced because she was leaking oil. Ok, another $750 to the already expensive 80k. 2 weeks later and I'm having to get the water pump replaced for another $1000. I know tires are part of owning a car but I just, 2 days ago, dropped $800 on new rubber. I'm trying to keep a cool head and not just sell it. I really wanted to get 300,000 miles out of this car.
Road test, and make sure manufacturer maintenance has been done. Perky car to drive with turbo, feels solid, and feels comfortable and ready to take on road trip. Dealer made purchase easy, car hadnt had 2nd manufacturer maint when pruchsed becasue of low miles. A special car for me and my family, a surprise. Have had many VW's in past, never a Beetle, and this is very nice.
When you're battery dies. It's will give you every warning in the book. Key not in range. Key defective. Brake error. Parking break. When you're battery finally fails (no indication other than the key) it basically does what a normal car does. Doesn't start. Bit goes though this weird every error thing. I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN MY FOR. it was a stupid dead battery. I wasn't stupid enough to pay the reprogramming fee to discover this (99$) thank God. I needed a jump and a new battery. The car didn't indicate that at all. Runs great now.
What's not to like about this car? Perfect for empty nesters. With the back seats folded down, lots of room to haul a bunch. Great looks and fantastic acceleration with the 210 hp turbo. It can easily get you in trouble. Rock out with the Fender Audio System and the sunroof open. Sharp 19" mags finish it off. Feel like a kid again!
Firstly, the styling update from the "New Beetle" is great - the shape is a stylistic ode to the original Beetle and the mechanical/technological updates make this a future classic. The interior is excellent. The seats aren't as supportive as in the GTI but they are comfortable on both long and short trips. The driving position is good. The 2.0L Turbo combined with the DSG is a nice combination. There is ample storage space in the hatch and the seats lay almost flat - several large storage tubs do fit!
The only downside to the stock version is weight, but the handling issues caused by the excess plumpness can be easily wrangled with the addition of a heavier sway bar @ the rear and/or some lowering springs.
All in all a fun car to drive and own!
