Used 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle Hatchback Consumer Reviews
More room than you think
People think this car has nothing to offer on the outside, but all you have to do is take it for a drive and see just how much headroom you have that you won't find in other cars. Plus what is truly amazing is just how quite and and deceptively fast this car feels. You'll find yourself driving down the highway thinking you are going 70mph when in actuality you are going around 90 or more. And when it comes to a quiet ride, it is amazing. Its nice riding and quick responsive when turning or switch lanes. This car handles just like a little sports car and as such i find myself driving it that way. Take it for a test drive, you will not be disappointed at all.
I have gotten my money's worth!
Bought my bug used on Ebay for $6500 with 75,000 miles on it. It now has $130K miles and is still going strong. I have maintained this vehicle and it only broke down once when some board fried out and cost me $238. The AC Compressor did go out and the dealership quoted $1200 to replace it. Instead I bought a compressor on Ebay for $200 and my mechanic put it in for $200 and its been working fine. It seems like the headlights and brake lights go out a lot and are very expensive to replace. Poor design that allows water intrusion. The trunk latch and gas cap latch stopped working at 100K and the alarm has never worked right. Minor issues overall! I still love it & would buy another.
Fun Car / Not Reliable
I love the design of the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle. It's the cutest car ever made. But it is poorly put together. What ever is made of plastic in that car is going to break. I have had to replace all the window switches in it. And now I cant use my CD player because the plastic switches on the radio have broken. My flex plate in the engine craked and had to be replaced. The actual part only cost $36 but it ended up costing me $800 after labor. So it's not that the parts are expensive is the difficulty to replace things in the car. I had to also replace my alternator, air conditioner, and the window units. My fuel door will not open from the inside If they would just fix all these minor problems it would be an exellent car!
Never Again
Bought the car used from a VW dealership, said it had been checked out and was in great condition. 6 months later came in for extensive engine repairs, have been back to the service department at least 4 times a year since then for random electrical failures. Check engine light is on at least once a month for no reason, I go in and pay $90 for them to turn it off. Have spent over half of what I paid for the car in repairs and that is with taking it to cheaper garages instead of paying the ridiculous prices at the dealership. It is very cute and fun to drive but extremely poor quality and the most unreliable car I've ever driven. Do not make the same mistake!
I love my Beetle!
Before I had a Beetle, I thought they were cute, but not for me. When I saw one at a dealership, I thought I would just check it out. Love at first site. Good looking, sporty, fun, and safe for my kids, just what I wanted in a car!