Used 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle Hatchback Consumer Reviews
if only i had known.....
i bought the car with 7k miles...it now has a shade over 15k build quality is very poor...glove box door hinge came loose without any trauma..power window switch broke and cruise control went out. lower engine cover panel came loose after 6 months of driving, just replaced a faulty brake light switch now the solenoid that controls the gas cap door needs replacing....this car is truly a piece of crap....
Cut My Losses
I bought a 1999 Volkswagen Beetle for my daughter and the car was OK for 50,000 miles. Then it started having major repair bills. It overheated and cost $1,200 to replace the heads, after which it still did not work right. New brakes cost $300. We had to replace three headlights at $45 each. The motor kept giving her trouble. We spend another $1,200 on it and then it died. We put in a different motor had all kinds electrical problems. Eventually the car caught on fire and was totaled. Don't buy this car unless you want a money pit.
I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGON AGAIN
THIS IS THE MOST UNRELIABLE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED!!!I HAVE BEEN TO THE SHOP A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES FOR EVERYTHING FROM MINOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS(POWER WINDOW REGULATORS,RADIO MALFUNCTIONS,FAULTY TAIL LAMPS) TO MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS(UNEXPECTED ENGINE THRUSTING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY AND THE CAR JUST NOT STARTING- UNKNOWN CAUSE).
Fun. downside: window/lock switches.
The only crticism of this fun-to-drive car is the window and lock switches were of poor quality. The difficulty in changing headlamps is a myth (even the owner's manual tells owners to take it to the dealership--I got a $53 estimate to change it). I found a procedure on the inernet and changed the passenger side headlamp quickly and for $7--the cost of the bulb.
No longer a dream car
Growing up, I’ve always wanted a beetle so when I finally got one, I was ecstatic. Yes, the car was 19 years old when I bought it in 2018 but the first few months with it were great. Then things stopped working like my speedometer, fuel gauge, automatic clock, temperature display, etc. The most upsetting part is every time I fuel up, it’s $40!! Not sure if it’s because there are problems with my car, but it’s ridiculous how much gas goes into this tiny car. Besides those issues, the steering is great and I can fit into basically any parking spot.
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