Used 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle Consumer Reviews
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TDI Beetle - best kept secret out there
AIXIZCYCLES, 07/06/2009
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI 2dr Hatchback (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 5M)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
Having learned to drive on a 1962 bug, I have a certain affection for the Beetle. This new one does not disappoint and is uber fun to drive. Owing a new Suburban and also a HD bike, I use the Beetle for daily chores and business commuting. At 6'1" and 250lbs, I have plenty of room. I specifically wanted a turbo diesel, manual because a small car should be fun and involve the driver in the experience. Can't complain abut the 44mpg I am getting as well! I also have a grin on my face knowing that it does not meet current EPA requirements!!! Global warm this.
Worst Car
lvazquez1watcx, 07/16/2013
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought this car on June 2011. it had less than 90, 000 miles on it. few months after i bought it, the flap panels broke, headliner started falling apart and the inside began to deteriorate. when it hit 100,000 miles the transmission started acting up, the valve body ended up need replaced. the headlights and anything electrical really is always acting up. i got this car at the VW dealership and thought i was getting a good deal on it, but not even 2 years later and i have already put thousands of dollars into its repairs. I am a nursing student and this is probably the least reliable car you could own. Have filed a complaint with the BBB, but never received a response.
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle for sale near you
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- GLS 1.8T ConvertibleMSRP: $8,9891,406 mi away
Expensive trash that’s also a death trap!
Samk, 08/18/2019
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have a 2004 convertible bug and the amount of problems with it amazes me. I got the car a little over a year ago from a dealership and it has cost a heavy chunk of change to keep up with. I don’t know if it was the dealership somehow making things seem fine or if I’m just an idiot but the car seemed perfect for the test drive. Number one: the headlight. The drivers side headlight has been out since I got the car but it somehow worked for one day (aka the day I got the car) and we’ve taken it to multiple people and they all say the wiring is ruined somehow and will be about a $850 fix including parts and labor and I don’t have $850 laying around so it hasn’t been fixed and I’ve been pulled over three times. Next the way the car drives is useless in the rain and don’t get me started about the snow. I have brand new tires and I still slip and slide everywhere to even on the high spinning out and almost killing me and my friend in the car! It was probably around 3 pm and it was raining and it wasn’t dark and I knew about the car slipping so I was even going slow but we went around a turn and there was no chance of not spinning. I bent the left rear wheel in a way that a mechanic explained as “impressive” because it just bent in two different directions. I don’t even want to mention the wretched wiring on this car. Sometimes the car won’t start randomly and you have to give it a few moments before you try again and it starts like nothing happened. The car rocks sometimes when I start it and I’m letting it warm up. Everything is so cheaply made the convertible top just snapped randomly so that is also tied up in the back. There’s no space for people in the back seat. This foam material STILL comes out of the vents when I turn the air on after 15 years. The brights randomly get stuck on for months at a time. Sometimes while driving the rpms just drop and I stop going. It did it so bad once the car turned completely off and I had no breaks or steering. It is a death trap and mechanics never tell you what’s actually going on with it because that’s their nature. I’ve taken it to countless places who claimed they fixed my rpm dropping problem but it still happens. I’ve done so much research and tried countless Bandaid fixed so it’s safe to drive at least for a day or to the real ship and they end up not working. Everyday it’s something new with this car and it is a money pit. Whenever I look up a new problem it seems everyone else has already had it and it costs 500+ to fix. I am 18 years old and my last car broke down but it ran better than this piece of junk. On the bright side the seat warmers in the front are nice and the ac kinda works sometimes if it’s not too hot. A true disappointment of a car.
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- Technology
- Performance
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- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
A MISTAKE
Rikky Huskanovic, 03/26/2015
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Convertible (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
First got this car when it was around 80k miles, and it was super cute and super fun for a few days until I noticed that something was wrong half the time when you tried to accelerate. However, it lasted me a few months- all while check engine turned on, it didn't acknowledge gears, etc- until it left me on the side of the highway with the engine and everything inside fried. We got it "fixed" and looked at so many times until it literally just died. No one wanted to even look at it, and the one mechanic that was willing said that all hope was lost. No reliability, no durability, doesn't seem to run over 5000 miles. You will be throwing your money away if you buy it.
My Beetle
Bianca, 04/21/2004
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GL 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have always heard good things about VWs. When the new beetle came out, I could not wait to own one. I finally was able to purchase one last Jan, and I have nothing but good things to say about my car. Not only is it stylish, but it was also a reasonable price. Your car should be a reflection of you, and my bug is truly that: cute, little, and full of great surprises :)