New Beetle owner question

[Beetle Lee]

Hello guys and gals,

My wife and I just bought our first Beetle, an 04 silver coupe with 2.0 and auto trans.

I have a question....

I'm a car guy and something is bothering me about driving this car on the freeway.

At 65 or 70 the engine is reving at 3000-3300 RPM. Is this normal? I feel it seems to need an overdrive.

Thanks for your help

New Member

Lee

[Deserion]

The engine speed is normal at that MPH range. :)

-Des

[kcfoxie]

Perfectly normal. it's just a 4-banger with what seems to be low gearing. My 5-speed runs 4000rpm at 80Mph.. which is on-par with your rage for 65/70.

[Beetle Lee]

thanks for the reassurence.


Lee

[manoverboard987]

further reassurance-

thats where mine (auto) has always run at those speeds.

and thats also why i say my next car will have a 6-speed.

[Porkchop]

Is this really considered high rpms? I know V-8's run much lower RPM's, but there are also a lot more moving parts. It seems any 4 cylinder that i have owned was always in the 3,000+ rpm range at those speeds.

[Käfer]

I think it all started with the NB in 98 (Mark IV chassis?) My wife had a Cabrio which revved lower although it, too, was a 2.0L. But the Cabrio never made it to that Chassis as it was replaced with the Beetle ragtop. Anyone know of newer Jets or Golfs with regard to the rpms?

[SMG]

Exactly the same, the 2.0L NB and the 2.0L Golf are the same car with a different body.

[Woodstock]

I am no mechanic-- but I just had my Beetle in dealership for a brake light problem (still under original warranty).When I picked Woodstock up, they told me they replaced my catalytic converter, as they heard a slight "rattle". I have had the car about 10 months, and did not notice anything. (now has 24,000 miles)

Well, there is a big difference, esp at high speeds. It defintely is at lower rpms now, and runs smoother.

[Jarrett]

yeah my wife and i just bought a 2000 GLS with the auto and when we run on the interstate at 65-70 we're turing about 3000 3200 rpm's. i think its the small 4 cyc. that just naturally rev. really high..