WTB 99-03 TDI Beetle 5 spd

[Gypsyangel]

Hey all. We're searching for an older TDI Beetle. Preferred years are between 99-03 and we're not afraid of high miles as long as it's not too far over 150,000.But it MUST have a manual transmission. Oh, and NO convertibles and really no need for a sunroof/moonroof.

We're not opposed to traveling out of state or even doing a fly-n-drive for the right one. We're currently scouring Craigslist, Ebay and Auto Trader. If anyone comes across any or know of any other sites to try our search, please let me know.It'd be greatly appreciated.

BTW no real color preference, but I'd LOVE to find a yellow one

Thanks in advance.

[macdave]

Try Crazedlist.com it lets you search all craigslist regions at the same time.

[Gypsyangel]

Originally Posted by macdave

Try Crazedlist.com it lets you search all craigslist regions at the same time.

Thanks for the tip. Already on it. I should've mentioned it though. I guess I just take it for granted that everyone knows how to use Crazedlist over Craigslist or Searchtempest for those on I.E. We've found a couple we're looking at more closely, but no yellow ones Hmmmm how much could it be to paint one yellow?

[Gypsyangel]

Looks like I may have a good lead on one in SC. I'll update if I'm officially joining the ranks or not. Won't know till this weekend.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Gypsyangel

... but no yellow ones Hmmmm how much could it be to paint one yellow?

Add a quality color change and you could buy a much newer one for the same money! lol If your that set on yellow, just wait it out, it'll come along.

MORAV

[Farmboy]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

Add a quality color change and you could buy a much newer one for the same money! lol If your that set on yellow, just wait it out, it'll come along.

MORAV

Curious what a "quality color change" is.

OP may or may not realize, pre-2004 means a rotary (VE) Bosch injection pump rather than a Pump Duese(Duese?) or a common rail. Much more dependable & affordable in the long run.

I do wonder, though, why not a 98? That should be at least as good as 99-03, AFAIK, and you get the added benefit of a keylock on the passenger side . . .

Bump and good luck from someone who has the pleasure of owning a yellow 2000 Beetle TDI purchased new in December 1999 . . .

[BlueLghtning]

Hey this is the OP's husband.

It looks like we did find a 2000 Silver TDI 5spd with 143k miles in SC. We should be picking it up this Sunday.

It does appear to be a 1 owner car that was traded in at a large dealership back in Dec and then sold at auction and being re-sold by a very small dealership in SC. Unfortunately since it went through auction, it doesn't appear to have much history with it and therefore the timing belt, water pump, and other associated things will be high on our list to have done pretty soon. I did notice that the carfax did show several dealer visits for things like oil changes & rotating tires and stuff up to about 100k. I wonder if that particular dealer could give me a full break down on that car if I contacted them with the VIN?

Also, can someone clarify exactly what we should be getting replaced to be safe and be good for the next 100k miles? There are 3 TDI mechanics listed on Fred's site in the Atl area, so I'm guessing will try one of them, although we are technically about 45mins SW of Atl.

I'm excited about finally getting a TDI. We owned a 1998.5 24V Dodge Ram Quad Cab Cummins with the 5spd for a couple years. I loved that truck and saw an honest 19-20mpg even pulling a small open trailer and used it a couple times to tow our motorcycles from GA to CA and back. We sold it when it just didn't feel like we were using it that much. It was ironic in our search for our beetle that we noticed our old Cummins came back on the market, but we decided we really didn't need a 3/4 ton truck and the little TDI bug will serve us much better. We do plan on using it to tow a small 4.5'x 8' trailer with 2 dirt bikes on it which I'm expecting it to handle just fine. The Beetle is replacing our gas guzzling '97 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L 4x4 auto that's getting about 15mpg on a good day. Its pretty sad when my 3/4 ton truck could pull 19-20mpg and not even tell 2 dirt bikes were behind it, yet the Jeep is lucky to pull 15mpg empty and we've seen as low as 12-13. My wife and I are also pretty hard core manual trans people (okay me more then her ), but I really detested the auto in the Jeep. It was just so blah to drive. We both ride motorcycles, so both of us are used to shifting and I just can't get used to not being in control of the tranny.

I figure if things with this TDI goes well, I finally retire my '97 Pontiac Grand am 2.4L 5spd with about 191k on it and find a TDI myself. I've owned it since '98 and 20k miles. It certainly hasn't been without its issues, but I've put it through a lot including many miles of towing a trailer and carrying kayaks & canoes on the roof.

[BlueLghtning]

Originally Posted by Farmboy

Curious what a "quality color change" is.

OP may or may not realize, pre-2004 means a rotary (VE) Bosch injection pump rather than a Pump Duese(Duese?) or a common rail. Much more dependable & affordable in the long run.

I do wonder, though, why not a 98? That should be at least as good as 99-03, AFAIK, and you get the added benefit of a keylock on the passenger side . . .

Bump and good luck from someone who has the pleasure of owning a yellow 2000 Beetle TDI purchased new in December 1999 . . .

We didn't totally discount the '98, but we did read a few things were added in '99 that were nice to have like the keylock and I think ABS became standard. If a good deal had come along, we wouldn't have passed it up.

I had read the pre '04's seemed to be a bit more robust, but regardless, the early years fit in our budget better.

[InsectusMaximus]

♦♦♦ 1999 VW Beetle TDI Leather, Roof, 5 Speed ♦&#9830
***2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GLS TDI 130K Miles, 45-50 MPG*****