Horrible reviews

[BetsyBurp]

Have any of you checked out Carsurvey.org? My goodness the bug gets ALOT of bad reviews, what do you guys think? Foolish owners or legit complaints...............

[Shay]

both...

the first years dont have the best reputation though you will have people on here who love there 98. These are people that havee gotten a bad car. The beetle is a Volkswagen if you dont treat it right it will bite back, I love my 04 and I havent had anything major happen. there are the little quirks that can be a pain in the but other then that I would get another beetle in a second.

Welcome to the ORG

[Celeste]

For just about every car out there, no matter what make, there are giong to be people that have bad experiences with them. Those who have bad experiences are eager to shout out their frustrations to others, those who have had good experiences are too busy driving around with a smile on their face to care.

Welcome to the Org!

[Lona]

I agree, my first car was a 2001 New Beetle GLS, I had all kinds of problems out of it. Eventually I ended up trading it (and overall regretting it later). The interior peeled, around the doors, the steering wheel, and the console; it had to all be replaced 3 times. I closest dealership is an hour away, so I was constantly having someone drive me to college, so my dad could take my car to the shop. I had to replace the fuel pump 100 miles out of warranty, and it cost around $700. It was just one thing after another until I traded it. But, I've owned three new vehicles since then, and nothing has compared to the way I felt driving a VW. So I bought Lucky. At the dealership in Indianapolis, my dad spoke with them about our previous troubles, and they said that there are a few model years that VW really scrapped on parts, they bought the cheapest to manufacture with and then customers had vehicles that were constantly falling apart. I think that it just depends on how you treat your vehicle and how hardcore you are about truly wanting to drive a VW and take the time to take care of it.

[LadybugEwa]

I left a real positive one (true) to balance out the -ves.

[Ajoee04]

So, I'm new on this site and I figured I could get some good answers to questions I have. I've decided to get rid of my current ride because well, I'm ready to drive it off a cliff. It's a Durango, 180,000 miles, new trani, only about 18 miles a gallon, and too many other little problems. I was able to find a few New Beetles from local dealers that I am very interested in. The questions I have are: I know it is different for each year and type of vehicle, but how much can I expect to pay a year for the little "surprises"?; Is it a good vehicle for a 19 year old? I will be paying for payments, but my folks are offering to help with any extra expenses. Haha, earlier I had all these questions in my mind, but now I'm drawing a blank... I should probably tell you about the model I want. It is a 2002 Volkswagen Beetle GLs Orange. I guess it was one of only 2000 made. I'm madly in love with it. I was also wondering if $11,995 is a good price for it. It has 55,000 miles, its manual, which my parents are not thrilled about, but I've had many offers to teach me. Also, were most New Beetles Manual? All of the ones I have seen through the dealers are manual, minus one or two. It has a 1.8 4 CYL engine (I have no clue what that means). But if any of you would be able to tell me opinions on the New Beetles, or what vehicle might be a better chioce. I drove a convertible beetle a few months ago and about stole it from my friend because I fell in love with it.
Thanks,
Amanda Jo

By the way, sorry if I posted this in the wrong thread or if someone else already asked this, sorry!!

[LadybugEwa]

You'd probably get more responses if you posted in the New Members forum. The 1.8 engine means that it's a gas turbo, the most powerful of the 3 engines you can get (2.0L gas, or 1.9L diesel are other engine options). That car's got some serious horsepower (for a bug) 180HP. It might be a little more $$$ to insure because of this - shop around for quotes. The manual transmission has a bit of a learning curve, but it's so much fun when you get the hang of it, you'll never go back! There are a lot of automatics around, must be a fluke with the dealers in your area. Oh, and that color is called Snap Orange.
Welcome to the Org!

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by BetsyBurp

Have any of you checked out Carsurvey.org? My goodness the bug gets ALOT of bad reviews, what do you guys think? Foolish owners or legit complaints...............

probably legit complaints. but, more people are likely to go online to complain than to shower the beetle with praise.

the early model beetles were plagued with problems, but some cars are just lemons. i would say the beetle has more than the average share or problems, overall, but obviously, it hasn't been a deterent for most of us. also depends on what you call a complaint, too.

[Shay]

Originally Posted by Ajoee04

So, I'm new on this site and I figured I could get some good answers to questions I have. I've decided to get rid of my current ride because well, I'm ready to drive it off a cliff. It's a Durango, 180,000 miles, new trani, only about 18 miles a gallon, and too many other little problems.

Good Idea

I know it is different for each year and type of vehicle, but how much can I expect to pay a year for the little "surprises"?;

It honestly depends on how the car was treated before hand

Is it a good vehicle for a 19 year old?

I turned 20 about 3 months ago so I would say its perfect

It is a 2002 Volkswagen Beetle GLs Orange. I guess it was one of only 2000 made. I'm madly in love with it. I was also wondering if $11,995 is a good price for it.

WooHoo a Snap I Snap Orange.

I would say thats a pretty fair price. My 2004 2.0L with 20,000 miles on it was 16,000.

It has 55,000 miles, its manual, which my parents are not thrilled about, but I've had many offers to teach me. Also, were most New Beetles Manual? All of the ones I have seen through the dealers are manual, minus one or two.

Thats ok miles for a 4 year old car. little high but its a fun car. I have been told numerous times that the manual on a bug is one of the easiest to learn on. I would first have someone you know with a manual to teach you on their car to make sure you can get the hang of it (Im going to get yelled at by manual drivers but I cant learn a manual for the life of me)

I dont think most were manual but a fair share were. It took me forever to find an automatic so I know what you mean.

It has a 1.8 4 CYL engine (I have no clue what that means). But if any of you would be able to tell me opinions on the New Beetles, or what vehicle might be a better chioce.

the 1.8 is a turbo so its faster then most but it is. Make sure you love the beetle before buying it because these cars do have a mind of their own. I have had lights come on that are a Pain in the because I have to take her to the dealership and wait and its an annoance. but because I still have a warranty on my car its not as hard as some people that don't. Dont get me wrong I love my bug and I wouldnt give her up for the world but some of these cars have problems. Make sure to get a carfax for the car, and see if you can get it to a private mechanic to check it out, because they can tell you if there is something wrong.

I drove a convertible beetle a few months ago and about stole it from my friend because I fell in love with it.

You're lucky, my best friend has been trying to get me to let her drive my bug and I wont let anyone drive her


Anyways I say get rid of the durango and get the bug. Its a fun car and if you are willing to take car of it and not treat in like its a beater it will love you back.

Welcome to the org Amanda

[niki]

People are always going to be more willing to find a way to complain about something to everyone they can than praise something.

In order for something to get a lot of praise you have to really love it- like most everyone on the Org! But to complain about something you just have to be having a bad day and something sets you off.

[D2Beetle]

I read a few of the 98 NB complaints from Carsurvey.org; I cannot say for certain which were purchased as used cars or which were purchased as new cars.

My NB ownership has been "adventurous" and will continue to be, regardless of my "attitude" toward the car. Some of my adventures are...

Head lamp bulbs; blows them when it wants to and at $6 a pop.

Did it eat oil in the beginning, I do not know for certain; however after the first three fill-ups (I check the oil at every fill-up) I was concerned because I had to add oil each time; change to Mobil 1 problem went away and has never returned.

Interior trim fell off, drivers side; spent $3 for a tube glue, problem solved.

Gas door button does not open (and has not for years) gas door; removed an access cover in trunk and I open it manually now. Problem solved.

I will say that the window buttons on the 98 are fragile, as I have snapped them off using to much force. I initially choose not to have these fixed as they were $110 (dealer) plus labor. I wanted another option. Then I had an encounter with a body shop (yes, I wrecked my NB, an old man pulled out in front of me), anyway the window switch through the body shop was only $36, the labor cost was absorbed by the whole repair project.

All of my NB work is done either by me or at the independent mechanic shop who works ONLY on European cars. I drive from TN to KY, because these mechanics know what they are doing.

Well I shall not bore you with anymore stories and the moral of these stories... adaptation, perseverance, do your own work whenever possible by teaching yourself car repairs; last but not least, avoid your dealer unless its warranty work and use lemon laws whenever applicable.

Eight years, 228,000+ miles and still ...

[lojasmo]

I have owned 5 dubs

old rabbit when i was a kid-PITA
2003 golf TDI- a few little problems, nothing major..fixed under warranty (bought new)
2000 Jetta 1.8T...few problems which I tracked down and killed, but which would have been VERY aggravating if I couldn't twirl a wrench
1986 GLI with a leaky door gasket and a million other things.
2000 NB 1.8T...same as the Jetta.

The little things with the Jetta and Beetle would have cost me $1000 each if I had to bring them to the dealership.

Nothing really major, though.

[BetsyBurp]

Thanks for the replies guys, honestly it is reassuring to read. We will be beetle owners this spring. As for dealerships we have never ever taken a vehicle there to get repaired. Lucky for me my husband was born with a wrench in his hand. In the meantime I enjoy reading this forum and learning as much as I can about the bug.

[lojasmo]

Originally Posted by BetsyBurp

Lucky for me my husband was born with a wrench in his hand.

You have nothing to worry about, in that case.

[LadybugEwa]

As of now my positive review's up on their website. I think more ppl who'we had a positive experience should try to balance out all the tales of woe

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

As of now my positive review's up on their website. I think more ppl who'we had a positive experience should try to balance out all the tales of woe

that's a great idea.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

I have to say, I love the car but it is full of reliability quirks most other makes aren't. It tends to go thru water pumps, sensors, airbag connectors and little things. A lot of people have few problems but VWs have never been close to Nissan, Honda or Toyota. But damn if that little Bug isn't a smile on wheels!

[CoriBug]

My car has been very reliable since day 1. A few things:

--the spring in the passenger seat broke and the seat couldn't move forward. Covered under warranty.
--rear cupholder broke. My fault. Under warranty.
--driver's side weather seal around the door started pulling away. Under warranty.
--Part of skidplate broke off so the main one had to be replaced. Not under warranty. About $200.

My dealer is really great. They call me first about anything extra, warranty or not, are always very couteous, and the salesman I bought my car from doesn't mind me coming by just to check out new model years/colors.

Over 30000 miles, always started for me on the first try in our weird Colorado weather(-15 to 100). She's fun to drive and gets great fuel mileage. And it's fun to watch people check out my car! My mom likes to do this when I'm driving on the highway and she can see the drivers faces in the other lane. Hehehehe!!

Cori

I posted a review on carsurvey.org!