Tough Decision: Used 98-10 or New 2012+?

[Pushing Fifty]

My daughter will be turning 16 in 2012 and likely be driving my 2000 Cyber Green GLS. It won't be hers, however, until she graduates from high school in 2015. In either case, I'll need to get another Beetle for myself. It's just a matter of when. I really love what I see with the upcoming 2012+ models and have more or less been planning to get one sometime between '13 and '15.

However...Now that the New Beetles of 1998-2010 have been discontinued, I'm wondering if I should get a late-model, low-mileage version of one of these again. I'm torn because the NBs of 98-10 will now likely get a bit more love at VW shows now that they're done and this would be the time to get one while there are still plenty around in excellent condition. And obviously, this would be a far less-expensive option. But I can get only one or the other.

As "modern" Beetle enthusiasts, what would you do? As said, I love the upcoming 2012 models from what I've seen, but I wonder how well they'll fare at VW shows until they've aged a bit?

[marvins_dad]

Find a Turbo S or wait until 2013. I am weary of getting a first model year, just ask the '98 owners about the differences between their cars and anything after.

[Fowvay]

2006 - 2010 2.5 is the most reliable with the most bugs worked out.

[chukkerb]

Can you lose either way? The new,new beetle will probably be as huge a hit as they all have been.Late model 2000-2006 will probably be a decent price,espec. with the new 2012's coming out.

[Rubee2006Tdi]

Guess it is personal preference. There are people that will talk down the 2012+ because it is not a 98-2010. Personally I love my 2006 Tdi but I really like the new Beetle as well. I can picture getting one for myself at some point.

New Beetles usually hold their values well in the used market whether that will continue after the new models come out is anyone's guess.

Another point to consider is that new cars (if your credit is good) will get a better interest rate and in some cases will offset the savings on the used one. Plus will be more reliable at least for a time.

Good luck and these are just a few things to consider.

[pdoel]

Well, for starters, if you're thinking about shows, I don't think the New Beetle will get more love at shows now, because it's been discontinued. The car has been out for 14 years. About anything and everything that could be done to them, has. Not much has really changed with them, and we've seen it all. So I don't think they're going to get anymore love for quite some time. I think most of the ooo ahhh for the current NB is over with, as far as car shows are concerned.

The Beetle, however, will get a lot of attention for a little while. As for reliability, I don't think we're going to see the same magnitude of glitches with the release of the 2012 as we did the '98. The '98 was the first MKIV here in the states, so it wasn't just the first year for the New Beetle, but the first on the platform.

The Beetle's platform has been out for a bit, and the engine's have been out even longer, and have proven to be quite reliable. I'm sure there will be a few little items, but not to the extent of the '98s.

If it were me, I'd wait for the 2012. I'd rather have a bit of variety, than more of the same.

[Pushing Fifty]

What really irks me at your typical VW show is that beautifully-kept New Beetles, especially in stock form, are largely ignored unless there is a specific stock NB class that forces participants to vote for one. I would think that after 14 years, these cars would get a bit of respect. With that said, I guess things could be worse, like clumping New Beetles of 98-10 vintage into All-Water-cooled VWS.

Still, I get upset when some beat-up air-cooled Beetle or Bus with bad paint, dents and dings, and torn upholstery gets more recognition than a 98-10 NB in showroom condition just because it's 45 years old.

I would be using either a late-model 98-10 or an upcoming Beetle primarily for shows, although it may also become a daily driver if I trade my Passat in to lower the payments. We no longer need 2 different 4-door cars (my wife has a Nissan SUV and works opposite shifts from me). I could also buy some POS winter beater or even drive the Nissan to work to preserve my Beetle.

If I get a 21st century Beetle, I'll probably wait until 2013. I know they will probably have less "bugs" than the first 98, but waiting until '13 would also enable me to save more cash.

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by Pushing Fifty

What really irks me at your typical VW show is that beautifully-kept New Beetles, especially in stock form, are largely ignored unless there is a specific stock NB class that forces participants to vote for one.

But that makes perfect sense to me. If it were a NB only show, I can see a very clean stock NB getting some props. But at a big VW show, I wouldn't think it would. If you were walking around a VW show, and saw a clean 2000 Golf or Jetta that was completely stock, would you go nuts over it? I see clean stock New Beetles, Jettas, Golfs, etc., every where I go, so when I go to a car show, I'm going to spend more time checking out the cars I don't get to see every day.

[Pushing Fifty]

That's why I wish there were more NB-only shows like Roswell.

Nevertheless, when I go to an all-VW show, I know I can see any new Jetta, Golf, Passat, or soon, Beetle on a dealership's lot, but I still try to spread out my votes over the entire spectrum. I'll certainly vote for a beautifully-restored Split-Window or 21-Window Bus, but I'll also vote for something like a 2010 Jetta Sportwagen over some beat-up, rusty, neglected Beetle from the 60s. I guess what I really need to do is join a water-cooled only VW club. Yeah, the same could happen: Some rusted Rabbit or Scirocco that's seen better days could get more attention than a NB from the 2000s, but the air-cooled bias would be absent. The thing is, at nearly 52, I'd be quite a bit older than the typical water-cooled crowd, and most of them are into heavy modding, too.

[pdoel]

That's what I like a bout shows that really do a great job of breaking out the classes. And luckily, most of the ones I've been to put the New Beetle in it's own class, rather than grouping them with all Water cooleds.

I wouldn't worry about the age thing. Our local groups have people of all ages, and everyone (for the most part) gets along quite well.

We have young kids who's cars are held together by duct tape, but who take care of them as if it's their dream car. And others who go through cars every six months, modify it, then dump it. To older people who either keep their cars stock, or also modify. VW folks seem to be a rather welcoming bunch.