2008 Volkswagen New Beetle: What’s New

[mel72349]

From Thecarconnection.com:

Like its convertible companion, Volkswagen's retro New Beetle coupe gets a raft of minor changes for the 2008 model year.

On paper, the most significant change is the shift in trim levels to S and SE. Both of those variants are still powered by the same 2.5-liter in-line five-cylinder engine, the only engine available on the New Beetle these days. It's rated at 150 horsepower and works through either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

After a cosmetic overhaul in 2006, the Beetle carries over its crisper style with a few changes. New 16-inch wheels are found on the S model, while the SE gets 17-inchers. Front floor mats are no longer standard; fog lights, leather seating, and rain-sensing wipers are off the equipment list but tire-pressure monitors and a temporary spare tire have been added as standard equipment. A new option on the S model is a cold-weather package.

Stability control is standard across the line again, along with traction control and anti-lock brakes

[marvins_dad]

Wow...no floor mats and a donut tire instead of a full size. I thought that was one of their bragging points of the past...a full size spare. Sad.
..and this for the car's 10 year anniversary.

[Audiophil]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

Wow...no floor mats and a donut tire instead of a full size. I thought that was one of their bragging points of the past...a full size spare. Sad.
..and this for the car's 10 year anniversary.

Yep, sad. The GTI anniverary editions get all kinds of cool stuff... it is either on it's way out or being moved to the MK5 platform and they are busy with it. Let's hope for the latter.

[niki]

So leather seats are off the list but it's getting a cold weather package...? So no heated seats...? Sounds pretty crappy to me. My 99 sounds way better.

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by niki

So leather seats are off the list but it's getting a cold weather package...? So no heated seats...? Sounds pretty crappy to me. My 99 sounds way better.

You could always get heated seats on cloth, leatherette or leather.

So if there's a cold weather package, I would assume it still contains heated seats.

['01vwbeetle]

Originally Posted by Audiophil

Yep, sad. The GTI anniverary editions get all kinds of cool stuff... it is either on it's way out or being moved to the MK5 platform and they are busy with it. Let's hope for the latter.

Well rumor has it that they are redesigning the new beetle for 2009. I found this link on the vortex...
http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...en_rear_engine

[Concept1]

Originally Posted by '01vwbeetle

Well rumor has it that they are redesigning the new beetle for 2009. I found this link on the vortex...
http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...en_rear_engine

I sure hope we get TSI and TDI engine choices. Otherwise this thing is going to crawl.

[Concept1]

From EDMUNDS:

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Volkswagen of America rolled out minor changes to its 2008 lineup on Thursday, noting that the Jetta and the Rabbit will get a new 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The improvement means 20 more horses than the outgoing engine and 7 more lb-ft of torque.

At the same time, several items have been stripped from the 2008 New Beetle and New Beetle Convertible. Foglights have been deleted from all trim levels, along with floor mats, leather seating surfaces and rain-sensing wipers.

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by Concept1

... several items have been stripped from the 2008 New Beetle and New Beetle Convertible. Foglights have been deleted from all trim levels, along with floor mats, leather seating surfaces and rain-sensing wipers.[/B]

How can 'What's no longer available' be considered "What's New"?

Nice to see that they are powering up the 2.5L though!

[Concept1]

Originally Posted by wawalker

Nice to see that they are powering up the 2.5L though!

Yeah but only for the Rabbit and Jetta. The New Beetle could have gone out with a bang. Instead it's going out with a whimper.

[Beetlemania]

I hear that in 2009 they're getting rid of the round fenders and the arched top.

[larryziegler]

I showed the proposed changes to my wife. Her response was that its gonna be either a 2008 Beetle, or its gonna be something else (either the new 08 Accord Coupe or possibly a slightly used Acura TL amongst the possibilities). The proposed 2009 model changes soured her.

[n2jesus4life]

I just got off the phone with VW corp. info line and they actually confirmed a few good things-they are deleting the front mats bt are going to have rubber mats but still offer the monster mats as accessories...and they are offering yellow in a METALLIC SUNFLOWER instead of FLAT sunflower yellow...

And I got a rumor word that it has been proposed but NOT confirmed YES OR NO yet...But they are considering making Hardtop TRIPLE WHITE!

[Beetlemania]

Cool stuff! Thanks for the update!

[Jerseydiva]

gee...glad I bought my second NB in 2007

[callisto9]

my 2001 is sounding better and better all the time!

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by mel72349

...a temporary spare tire have been added as standard equipment.

I'll take one of those! I took out my full size spare, which BTW was a major PITA to pull from the tiny vert trunk opening, years ago to save weight. I just carry a can of tire inflate if I need it.

[Smileybug]

They are taking out the full sized spare on a number of models. I don't remember which one's exactly but its not just the Beetle. They seem to be stripping down other models, just not as much as the Beetle. There was a thread on vortex several months ago about the changes in all of the models for '08. Lots of good, but some bad as well.

I am glad I have my '99. Its perfect, aside from being a gasser. I have my full-size spare so I'm thankful for that. Donuts are dangerous, IMO.

[Evanrude]

It's like VW just decided to gang-rape the Beetle and leave it whimpering beside the road, begging for some dignity.

No fog lights, no leather, no turbo, no MATS, doughnut tire. WTF. They've emasculated the Beetle even more.

What is REALLY sad is that overseas, you can order every engine ever made for the Beetles, all options and colors.

So if I have to, if I want a new one, I'll order it over seas, and then import the sucker. VW has admitted to withdrawing a lot of thier offerings because they don't believe there is call for it in the U.S. WHAT??? :P

VW told me that they would be keeping their European offerings the same next year, just not in the U.S. So what is the deal?

Over there you can get the 1.4 Luna 75ps, 1.6 Luna 102ps, 1.8T 150ps, 1.9 TDI 105ps, and the 2.0 115ps.

And you can order in Non-Metallic, Black, Harvest Moon Beige, Salsa Red & Sunflower. In Pearl you can get Deep Black Pearl, Laser Blue Pearl. And in Metallic paint you can get Gecko Green, Platinum Grey, Reflex Silver, and Shadow Blue.

Not to mention, they will still have leather seats and foglights :P

So either VW has something special planned, or they are just screwing the U.S. market completely for Beetles.

[larryziegler]

Originally Posted by Evanrude

So if I have to, if I want a new one, I'll order it over seas, and then import the sucker. VW has admitted to withdrawing a lot of thier offerings because they don't believe there is call for it in the U.S. WHAT??? :P

VW told me that they would be keeping their European offerings the same next year, just not in the U.S. So what is the deal?

Over there you can get the 1.4 Luna 75ps, 1.6 Luna 102ps, 1.8T 150ps, 1.9 TDI 105ps, and the 2.0 115ps.

And you can order in Non-Metallic, Black, Harvest Moon Beige, Salsa Red & Sunflower. In Pearl you can get Deep Black Pearl, Laser Blue Pearl. And in Metallic paint you can get Gecko Green, Platinum Grey, Reflex Silver, and Shadow Blue.

Not to mention, they will still have leather seats and foglights :P

So either VW has something special planned, or they are just screwing the U.S. market completely for Beetles.

Ordering one overseas is not a possible alternative. It will not pass emissions testing, nor will it pass safety requirements. You will have to retrofit the car to meet U.S. emissions and safety standards, which will cost you thousands of dollars. In addition, with the dollar at record lows to the Euro, I wouldn't be surprised if a Beetle cost the equivalent of $30,000 U.S. in Europe. If it were possible, you would have to be a cash buyer. Read some of the stories it takes to import a U.S. car to Canada, and it will change your mind quickly. I understand and agree with what you are saying. There must be more to the story than we are hearing (I hope).