Well the woman and I just came back from the VW dealer with new Turbo Beetle in hand for her. I had test driven them, and it just didn't speak to me. I don't think there is anything wrong with them, they drive very nicely - but besides the body stle, it lacks charactor to me. I love my MCS - I like the TB

But she loves it and that's what counts

 

If the wifey's driving it, and the wifey loves it...then, yes, that's what counts. Happy Motoring!

 

Have had '68 and '73 Beetles in the past, plus '73 VW Camper, '80 Golf Diesel. Still own a '90 Vanagon (with a Golf 2L engine in it). So...still love those VWs!

Was thinking about the Beetle TDI since I would like at least one really fuel efficient vehicle in the family.

Side-by-side pics of your MCS and the spouse's Beetle would be nice to see!

 

LOL I'll have to do that after I Zaino the TB

 

Beetle turbo, Wow didnt know the had it in turbo. Whats the hp and 0-60? My little woman likes then. Hum, that would make a nice mothers day gift.

 

They have had it for many years. They used to offer it with a chip for another 30HP but stopped a couple years ago. It's the VW 1.8T good for 150HP stock. 0-60 is about 8.4 with the 5 speed. The freaking car is 3400 Lbs!

 

The stable mate to my 05 MCS is a 2000 New Beetle Turbo GLX. 85K miles and going strong. Great reliable car. Have not had anything major wrong with it. A couple oxygen sensors is about it.

I'll get some pics of them together and post them here when I get a chance....

Happy motoring

 

I think those turbo's are pretty cool. :smile:

 

Sadly, I don't think the Turbo Beetle (1.8T, 150hp) is available in Canada (at least not on www.vw.ca). Only the Turbo Diesel (TDI).

 

We had a 00 GLX, all I will say is the car had bad Karma.

 

Here's #2 in the Beetle bad Karma club. Though in our case I will say that it was only about 1/3 problems with the car (3 oxygen sensors in 30K, rear brakes shot at 10K, water pump, various other minor stuff) and 2/3 problems with dealerships. We went to 3 different local dealerships for service work, including the one we bought it from. Each of them showed us a level of disregard and incompetency that eventually had us get rid of the car.

I liked the car a lot, but the taste left in my mouth by VW will keep me from ever stepping back in a dealership again. I hope your SO's experience is the polar opposite. It is a fun car and deserves better.

A_Sr.

 

http://www.goapr.com

 

The APR is scheduled to go in about 6 weeks from now after it's broken in There's a local shop and it's only $650 This is assuming of course, the woman actually uses what she has. If I find her not even going WOT, then she certainly doesn't need anything else. There is question as to if she will - her ******* mother has her convinced that 'going all the way down ont he petal is bad for the engine'. I swear if I had my way, most women wouldn't be allowed to drive.

 

What will the APR upgrade take the HP/torque up to?

 

209/242 on 91+

 

Not that you're comparing the two, but this is still my favourite "Mum & Dad" review of Mini vs. Beetle...

www.motorpoint.com.au/vs.asp

...especially the line "...On the road the MINI responds to steering input right now. It goes where it is told and mighty quickly."

 

Bad Karma story with VW Beetles #3 here as well....we also own a 2000 Beetle GLS, and this thing has been a nightmare on many instances...the same things with the water pump, brakes (all four though), power windows breaking more than 10 times since 2000, as well as multiple interior trim issues that have gotten so bad, we're just not fixing them anymore....the good news is, my wife is trading it in on a 2005 Honda CR-V Special Edition next week....sweet little truck, and it makes her happy...so I'm happy. Damn happy to get rid of this VW as well....not all are made like this, so I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I can say with much confidence that VW has had a lot of issues over the last 6 years with these cars. I hope they've improved their quality since then for your wife's sake. I'm sure she'll love the car and hope she has many years of enjoyable times in it.


Dave.

 

I don't know anyone with any VW horor stories, but I know a lot of people with Kia and Chevy horor stories. All my VW expereince (friends, relatives, GFs, etc.) has been perfect.

 

The general concensus is that most VW products are nothing but throw away junk, specially those made in Puebla, Mexico (Jetta/New Beetle). Having said that however, my brother in law currently drives a 2002 VW Golf GL 5 door made in Brazil. The car has been virtually flawless in 3+ years of ownership with just one problem: A defective electric release switch when shifting out of "Park". The car is a 2.0L 4cyl gasoline model (115HP, same rating as the lighter MINI Cooper) mated with a 4-speed automatic. Great fuel economy and pick-up but the engine gets noisy at higher RPMs. The car has crank windows but did come with power locks and keyless entry. The stereo cassette is decent and fit and finish has been beyond reproach. The car has withstood a lot of use and he may get rid of it at the end of the year.

I am not a big fan of the new Mark V Jetta but the car does seem to be more substantial than the Mark IV generation. We'll see how the quality/reliability stands up on this one.

The current Beetle is an outdated car using the Mark IV platform with the rear solid beam axle. Hopefully 7+ years after its introduction, VW has managed to work the "Bugs" out of it. The Beetle is a dying car and VW has not expressed much interest in keeping it alive beyond the current platform. The New Beetle was released in the US in April 1998 and the car was responsible to bring back VW back on its feet after almost filing for Bankrutpcy and folding tent in the US. The current Beetle was not the success VW had hoped for in Europe, specially in their home market of Germany, where the Beetle is still considered and seen as the car of the "Third Reich" and its past links to Hitler's **** Germany didn't bode too well with some buyers in that country.

I have ridden in New Beetles before. The car seems to have nice qualities but personally I never lust for one, even when they first came out and were thought to be the "Poor People's Porsche". I dislike the 3 mile long dashboard, the akward driving position, the uncomfortable rear seats (The rear glass hits your head, something that never happens in the MINI), the clowinsh looks and colors, oh and don't get me started on that Flower bud vase!

To me the Beetle convertible looks much better, probably because the goofy round roof has been removed.

The Golf seems to me a much better choice, IMO. Made in Brazil and better reliability to boot.

 

Well, then I'd say it's definitely not the car for you! LOL Most women, though - LOVE them, and the Beetle gets just as many compliments from people as my Mini. One of my friends bought a 2003 Beetle, and has absolutely no problems with it, 25,000 miles and counting. So far so good with ours, but only at 1,000 miles now.

 

I would say that 2003+ Beetles should be the best of the bunch. Problem is VW reliability seems inconsistent at best. Some people have troublefree cars and others end up with lemons. My Brother in Law's '02 Golf GL has been pretty solid.

The Beetle indeed has a "chick" audience and is is not a bad car and far more desirable than say a Civic or Corolla, but just not my cup of tea.

To me, the Beetle would have been a grand slam success if VW had stuck to the configuration of the original car: Rear engine, opposite pistons, air cooled, rear wheel drive. Sadly, VW is not interested in keeping thier iconic car alive for much longer and further development is unlikely.

The more you'll drive that Beetle, the more you will appreciate the MCS!

 

I think you are under the impression that *I* chose the Beetle. I bought the Mini for a reason you know...you're preaching to the chior here!

 

I don't think you picked it, but I feel bad for you

 

I'm not much of a chick :P I never liked the beetles. In fact i dont like any real "chick" cars. No heavy sedans or SUV's for me.

I like great handling cars. One's that will tear up the country roads i'm "forced" to drive on every day. If i'm going to camp on 60-80 miles a day, i'm not putting myself in anything less than a fun LITTLE toy car that make people smile and wave... and when i get up the nerve, can throw in an autocross :P cough mini's and miata's cough.

 

I traded in my 2001 Beetle GLX turbo for my MINI. I loved the Beetle the entire time I had it and did not have any trouble with it. I did a few mods to it such as installing blue LEDs into the interior lights to match the dash and also added them to the flower vase so that it was also illuminated blue. The best mod was taking it to APR for a computer upgrade. As mentioned, it jumps from 150 hp to nearly 210 hp. That car was VERY quick and rode extremely well.

Now that you have a Beetle in the family, have you visited newbeetle.org yet? It is a very informative site. Also, I still have a pair of Beetle Wet Okole seat covers that I need to get rid of. Would you be interested?

Enjoy