Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen's New Beetle compact carries over into 2008 with just minor changes to trim level names and optional feature lists.

• Cute yet classic styling, lengthy standard equipment list.

• Aged design, so-so power, lack of rear-seat space and cargo room, subpar side-impact crash test results.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 26.00

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  The Volkswagen Co. Not What It Used To Be - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By George Lafont - July 4 - 3:26 pm

  Day one from picking up the car from the dealer the handbrake came off when I parked. The car doesnt feel at all like a German car, in fact it feels like its coming apart. About 2 months later on my way home (45 min. commute) on a very hot Summer day, the underneath engine cover came loose fell off and broke into many pieces. When I took it to the dealer, they accused me of running into something and refused to fix it. The service manager even went through the trouble of fabricating a story that I ran over a parking turtarrier with a piece of rebar sticking out tearing the cover off and again refused. Both their customer service and chairman of the board also refused to help

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  2008 Convertible - Fun fun fun - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Belaircarguy - June 3 - 11:06 am

  Bought a beautiful black with cream interior SE model a few weeks ago. Purchased this mainly for my daughters to drive, although I have to admit the old man likes it too! Havent had a VW for a number of years, but they were always a fun car to drive, and this convertible is no exception. The SE comes with a power top, so makes it much easier for raising and lowering the roof. The car has plenty of pep and the Tiptronic 6 speed manual / automatic transmission is a pleasure. I also like being able to set it to "sport mode", where the transmission holds the shift pattern to higher RPM setting. Good handling as a touring vehicle and sure stopping brakes. Great little car!

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  Steer Away If You Want a Safe Car - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Hayley - May 5 - 5:25 pm

  I am 19 years old and received this car as a birthday present less than 2 years ago, the car seemed great at first running fantastically until small little headaches started happening. First it was my keys getting stuck in the ignition when trying to turn the car off, i couldnt even go to class that day because i couldnt turn the car off. Then it was the multiple windows breaking in the car that would go down but then not come up (driver, passenger side, and drivers back window). The car did fairly well in the snow, coming from Connecticut we get our fair share- the car has good control but theres absolutely no weight to the car so i found myself skidding and struggling to get up hills. My last experience with this car was the accident i got in it about a week ago. I rear ended the back of a pick up truck on the highway going 40 miles per hour, easy to say my car was totaled. It was a horrifying experience because i felt no security in the car whatsoever when getting into the accident, theres so little to the car if i hit any harder the entire front of my car wouldve been gone probably. Its a cute, fun summer car thats nice to drive around if you live in the right conditions. But please take this from me, if youre considering buying your child this car, PLEASE look into better safety features. This car has absolutely no protection to it if you were to get in a serious accident.

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  Fun Car - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Catherine - March 3 - 6:53 pm

  Nice fun car - gas mileage could be somewhat better. The triple white model is really fun. I like the solid feel of the way it drives - tight. I especially like the blinker system where the blinker is also on the outside mirrors. Outside lighting of the car is well done as well.

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  2008 New Beetle Conv - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By airbornediver - May 8 - 5:10 am

  I traded a 2004 VW Touareg for this conv. I love my new Beetle. I got the triple black model. It gets attention everywhere I go. The 150 HP engine has enough juice to move. It would be nice if they had a turbo. Maybe they will come out with a sport model. I miss all the comfort features that the Touareg had. Power seats and lumbar would be nice. Also a nav system. I ride hard all the time so fuel economy is not the best. No this car is lots of fun to drive. It beats my Touareg in that department. Having a rag top is awesome. That is the main reason why I got my new convertible. It needs some nicer wheels. Ill be investing in some chrome wheels soon to bring out the bold looks on this bug!

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  Not what I expected - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By maciosaig - December 25 - 3:20 am

  I bought this car for my wife and after buying an 07 Passat and being extremely satisfied with that car I figured Id be just as pleased with the bug. Was I in for a shock Ive owned convs in the past so I was away of frame/body flex but this car takes it to new extremes. The handling sucks, power is poor and comfort is great for the driver and front passenger, and my small 3 year just about fits in the back seat. Now there is a rattle in the front end somewhere and the thing is noisy on the highway. For the money they charge these cars should be much more powerful and handle better. Im not sure how the fit and finish will stand up over the next few years, but Im not confident

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  Sweet 16 again - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Czar - June 26 - 7:26 am

  My wife purchased a 2008 SE convertible for use at our beach house. She loves this car to death. Fun, quick and easy to park. Can fit 4 when needed. Top down fun in the sun.

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  Its showing signs of age - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Joan Crawford - June 25 - 6:19 pm

  This was my first car, Ive had it for two years. I paid $9k, turns out the car is only worth about $2k. The car runs very well, very stable and smooth and is great on the highway and city, very good gas mileage, it lasts for a long time, the tank lasts maybe 300 miles and only costs $25 to fill up! It goes pretty fast to me and stops very fast too. It makes a good winter car too! Great defrosters and with new all season tires it has never gotten stuck in the snow! The heated seats get super hot too! The only time its had issues in the snow was when the tires were more than 4 years old. Right now though, its having some minor issues. It still starts right up and runs everyday, however right now the trunk will not rise open, the interior plastic on the doors are cracking, the glovebox handle and center console handle have broken off, the dash lights for the heat will not turn on, the front headlights are loose and theres a bunch of annoying electrical things like it sounds like the blinker is on but isnt, the car doesnt make any noise if you leave the keys in, the windows sometimes dont move automatically and theres this oil leak under the car no one can fix . I really take good care of this car, I am not rough on it, but I feel like now I have to drive my other cars because it Seems like more and more things are breaking on it, its minor things but still. It is a good car though, reliable, zippy and runs (which is the most important thing!). But if you check safety ratings, this is not the safest car and defiantly not a good first car due to blind spots and the safety ratings and also volkswagen isnt known for being a very good brand. But my specific car has been very good but I wouldnt recommend spending what I spent on this car or getting any other volkswagen car.

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  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Terrence - June 1 - 8:43 pm

  I shopped for a small car that was comfortable and has good visibility in all directions, VW won. This car looks small from the outside, not so when you get in. With tilt and telescopic steering wheel and three way adjustable seats, comfort comes easily, making entry and exit a breeze. Tiptronic is fun, the heated seats are hot, 6-disc CD changer/Sirius is cool, 17" low profile tires give it a great look. Lots of head room too. I got triple-white and love it. I threw out the flower holder.

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  The Bestest Car Ever! - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Lane,D - February 20 - 5:56 pm

  My mother went and bought this car for her Birthday and we have loved every cotton-pickin minute of having it. It gets pretty good gas mileage. You would think that a small car like the Beetle-bug would be really tiny in the backseat, but it is really comfortable.It is the best car that our family has ever had. I also think it is really cool to have a car that there are only 1,400 of in the whole United States.