Overview & Reviews

A high-performance turbo model debuts this year. A small spoiler over the rear window is the only exterior telltale that the Bug next to you has the 150-horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged inline four from the larger Passat sedan under the hood.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 103.00

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  Breakable - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By SS - November 26 - 7:10 am

  I have had my 1999 Volkswagen Beetle for six years and I have had to replace a little bit of everything. Everything that can go wrong with a car has. It is fun to drive a Bug, but it has so many blind spots.

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  Monday - Friday car? - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By lil buggy - September 2 - 9:53 pm

  Id like to start by saying I love VW Beetles, always have but my little bug has given me a bit of trouble. Is it the year? Is it the day of week it was built? I have had to replace the cooling system ($$$), oil pan, airconditioner ($$$), both windows due to motor failure ($$). And the little things...fuel door wont open from inside, and knob to adjust outside mirrors is broken. It is also expensive to replace the headlights (poor design). Im wondering if I should get another Beetle, and if Volkswagon has made any improvements in these cute cars. I love the way the Beetle maneuvers expecially on curves and in parking lots. Love to share info with anyone out there.

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  Maine New Beetle - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By VW Flashback - September 24 - 1:43 am

  Bought new, my daily driver for almost 11 years. Great headroom, & visibility except on some corners the "A" pillars are a massive blind spot. Car has too many plastic bits, started falling off early e.g. overhead bin button & the fuel cap. Recurring check engine light the past few years, garage clears it on oil changes & its OK for a few months. Lousy in the snow (Maine), use studded snow tires to deal with that. Still Id rather drive the Bug than anything else in the yard.

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  I love my bug but some complaints - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By paul - April 8 - 6:33 am

  I believe as a VW lover you kinda dont worry about some of the problems/I have realized after owning 3 VWs that they have a lot of electrical problems and you would think they would get the hint and fix these problems. But...I bought my 99 bug used of course and it runs great/fun little 5 speed/love the dash/hate the dang cup holders/I agree with other review they stink due to not being able to get anything in the cup holders and when you do the holder comes off with the can!/and also it just feels like it should have a arm rest/but I have 2 kids and Im surprised at how easy it is to get them in and out of the back/I do worry that it will tear up and I will not have anyone to fix it.

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  Been 10 great years - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By trazy - October 13 - 6:16 am

  I purchased mine back in 03 from a dealership with 35k miles. I just crossed the 110k mark. So far Ive had nothing Id consider a "major" problem. At 90k miles the water pump went out. I also replaced the tensioner and belt. Yesterday it started misfiring bad and learned the coil pack had gone bad. I also replaced the spark plugs and the wires while having that replaced. Aside from that just changing the oil, brake pads, filters...etc. Only needing 2 sub $500 repairs in 10 years of ownership. To me, thats great. Little things have broke though. Switches, trunk latch, knobs. But those are little DIY cheap repairs.

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  You Pay for the performance of a VW - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jay - April 6 - 7:23 am

  Bought it used with 40K miles. Have used it for commuting and drive it hard over two mountains every day. The speed, handling and torque is outstanding. Use V or Z rated tires for better handling. Great in snow! I average 36mpg with an automatic driving hard. Body still looks new. Needs extended sun visors!!! Now the negatives....from 92K to 135K was about $4K in maintainence-- exhaust;cat. converter; axle boots; plus the ENIGINE LIGHT at least 2 time per year at a cost of 3-400 each time! Now faced at 145K whether to keep to dump as I can still pass everyone on the road and go uphills at incredible speed and confidence. Plus--an incredible stereo and safety features for a 10 yr car

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  LOVE MY BUG!!! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By VW LOVER - March 10 - 10:00 am

  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY VW BEETLE....SURE, IVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT, BUT WHO DOSENT HAVE ANY CAR PROBLEMS?? MY WINDOW BROKE BUT THEY REPLACED IT & ALSO WENT AHEAD & REPLACED MY OTHER ONE, BECAUSE THEY HAD A NEW, IMPROVED MOTOR FOR THE WINDOWS. I LOVE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD & SEEING PEOPLE LOOK & SMILE AT ME!!! I WOULDNT TRADE MINE FOR THE WORLD.

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  one tough beetle! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By roman_capps - February 7 - 1:32 pm

  At first the beetle looks girly and cheap. girly to some, but cheap only in cosmetics. for the 13 years of its life it has been ragged out by a teenage girl and my father. Both have been over revved before they change gears. my father changes gears at 9000 or 90000 revolutions (cant remember) and it sends chills up my spine when he goes up hills. Not one transmission replacement to me that is amazing it sits at 195k miles. Rockwell is a great company, only in mechanical. The cosmetics on this car are absolutely cheap and plastic the entire door panel has been torn off. Its true how Volkswagen has been given to the beetle it is truly the peoples car.

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  Good Car - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Alisa - January 11 - 12:36 am

  Ive owned my 99 for seven months. I had a 98 Beetle for a year and half before I got this one. When I got into an accident there was no doubt I was getting another Bug. Its a great car, and it does well in the mountains and on long high trips. Ive had to change both headlight bulbs, window motors, serpentine belts and the AC has a leak. Aside from these minor things (which Ive come to find EVERY car manufacturer has) the car runs great, is fun to drive, and I get tons of compliments on my cute red car. Im hoping to upgrade to a newer, higher model soon.

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  Dont miss the repair shop - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Robinowitz - November 19 - 10:00 am

  There was no greater fan of this car than me. I waited breathlessly for six years after seeing the prototype to buy it and loved it from the get go. Then all hell broke loose...literally. The whole A/C system had to be replaced at 2 years ($1200), the passenger seat lift lever broke off at 6 mos., the interior roofs compartment door broke off within 2 months, the locking fuel tank door broke around 2.5 yrs, the locking mechanism started doing a freakdance and a year after replacing the A/C system, it went out again. Had to dump it for the reliability of a good ol Nissan.