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 1 through 10 of 26.00

• 

  2008 New Beetle YUCK! - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beverly DuVall - September 1 - 8:00 pm

  I have owned 6 Beetles in my lifetime and I have loved everyone from my 1968 to my 2005. I recently traded in my 2005 and upgraded to a 2008. What a shock. The appearance and features are all basically the same as all my other New Beetles, however, the gas mileage is another story. I have paid more for gas than I have in payments for this car since I purchased it. It is only averaging 200 miles per tank of gas. I have had it to the dealership for service, and they insist that there is no problem with it. My last full tank of gas I got 193 miles. I am certain that there is a problem with the 2008 Beetle fuel system. I am not happy with the 08 VW. YUCK!!!

• 

  Has been great! - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By eldaino2 - October 11 - 8:40 pm

  My wifes 08 beetle has been pretty great. its a fairly smooth riding car (an impressive feat considering its based of the mkIV platform and thus has a torsion beam rear suspension) and is a a great long distance cruiser. the stock tires are not the greatest and in typical stock fashion has grown loud and tiresome, but the car itself is very quiet, peppy with great low end tq, and style my wife loves.(and i actually dont mind it either.)

• 

  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.

• 

  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

• 

  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.