Overview & Reviews

The Volkswagen New Beetle was the cute car that started the retro-futurist design craze. It was a modernized version of the legendary VW Beetle and struck a chord with consumers who had grown tired of standard conservative car designs and had fond memories of the "Bugs" from their youth.

But that was 1998. As more than a decade passed without a major redesign, the New Beetle started to seem like a retro version of itself. With sales dropping steadily, VW decided to discontinue the New Beetle after the 2010 model year. A redesigned model, just called the Beetle, debuted a year later.

Shopping for a used New Beetle is pretty straightforward. It didn't change much, so you can shop mostly on price and mileage, though paying attention to engine availability through the years will likely be useful.

Most Recent Volkswagen New Beetle
The first-generation Volkswagen New Beetle was produced from 1998-2010. It was initially only offered as a two-door hatchback, and the convertible showed up for 2003.

Although the New Beetle was based on the Golf platform from the late 1990s, it had less interior space than today's Golf (and the '90s Golf for that matter) as well as most other compact hatchbacks. The front seats were roomy, but the same couldn't be said of the back. Trunk space was tight in the hatchback and even tighter in the convertible. The convertible came with a power-folding top as standard.

Models up to 2005 used the GL, GLS and GLX designations to reflect the various trim levels, as well as a standard 115-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual was standard on the Volkswagen New Beetle, with a four-speed automatic usually optional. A 100-hp 1.9-liter turbodiesel was also offered (the TDI trim) until the end of 2006, when it failed to meet new emissions regulations.

Until the last few years of its lengthy life, turbocharged gasoline engines were a big part of the New Beetle's trim lineup. Sold from 1999-2005, the New Beetle 1.8T was powered by a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, which put out 150 hp. From 2002-'04, VW included the Turbo S trim in the coupe lineup. It was equipped with a retuned 180-hp version of the 1.8T turbo engine and a six-speed manual transmission. For 2006 and thereafter, the only gasoline-powered engine available was a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that produced 150 hp and was coupled to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

As the years wore on, Volkswagen added a few features like satellite radio, but changes to the equipment level were light, as the car was pretty well-equipped with items such as air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and in later years, heated seats.

Volkswagen released several special-edition models, though, including limited-edition colors and trim packages. For 2002, VW added a Sport edition, which essentially was a 1.8T with a five-speed manual, 17-inch wheels and a leather interior.

In reviews, we found that the Volkswagen New Beetle excelled at what it was built for -- cruising and being seen in. It was a good choice for young singles or retired folks who only rarely needed a backseat, but other hatchbacks were far more practical. The original base engine was pokey and unrefined, so finding one of the turbocharged units would be a wise idea. The subsequent five-cylinder offered just as much power as the previous turbocharged engines and was more efficient, but wasn't as energetic and sapped some fun out of the Beetle. Those interested in the convertible should be aware that rearview visibility is poor with the top up or down.

User Reviews:

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  my new beeeeetle bug! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By stank - September 16 - 2:00 am

  candy apple red with after market wheels and porsche rims. its a very nice LOOKING car, very sporty, easy on the eyes you know... one of the things i love the most is night driving in it. get a little sleepy at night driving for long distances. two things strike me : one, the lights, absolutely ILLUMINATE the road. its wonderful. the other is, the actual build of the car. when playing music, it actually feels like the music surrounds you. its very easy to get things in and out of, as the seats dont just move forward, they actually LIFT UP and tilt forward. easy to hop friends and children in and out. maybe car seats some day too;)

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  Sassy - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By nirefry - September 16 - 2:00 am

  I wouldnt trade my VW for anything. The only problem that Im having with my little topless bug is that other people are jealous that they dont have one, too.

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  German Reliability A Thing of the Past! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By geezer4 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Annual maintenance costs have exceeded past cars that were 3-20 years old. The Malfunction Indicator Light is forever coming on even though mass air flow and O2 sensors have been replaced several times. The blue temperature light failed due to a short. The right side marker light fell out of the fender because the plastic clips failed. The master key with the remote control was dropped 3 feet resulting in total failure. The outside temperature indicator failed. The power window switch on the driver side has failed. The engine had significant carbon buildup requiring expensive cleaning due to other sensor failures mentioned above.

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  Over Priced Niche Car - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By fuscia - September 11 - 11:50 am

  bought used in 2002, Im so disappointed. Ive literally watched my car disintegrate around me. Im a fastidious car owner and keep my cars clean. Ive had electrical issues, the interior has been disintegrating since the day I bought it used. The window switches break, the weird rubber dash coating scratches easily, the vinyl interior is coming away from the door, hatchback wont close properly,fog light bracket broke,water pump melted, the suspensions shot after 7 yrs normal driving, speakers are starting to crackle after normal volume levels, the emergency brake rusted thru within 3 yrs,the brakes stick and wear the pads down. The car is meant to be looked at not driven on a daily basis

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  BAD CAR! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By sm - September 11 - 2:06 am

  Do not buy a VW. I cannot wait to get rid of this lemon. I bought this brand new back in 2000 and have had nothing but problems. Although they are not too major, they are annoying and cause a lot of anxiety. About once or twice a year my car decides not to start AT ALL and leaves me stranded. It will be running like a beauty one day and completely dead the next. Electrical problems galore, peeling door handles, plastic parts break, etc., etc., etc. Fortunately my father is a mechanic otherwise I would be seriously in debt up to my eyeballs. I actually feel guilty trading this lemon in!! I am getting a Honda or Toyota next time. This thing has been recalled more times than I can count!

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  What a Dissappointment - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By RDFreier - September 9 - 4:26 pm

  Had problems with the car from the start. Engine would just shut off while driving 60 mph on the highway. Wife had many close calls with that until they found the problem in the programming. Then car leaked water into the floor of the back seat. VW said it was the sunroof drain. After over $2k in repair charges problem still not fixed. Battery died, car sat a little and leak filled the floor. Ive got bad mold smell, VW cant fix leak and Ive basically got a junk car as I cant afford to replace the interior. What a piece of Crap. Should have listened to my little voice that said VW has reliability problems. Dont buy a VW

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  Too Cute Not to Love! - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By R. P. - September 4 - 6:10 am

  I fell in love with the New Beetle when they first came out and I have wanted one ever since. Owning one has been a dream come true! I love my Bug!

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  Follow Up - from May 2006 Review - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By christianhoy - September 3 - 10:30 am

  Well, its been 14 years. Bought it new in June of 99 because it was the "futuristic looking concept car that you could drive". The silver beetle really took the cake, spurred on with the commercial "Reverse engineered from U.F.O.s." Now 14 years later, it runs and looks like the day I bought it. I wanted all manual - so I got the GL. Its hauled all kinds of cargo - kayaks, canoes, fish aquariums, metal house roofing, it even tows a small sailboat. Get the factory roof rack. Have it serviced by a knowledgeable dealer every year, and keep up on the maintenance schedule in the owners manual. No Problems, No Issues, just miles and miles of adventure and fun.

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  Poor Electrical System - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Duder - September 2 - 4:50 pm

  We purchased our 2000 Volkswagen Beetle new in November 1999 and traded it in today because we need to make room for our new baby. All in all I would say that owning this car was a positive experience and I would be happy to continue driving it if we didnt need more room. Our biggest complaint is the electrical system. We had to replace the mass air flow sensor at least once per year and the trouble lights on the dash would come on and turn off for no reason. The cost of unscheduled yearly maintenece was high, at least $800 per year. We did not consider another VW because of the electrical problems. Were gonna miss you little buggy. We all had some great times together and I loved smokin those Hondas just as much as you did! Sorry bout all the curbs.

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  Let Me Tell You Whats BUGn Me - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By steelfab - August 30 - 1:23 am

  We bought our 03 Beetle with the 1.8L with about 50,000 miles on it. Within weeks it had an engine light on. I have battled the engine light, among other things, ever since. We changed an injector and a coil pack on the number 2 cylinder because of a persistent miss. This was after diagnosis of codes would not narrow the problem down. Immediately following it began cranking hard on start and not starting until the second attempt. First code said crankshaft sensor so we replaced that. Had to replace camshaft sensor thereafter to fix the problem. Next it threw a coolant system code so we replaced the ECT sensor. After that the thermostat. This car was a reliability nightmare. Never ever again.