Overview & Reviews

A Turbo S model debuts, motivated by a 180-horsepower version of VW's1.8-liter turbo engine teamed with a six-speed manual gearbox. Other exclusives for the Turbo S include Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), a slightly stiffer suspension, 17-inch "Delta X" alloy wheels, revised turn signals and foglights, a front spoiler, a redesigned rear bumper with Turbo S badging and brushed alloy interior accents. Additionally, a rear spoiler will deploy from the hatch when these special Bugs reach 45 mph. Exterior paint for the S is limited to Reflex Silver, Black, Red and Platinum Gray. Later in the year, a Sport model debuts -- it's essentially a GLS 1.8T with a five-speed manual, 17-inch wheels, leather interior and a Sport badge on the deck lid. Changes for the rest of the lineup are minor: New colors such as limited-edition Snap Orange and Riviera Blue further enhance the Beetle's eye-candy appeal, and 16-inch wheels with 205/55 tires are now standard across the board. For 2002, all-new Volkswagen vehicles come standard with an improved four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, up from two years/24,000 miles. In addition, Volkswagen offers a fully transferable limited powertrain warranty that covers five years or 60,000 miles.

• Cute yet classic styling, excellent crash-test scores, affordably priced, turbo models are fun to drive, available six-speed manual and stability control with Turbo S model.

• Compromised rear seat/cargo capacity compared to Golf.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 139.00

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  VW are Lemons! - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Disappointed - May 13 - 9:40 pm

  Owned this car for 6 years and it was nothing but problems. After 40,000 miles, car falls apart. The interior fell apart 2 years after I got it. A week after I bought it, the EPC light came on and didnt let me put the car on Drive, had to learn a trick to start the car on Neutral and drive it. It did this through the 6 years I owned it. Replaced 3 batteries in 6 years, $300+ each. Water pump and timing belt busted on me at 60,000 miles.3 engine hoses replaced because they are made out of plastic and burned. VW dealers are incompetent and steal your money. Tranny began to fail and wouldnt shift gears. VW dealers say trannies never need oil changes, it is a lie.

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  bugged - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By woodymc - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Way too many reliability problems, for a car with under 8k miles the following went wrong: Limit switch on brake that allows the AT transmission selector into gear fails easily! Car was towed for warranty service to dealer. Then they lost the car at the dealership. They found it after a heart to heart talk w/ the GM. ABS valve recall. Electric windows had a mind of their own. Rear hatch must be slammed shut before electric closure mechanism will "catch". Which of course broke from the slamming. Other than that, it really was a good commuter car. I cannot recommend this car to anyone who lives more than 15miles from a dealership.

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  Fun little car with great mpg - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mishka1012 - November 1 - 11:11 am

  Ive had this car for couple month now and I drive everywhere on it. Even though mine was rebuilt from the ground up after an accident not shown on carfax and it was rebuilt from junk and old parts and silicone glue it holding up marvelously. I mostly drive everything it got out of this little car and let me say its not just faster than most four cylinders on the road. It beats some v6s because its stik and it only got 100hp! But I still manage to get 45 mpg consistently, never got less but once got 55 mpg on biodiesel and light driving style (speed limit and slow acceleration tryoing to stay in 5th gear at all speeds (even 30 mph)+ rolling down the hill). the rest sucks alot.

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  WANT to love it - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By ReisngD - August 11 - 10:00 am

  I really wish that I could write a positive review after a year of ownership, but I cant. Although people still approach it like a celebrity, the car has been extremely unreliable--and I only put 7500 miles on in 12 months so far. The dealership has been cooperative in trying to find the problem, but they cannot. It is not having simple window problems either, rather the engine is barely running or cutting out during acceleration. I have never had a car spend sop much time in the shop. Not even a ten-year-old Civic with 150,000 miles. To those of you still in love-- good luck!!!

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  The little stuff gets you - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By HIRBY - July 29 - 2:00 am

  This car is relaible and fun to drive. i bought this car in 2000, drove it brand new off the lot...within a week had it back to the dealership...a month later had it back to the dealship...2 months later had it back to the dealership....4 months later.....you get the picture. I am bummed because I have had the car for 2.5 years now and for the past 6 months I have wanted to get rid of it and get a new car...but I am stuck in a 4 year lease so must drive it for another 1.5 years.

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  All the little stuff add up. - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beth Cloud - June 30 - 2:00 am

  For a car that is only two years old I expected a lot more. For example, my engine fails every other time I drive it in the morning, I have a continual "cocaine" blinker, the window broke and wouldnt go up, the door clicker only works now on the drivers side, the trunk "blocker" persay just broke off, the clock resets itself everytime the car "stalls" but I have an automatic, the armrest broke off, need I go on? And the worst part of this whole thing is when I go to get all of these fixed, the Volkswagen dealership claims that nothing is wrong with the car. Theres a reason why the Volkswagen dealership garage is ALWAYS busy!

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  Our yellow nightmare - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By themrfreeze - February 23 - 2:06 pm

  Bought this car brand new. It was okay at first, but the thing started falling apart after a few years. Numerous electrical problems, gauge cluster failure, constant problems with rear brakes seizing. Paint failed in places, and running boards underneath doors get dented easily. Stuff was coming loose and dangling underneath car. Due to its design, this car is very difficult to work on, and some parts are poorly designed due to the cars shape. We unloaded it before it hit 50k miles.

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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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  its mediocre - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By slb805 - August 14 - 1:36 pm

  So I bought the car and initially it ran fine, but over the two years Ive owned it, things have begun to break down. The passenger window screeches when I roll it down, it gobbles up oil and gas. I have to put oil in it every 3 wks or so its a rare occasion when the engine light is off. Its an automatic, but the transmission shifts very funky it lurches sometimes and lately has been making weird noises when idling its fun to drive when it puts out but unfortunately that is becoming less and less. It seems like 1/2 the ppl who own a beetle love it & the other 1/2 absolutely hate it! I think Im growing to be the half that is displeased dont be fooled dont buy the car because its "cute"

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  Worst car ever - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Beetle Driver - July 7 - 11:36 pm

  This car has been in the dealership 12 times in 6 months for stupid things like spark plug wires and everytime it costs at least $400, if you want a car that is cute and reliable get a Japanese car like Honda/Toyota, steer clear of German cars, they are expensive and so is the upkeep. When you average out the costs its about $100-200 a month for repairs alone.