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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Super B. - 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
By skiman - February 5 - 2:00 amThe Turbo S is very fun to drive and has been a very reliable automobile. I love the cars overall design but would make a few slight improvements. Great handling and performance, "dont be afraid to drive it to the limit". Youll be impressed with the Turbo Ss high speed maneuverability. The faster you go the more fun this car is!
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NEVER AGAIN!!!!! - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
By Piperboi - January 24 - 10:00 amI had nothing but problems since day 1! The dealer had my car more than I did. I take very good care of my cars, this one just did not see to want to hang in there. my egnition coil, window swithches, brake light switch, temp gage, emergency brake handle, glove box lever, cooling system, power locks, moonroof/shade, and gage cluster all went bad or broke! To replace a headlight you have to go to the dealer!! ($50.00) Breaks are VERY expensive too! I will never own a VW product again! If you are in the market for a bug..THINK TWICE! DO NOT BUY! The warrenty is awful! even with an extra warrenty i bought, i put in $3000 more!
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luvmybug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
By krislvsbug - January 20 - 10:00 amSo far so good. I have had a few interior issues ie: Window sensor briken after first mont, passenger side reare seat handle broke off after little use but dealer very easy to deal with and issues not large enough to upset me. Get more people stopping me and talking about my car. Even my husband loves to drive :)
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survivor - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
By whodafunk - January 16 - 2:00 amvw survived a pretty good broadside from a big old econoline. car needs lots of work, but, driver, me is still walking and wasnt squished like a bug in my beetle. i was a messenger/currier in this vehicle and drove it 12 hours a day, stop and go, harsh city driving, these cars are reliable and safe and fun.
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Not what I expected - 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
By maciosaig - December 25 - 3:20 amI 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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A happy bee outside but mad bug inside - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
By Billy Tam - December 19 - 10:00 amI own it for 2.5 years now. I wanna say so far most of the things are ran fine. I mean new car doesnt means no problems, but old car should be have some problems. So for my bug, while under warranty, it replaced fog beam light bulg, replaced rear brake pads at the 20k factory service, fixed the error on driver side window, and this is it. For the commute of 15 miles one way, it gets 24 miles a gallon city and freeway.
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Electrical nightmare - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
By bugdom - December 19 - 2:00 amOur Bug has driven well but constantly has warning indicators that go bad - first the airbag light and now the check engine light. The worst part is that every time the dealer fixed them, the problem recurred within 24 hours. Now we cannot pass the emissions testing simply because of this issue!
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cute but unreliable - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
By gil - December 10 - 2:00 amowned my GL (auto) for 2 and a half years. Its a fun car to drive. But it constantly has some kind of troubles. First, the cable of the fuel filler has been fixed twice. Now its broken again. The windshield wipers kept making bad noises even though I had it adjusted/filler changed every time I went to a dealership. I finally solved the problem by changing the whole blade sets with those inexpensive ones from Walmart. Ironically, dealerships could not solve it! Third, engine light was on and signal light did not work once.Last, the engine consumes oil. Worst, the dealerships wouldnt even mention it when you bought the car.
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A Real Gem - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
By Fretbuzzer - December 5 - 2:00 amWe bought our 2000 GLS used and have enjoyed it more than any other vehicle we have ever owned. It has been very reliable as well as fun to drive (a hard mix to find). We are taking her for her 40k service this week and havent spent a dime on maintenance that wasnt a regularly scheduled service. Would buy another VW bug anyday! Have had great service at Ed Murphy VW in Schaumburg, IL!
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Paint Problems - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
By Sean - November 18 - 12:30 amI love my Beetle. I have always driven Cherolets, but I love my VW Bug. It is amazingly fun to drive and looks great...BUT...it has major paint issues. I have the Harvest Moon (Cream) colored Beetle. My front bumper has been in the shop six times in under a years time! It has been very disappointing.
