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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  A good and a bad car. - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Tara - November 9 - 11:46 pm

  A week ago I wrote a review for me bug and a couple of days when I wrote the review I have noticed that the transmission is doing some weird noises.

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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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  I have gotten my moneys worth! - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Emilee - July 30 - 11:16 pm

  Bought my bug used on Ebay for $6500 with 75,000 miles on it. It now has $130K miles and is still going strong. I have maintained this vehicle and it only broke down once when some board fried out and cost me $238. The AC Compressor did go out and the dealership quoted $1200 to replace it. Instead I bought a compressor on Ebay for $200 and my mechanic put it in for $200 and its been working fine. It seems like the headlights and brake lights go out a lot and are very expensive to replace. Poor design that allows water intrusion. The trunk latch and gas cap latch stopped working at 100K and the alarm has never worked right. Minor issues overall! I still love it & would buy another.

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  Run away now. Dont buy - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By joe smith jones - June 16 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is complete garbage. The vehicle seems to be in the shop more then out. If it wasnt that my wife loves the style,it would be gone. I wildest dream is that I wake up one morning it it was stolen from my driveway. No such luck.. Even thieves dont it. I have had problems with the diesiel engine, more times then I can image, replaced AC, power windows at least two times on each side, along with numerous other patrs. brakes lasted 20000 miles. Service has been horrible at best. Want to make lots of money, open a trustworthy VW shop in Baltimore. The best I could do for this vehilce is schedule it for a crusher at a local junk yard.

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  Never Again - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By vw99 - March 9 - 11:16 pm

  Bought the car used from a VW dealership, said it had been checked out and was in great condition. 6 months later came in for extensive engine repairs, have been back to the service department at least 4 times a year since then for random electrical failures. Check engine light is on at least once a month for no reason, I go in and pay $90 for them to turn it off. Have spent over half of what I paid for the car in repairs and that is with taking it to cheaper garages instead of paying the ridiculous prices at the dealership. It is very cute and fun to drive but extremely poor quality and the most unreliable car Ive ever driven. Do not make the same mistake!

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  The Bug - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Stuntman - January 12 - 3:43 am

  VW Beetles are great cars. They are solid and fun to drive. Handling-wise the stock H rated tires crimp them a little, but upgrade to a Y, or Z rated tire and WOW she handles better then my Toyota MR2. Drivetrain-wise the gears are perfect for the power. She will scoot up to 60 in about 7-8 sec (manual 2.0). This is a heck of a fun car to drive on a windy road. It gets great gas mileage, 30-32 mpg highway.

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  A Mexican car with plastic fenders. - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By GaryinVT - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Leased my New Beetle new. Ive only had a few problems (gas gauge and oxygen sensor), but the after owning it for a while I can tell everything was built to the minimum standard. If youve ever had a Honda or Toyota you would laugh at this flimsy thing. Thankfully mine is just the 2.0 liter, as the turbos and diesels need a new clutch every 20- 30k miles.

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  Cut My Losses - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Crazy for Buying - October 14 - 9:43 am

  I bought a 1999 Volkswagen Beetle for my daughter and the car was OK for 50,000 miles. Then it started having major repair bills. It overheated and cost $1,200 to replace the heads, after which it still did not work right. New brakes cost $300. We had to replace three headlights at $45 each. The motor kept giving her trouble. We spend another $1,200 on it and then it died. We put in a different motor had all kinds electrical problems. Eventually the car caught on fire and was totaled. Dont buy this car unless you want a money pit.

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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.