To anyone who is thinking of getting a VW "new" Beetle: read this entire thread:
http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/volkswagen-new-beetle/T5JIMN53GTS0STPAKAnd then run the fucking other way. My next car is going to be a 2009 Honda Civic (stick shift). I declare it thus. THOSE are good cars. Hondas, that is. Get a Honda. Don't get a Beetle.
Since I can remember, I always wanted a Beetle. Always. Long before the new ones came out in 1998, I wanted a Beetle. And the obsession only got worse. Hell, look my blogs NAMED "Sliver Beetle." I've got little remote-controlled beetles on top of my fridge. I've got a painting of a beetle in my hallway. My dorm room was COVERED in pictures of beetles from mafgazines and brocures I stole from the dealership. I've even got beetle pictures in my cube at work. Oh and all 3 of my monitors (personal and work) have beetle backgrounds. So this is not someone who is likely to speak badly about the car and I'm telling you to RUN.
They're shit. I can't even GO into all the damn problems with them. I've had more grief from this car in the past three years than should even be possible. Here's the problems that exist at the current moment (Not including all the repairs I've done on the thing over the years):
+ Need a new driver-side taillight assembly.
+ Need a bulb in the passenger-side fog light (but you can not access it without removing a ton of stuff from the engine compartment)
+ Nothing on the drivers side door works. This includes
----Window switches
----Door locks
----Trunk release
+ NOTHING on the dash works. This includes:
----Speedometer
----Fuel gauge
----RPMs
----Warning lights
----Clock
----Radio
----Lights on review mirror
+ The fuse box on top of the battery compartment is melted.
+ There are leaks in the air-conditioning hoses and the coolant system.
+ Remote unlock just doesn't work. Even though I bought a brand new key from the dealership only 2 years ago. I paid $250 just for the damn key. And yes, I've replaced the damn battery.
There's other shit that I try to ignore -- but I hit the main problems.
Thursday I had to replace a battery that was ONLY 1 year old. And to replace the battery, you have to remove the power steering fluid reservoir from the engine compartment before you can get the battery out. Yes, I'm serious.
And the openers manual isn't worth shit. It doesn't even tell you how to do something simple like replace the break light bulb. It tells you to go to the dealership -- where they will rip you off BIG TIME.
Don't buy one of these pieces of shit. If you buy one of these after reading this, you deserve what you get.
I cant wait till I can get a damn Civic.