2002 Volkswagen Beetle GLS review from North America

My Beetle is a 2002 Turbo Diesel. It is 17 months old and has 17,000 miles on it. I baby this car. I only hand wash it. There is condensation inside all the lights, so I know that the condensation is not due to using power washing wands. I have experienced many problems with this car. The driver's side window broke. The dealership said it was the regulator arm. Another time the entire instrument panel stopped working as I was driving down the freeway. The dealership didn't say what went wrong. Another time the car wouldn't start. It had something to do with the electronics in the transmission. I had to have it towed that time. The tow truck used the tools out of the trunk and didn't replace them. The dealership took some "body plugs" out of the car and didn't put them back. I had to take it to another dealership to get them put where they belong. Another time the locks failed. The dealership insisted I was trying to use the remote inside the car, but I had to take the car in to prove to them that the buttons wouldn't work. It was another electrical problem. I am also experiencing premature aging of the leather in the seats. I use the Volkswagen leather spray to condition the seats and they still look I don't take care of them. The car is adorable and very fun to drive. It is fast and responsive and I love it. However, do not buy the Beetle without buying the full extended warranty or you will go broke paying for repairs to defects that Volkswagen knows all about, but denies.

Very cute car that is fast and responsive.

This car is plagued with electrical problems.

The leather seats are very low quality.