2003 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo S review from North America
"Fast and sporty, but practical at the pump!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing has gone wrong. My Uncle owned this car before we purchased it from him, and he had zero problems with it. The only thing I'm aware was a spastic battery that the dealer replaced no questions asked.
General comments?
Surprised at the level of negative comments. We love our Bug! We have the Turbo S model, the more sporty of the Turbo models and love it. The engine is a gem, incredibly strong, and the 6-speed manual is a joy to shift. The speed of this Bug definitely surprises most people!
The interior is fantastic, the two-tone leather is holding up great, all things function properly. Tons of headroom, and rear seat legroom isn't all that much less than other mid-size, note MID-SIZE, cars. Rear headroom is an issue if you are over 5'8", but that's why we have a second car.
Rear spoiler took getting used to, but now I don't even notice the noise.
We consistently get 25+ mpg around town, and low 30s on the freeway. Our best freeway was 34.6mpg.
We love it for the combination of performance, practicality, and just plain fun!
Recommended reviews
| Great at first, sadly a money pit in the end |
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| The New Beetle has a lot of bugs! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2003 |
| Year of manufacture | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8T Manual |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 34000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 39000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 1st July, 2008 |