2000 Volkswagen Beetle GLS review from North America

After owning the car for just 3 days and with only 20 miles on the car, the red flashing coolant light came on. The coolant had already gone below the minimum line. I had to get the 2000 Beetle towed to the dealership. Of course, they towed it and repaired it at no cost to me.

Six months later, with 6000 miles on the car, the red flashing coolant light came on again. The coolant was once again below the minimum line. The dealership paid for the towing and the repairs once again. They promised me it was fixed for good.

In November of 2002, with 50000 miles on the car, the red flashing coolant light came on yet again. My power train warranty covered the repair costs, but I had to pay almost $200 to have it towed to the dealership. I was promised that it was in perfect condition.

As I type this, February 2003, with 58000 miles on the car, it is in the shop once again have the SAME thing repaired. Luckily, I was close to the dealership and able to drive it in, not tow it in.

Overall, the car is fun to drive. It's cute and does pretty well with gas. It's a 14 gallon tank and I get about 350 miles in the city with one full tank. However, the mechanical problems that I have experienced make it rough sometimes.

When people ask me about the Beetle, I always say that I am pleased, but I do not like that it has to be in the shop a few times a year having something repaired. Sometimes very small things are being repaired, like a broken window switch or a gas door that won't open. Sometimes major things are being repaired like a faulty coolant system.

The fact of the matter is, that if I could choose again, I would not have bought a Beetle because it's not as reliable as I thought it would have been. I recently got promoted and I travel a lot in my car. My job depends on the reliability of my vehicle. And, unfortunately, I have to cancel appointments because I physically cannot get to them without a car. Also, I'm a single woman and it's very frightening to have your car break down at night alongside the highway.

VW dealerships do not ever give loaner cars, no matter what you're getting fixed. So I can either pay for a rental car or inconvenience friends and family for rides. It's very frustrating.

The cute appearance and overall "fun" of the car do not outweigh the inconvenience of unreliability.