1999 Volkswagen Beetle review from North America

Check light on monthly.

Cloth seats get very worn.

Not a good Winter car... have had to get pushed out of many snow drifts I would have been able to get through with another car.

Takes a while to accelerate.

This was the first car I have ever had. I decided to lease it for four years and am glad I did so. My lease is up in about three weeks, and I can't wait to get rid of it.

I definitely am one of those people who got this car for the "cute" factor... and I liked the attention I received driving one. You will often get people (kids especially) staring at it or pointing.

However, I have had so many problems with this car. I live in Wisconsin and this is definitely not a good Winter car. It drives horribly in snowy conditions. I am always slipping and sliding. I have been pushed out of numerous snow drifts. The 2-door feature gets annoying... and there is definitely no leg room if you are sitting in the back seat. Another problem if you sit in the back seat is that if you go over a bump... your head is always hitting the window behind you. My check light has gone off every month since I got the car. My air bag light has gone off a few times. My ABS light is always going off. I have taken my car in numerous times to check out these problems and they are fixed for awhile, but always come back.

If you are looking for a fun, cute car with a lot of head room (great future for taller people) that will drive well in nice conditions, then this is your car. Otherwise, explore your options. I for one would never go back and lease this car knowing now what I do.