1998 Volkswagen Beetle review from North America
"Great car to own if you live in a congested city"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Minor repairs:
Front headlights go out about once a year.
Engine light comes on if you forget to put the gas cap back on. You have to take it back to the dealer to reset it.
Side window got stuck and dealer replaced the control.
Sometimes hard to move it out of park into drive. You have to wiggle the steering wheel to get it to move to drive. Never had to call dealer regarding this though.
Levers on the side of the seat (to get into the rear) have come off and the headrest on the back needed repaired.
Side airbag punctured due to my trying to fit too much in the car.
General comments?
Overall, I love my Beetle.
It has a bumpy ride, but the best turn radius I've ever had. I can squeeze into most city parking spots as well.
I love the dome as it gives so much room and makes you feel as if you are in a bigger car (except when you are in the back seat)
The rear seat folds down which allows you to cram a lot of things into it.
The 16" tires really hug the road making it fun to drive on the curvy Pacific coast highway.
Blind spots do exist - so watch out!
Seats and look are very comfortable.
Recommended reviews
| 1998 - Beetle Tdi 1.7 turbo diesel Very disappointing in every respect |
|
| A fun, cheap, reliable car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 25 miles |
| Most recent distance | 85500 miles |
| Date of Entry | 16th July, 2003 |