2003 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo convertible review from North America
"Cute, but definitely not worth $28,000"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
* Interior easily damaged (interior painted surfaces). Seems to be lined in cheap, thin plastic that is extraordinarily easy to chip.
* Seat heaters will only work when the temperature goes below 32 degrees F. VW refuses to acknowledge this as a problem. Previous car, Cabrio (97), had seat heaters that would heat on demand, regardless of outside temperature. Seat heaters are used to extend the range of temperatures passengers can comfortably ride with top down. They're useless in this car, especially down South.
* Ignition switch failing.
* Roof lining sagging on one side.
General comments?
* Blocked/limited rear view at the expense of 'nostalgic look' (dangerous).
* No trunk space due to roof motor (Cabrio was manual with much more trunk space).
* Driver must crank up seat (10 manual cranks) to be able to see over folded down roof. Seat must also be moved forward when seat is cranked up because the seat slides back when cranked up. Too much adjusting must be done to seat just to be able to see over the folded roof. Bad engineering!!! This was not a problem with the Cabrio.
* Sound system (Monsoon) is worse than standard Cabrio sound system. Vibration in doors when bass is even slightly elevated very noticeable.
* 'Leather' seats turned out to be leather uppers and plastic surrounds, including shift boot. Cheap. Cabrio has all-leather seats AND leather door linings.
* Cost: $28,000 for Beetle Convertible, $22,000 for Cabrio Convertible. The Beetle is VERY overpriced compared to their previous convertible.
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? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 20 miles |
| Most recent distance | 13000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Cabrio |
| Date of Entry | 24th January, 2004 |