2001 Volkswagen Beetle review from North America

The clutch and the flywheel went at 26,000 miles-just 2,000 miles after the 24,000 warranty ran out. The Volkswagen dealer service center manager told me that it was because of the way I drove the car. He gave me an estimate of $1450 for the repair of this, along with the repair of the brakes, which he said needed to be replaced and that would also include a rotor-which I didn't think would be needed for a car with only 26,000 miles. I'm a 50-year old woman and do not drive recklessly, in fact, am told I drive like an old lady. When I brought the Beetle to be repaired at a shop (not a Volkswagen dealer-but a highly recommended professional repair center), the manager there told me that the part was defective-it certainly was NOT due to the way I drove the car. Volkswagen told me that there was nothing that they could do for me, since the car was off warranty. I had read articles citing the problem Volkswagen was having with the clutch and flywheel of these Turbo Beetles, sometimes going at 18,000 and 20,000 miles. I was dissatisified with Volkswagen just brushing off my complaint with nary a return letter (since I had sent in a letter to the customer service dept., describing in detail my car's problems).

Although I do enjoy the pick up and speed of the Beetle, the repairs and parts are very expensive. I will not purchase another Volkswagen, due in large part to the unreliability of major systems failing and having to be replaced at such a high cost, when the car is still relatively new.