Solid, safe, brakes and handles well. A babe magnet, or guy magnet, depending on your taste! ;)

You'll start doing weird things like naming your New Beetle, or looking at its reflection as you drive by large windows. You might even start collecting toys and other goodies related to the NB.

Virtually no problems to speak of! This is my second New Beetle. The first, a 1998, was very trouble-free, too! These cars are very safe, handle well, are very well equipped, and have lots of room. Besides, they make people smile and punch each other! How many cars will have that effect on people. Also, we've formed an email list, and an annual New Beetle-only show in Roswell, NM every June (roswell2k.org). There are lots of accessories available to customize the car no matter your taste or budget.

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None.

Good fuel economy (TDI model). Great handling. Fun to drive. LOTS of Volkswagen and New Beetle organizations, events, and activities and information.

Poor radio reception (both cars). Terrible dealership service departments. TDI version prone to rattles (assuming due to vibration from diesel motor).

This is my 2nd New Beetle. My first was a 1999 2.0 GLS. I had that car for 3 years, and put about 18,000 miles on it. I absolutely loved it. Only minor problems, normal with any new car - adjustment type things. Traded it in on a TDI a year ago. IO now have 16,000 miles on my TDI, with no problems. I get *great* mileage (48mpg). These cars are fun to drive, they handle well, have extremely high ratings for safety, and run well in snow (except not deep snow due to low ground clearance). I have read many of the reviews here, and I believe many of the problems people have are not with the cars - but the dealers. Volkswagen has the WORST dealers ever (mine is terrible). Their service departments are outright miserable and incompetent. Some other things that people claim are "buggy problems" are normal in new cars. I have bought and owned new Mazda's, Chevy's, and VWs. They all usually will have very minor problems, and since VWs dealers suck - it is harder to deal with them. VW has also improved the ergonomics in the NB since it's release in 98, moving and changing things to make it more usable.

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Mazda 626, Honda Civic, Chevy Cavalier

Great gas mileage, fun to drive, perfect car!

No weaknesses for me...

All I can say is that the car is AWESOME!! I have had NO PROBLEMS with my bug. I bought it 2 years ago and it has been great! All I have had to do is take it in for the oil changes. It's too bad some of you have had so many problems because it is a fun car to drive and I wouldn't have anything else! I'm looking forward to buying the convertible.

Styling is tops! Build quality is much better than most cars in this price range. Paint quality is superb.

I wish the rear seat was easier to completely remove as I haul things on occasion.

This is the third New Beetle I have owned! These are very classy and safe little cars. Reliability is not stellar, but not bad either. VW has been responsive in fixing necessary items. Mass Air Flow sensors have been a bugaboo. I replaced two on my 2001 1.8t but wasn't charged even tho warranty was up! Lots of interior room is a plus.

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VW Jetta, Ford Escort.

Great contour (makes me smile to look at it) Seats are comfortable, controls are easy to reach, no problems with the radio/CD changer (never use the tape player) great gas mileage and very roomy

no local VW dealership (125 miles to the nearest one) Wish the back seat would split when folded so you could load something long and still have a passenger in the back seat!

Ladybug has almost 90,000 miles on her and I don't feel there have been any major problems, She's a joy to drive. I have replaced the headlight bulbs myself and the pollen filter with very little effort. The passenger window mechinism broke but I was reimbursed by VW. The only major problem was the crankshaft and camshaft sensors having to be replaced but that was after 80,000 miles. She gets 30-32 mpg. I plan to buy another New Beetle later this year and let Ladybug rest for a while, she deserves it! We driven 3 2500 mile trips to Roswell NM in total confort and lots of 150-200 miles trips. I LOVE my New Beetle!

Great acceleration Design Extremely comfortable front seat area Wonderful dash light colors Good gas mileage Superior safety ratings

Wish the back seat split so you could lay down only half of it if you wish

I can't hardly believe some of the posts here. I have had relatively no problems with my car in 70,000 miles of driving. It is a fun ride, accelerates like heck, and has been problem-free. I average about 30mpg and I have a bit of a lead-foot. As for replacing the headlights...a recent poster below is very wrong. It is an easy replacement that can be done in about 15 minutes at home. In fact, the headlight assembly is a marvel of engineering! You simply slide out the whole assembly, replace the light, and slide it back in. A few bucks for a new bulb and you're ready to roll. We have only had to replace one headlight. We did have the driver's side window switch go out. Again, unlike the poster below that recounts expense and problems with this fix....you simply take a screwdriver and pop out the old switch and insert the new. At a cost of about $15 and a few minutes time. There have been quite a few folks who have had other problems with the windows due to the motor mechanism not working properly. VW is fixing all of those for free....and has reimbursed several VW owners I know for fixes done before VW identified this as a major design problem. All you have to do is call them, get a claim #, and send in your receipt for reimbursement. I have done some roadtrips where I have driven as many as 10 hours/day in this car and am so comfortable I barely feel it. I could keep going... I wouldn't drive anything else! Love this car and am planning on buying a second NB when the convertible comes out with the 1.8t engine. I will then have two of these great little cars.

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Unique body style, roomy in the front. Thank God for an extended warranty.

Where to start..... The radio doesn't pick up any stations and the tape player never worked, the interior door handle paint is peeling, no REAL cupholders, seat lever broke, replaced headlights 3 times, costly repair bills.

I was so excited about getting this car. I wanted a "fun" car, but all I got was a pile of junk. Three weeks after getting the car, my "Check Oil" light started flashing, I didn't know what was wrong until I found the car had NO oil! A month later my "Check Engine" light came on. The dealer mechanic told me it would be $1100 to fix. Come to find out when I finally took it to someone that had a brain it was a hose that was torn. I have had the car less than 2 years and it has been in the shop more than all of my previous cars together. I just recently put $500 in repairs so that I can get rid of it.

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Chevy Cavalier, Nissan 240SX

NONE!!!!

I have had to have my headlights replaced several times. I had to have both the drivers side (twice) and passenger side windows repaired because the driver side would not go up and the passenger side just fell. My brakes have had to be replaced. The driver side heated seat doesn't work. I have had to have about 3 different types of sensors put on. The check engine light is always on as a matter of fact it is on now. I have to put another sensor and a gear in but that is too cost over $500, I opted not to get it fixed and am currently looking to trade in. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be rid of the crap car soon!

If I only had good luck someone would still my hunk of junk. DO NOT get a Beetle if you are thinking about it. It has been my worst nightmare. It is always in the shop and it has costs me mounds of money to have it fixed all the time. I agree with most of the posts VW does not stand behind their products and the only way I know that there is a recall on a part is if I happen to be in the autobody shop which is monthly to fix something. VW does not notify their car owners of any recalls.

fun

everything else plus the customer service sucks

Loved when first leased it, no major problems just little one that cost alot biddest thing was both headlights going out with in two days of each other total of $130 to fix the bulb cost 12.00 each the rest was in labor, they have to almost remove the battery and remove the airfilter two hours work to replace headlights. VW customer service was no help at all I will no longer be a vw customer the last three car I bought have been vw's but no longer.

Cute car. Easy to find in a parking lot. Smooth ride. Handled well in snow. Daytime running lights a plus.

Gas mileage. Limited storage space. Placement of cup holders. Very low clearance (heard a lot of scraping when driving over snow).

Extremely disappointed in this car. On first fill up, I noticed the gas guage did not work. Got that repaired (after a week) only to find that this little bug only gave me at best (and I mean that's with coasting to every red light, stop sign, etc.) 20 mpg. I live in a rural area and expected, as the ads indicate, 28 mpg. So disappointed, traded it in after only 3 weeks. Got myself a Honda Civic. I get 31 mpg! If you care more about looks, less about mileage, maybe consider this. If you need a reliable, cost-effective car, this is not the car for you.

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Other cars owned: '88 Honda Accord, '91 Nissan Sentra, now '00 Honda Civic