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One of my wife's friends is selling a red 99 Beetle Only 41k on it plus it is a 5speed. I think it is a bit overpriced, but I ain't the one trying to sell it either.
Do I have to turn in the proverbial man card driving one?
Will this end like all VW's seem to end with throw your hands up in frustration trying to keep it running?
Brian
Run.
The only new Beetle that lets you keep your man card is the RSi.
Ranger50 wrote:Do I have to turn in the proverbial man card driving one?
Yes, thems the rules.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:The only new Beetle that lets you keep your man card is the RSi.
Ohhhh... I sorta like that, minus the retread wing.
MA$$hole wrote:Ranger50 wrote:Do I have to turn in the proverbial man card driving one?
Yes, thems the rules.
Booo.....
But it's ok to drive that other girlie car, the one they call "Miata".
If it's fast, I don't care how girly it is.
That said, AFAIK, the new Beetle 1.8t is limited somehow compared to the GTI 1.8t.
If it's a gas 8v one (base model) they are really slow. Unless it's a diesel or 1.8 turbo it's not worth it. They are mostly just like any other mk4, but stiffer and lighter.
They spontaneously combust!! I've helped put out fires on 2.
Travis_K wrote:If it's a gas 8v one (base model) they are really slow. Unless it's a diesel or 1.8 turbo it's not worth it. They are mostly just like any other mk4, but stiffer and lighter.
There is the important part.
carguy123 wrote:They spontaneously combust!! I've helped put out fires on 2.
I don't need another one of those..... See picture (pre-recall of course):
Travis_K wrote:If it's a gas 8v one (base model) they are really slow. Unless it's a diesel or 1.8 turbo it's not worth it. They are mostly just like any other mk4, but stiffer and lighter.
So, if it is a 2.0 8v, is there any hope of being/getting it faster?
I'm really looking for a huge MPG vehicle and this popped up.
Brian
I think autoblog said it best with "For people that really like the GTI, but want an uglier, slower version."
If its a turbo and unmodified they actually are kind of decent cars. I had two, one of which saved my life when I was hit by a drunk drive going over 100mph.
K04 and a chip and they are actually quite fast little car, cheap as all get out as well nowadays. I have even been looking for another one to fiddle with. The biggest problems that I had were the interior pieces were a little cheap and they start to go after ~60-80K miles, and my wife's convertible had a pinhole in the top at ~10K miles.
I don't think MK4 2.0 and "huge mpg" are synonymous. My wife had a '03 Golf 2.0 slushbox that never once in three years did better than 26mpg. Hold out for a TDI.
Just got back from test driving the vehicle in question.....
Outside of the shifter being a knife in warm butter shifting gears, a little bit soft in the suspension (rolls too much), the dash is WAY longer then even the 4th gen F-bodies, and a half dollar is bigger then the tach, it really wasn't that bad of a car. Owners claim 32mpg out of the 2.0. Performance isn't spectacular, but it isn't exactly a slouch either.
A TDI is faster and will get 45+ mpg, which depending on price could be worth it.
They are asking 5800. I have ran the numbers with the various book sites and they are still a grand high, but then again, this car is very close to new. The only glaring things that don't make it new is the steering wheel silver paint is wore away from a cover and the shift boot has a small hole in it.
You forgot that it's also made by VW in the last 20 years, and therefore guaranteed to fail spectacularly. 
I drove the MIL's bug before she was the MIL. I didn't hate the car. Seemed to have mannerisms along the lines (obviously not the same) as the Cooper S we later purchased. Smelled like crayons though. Do all new VW's smell of crayons?
$5800 is quite a bit. You can get a TDI for less than that (even as little as half that much) if you can be prepared to pay cash for one on a moments notice.
We own one. We bought my girlfriend a 2001 TDI Beetle last October for $5500 with 120k on it. She loves it. She gets 45mpg on an average tank, 50 if we use it on an all-highway road trip. The interior is a tad rough because VW used some pretty soft coatings on the various interior panels that end up showing scratches very easily. The check engine light was on when we bought it because it needed new glow plugs, which were very easy to replace. The car feels very solid. I love the brakes. The clutch has good take-up and feel. Steering is very tight. Could use new struts though. Cargo capacity is really nice, especially with the rear seat folded down. Nits: I don't like the controls for the cruise control, and there's no 'you left your headlights on, dummy' buzzer. Oh, and the three 12v sockets in the car are constantly live. Between this and the lack of a 'lights on' buzzer we've inadvertently run the battery down overnight twice.
BTW, KBB says a TDI Beetle in my area in good condition with 41k miles is worth $6290, so unless something big is wrong with the car I'd say $5800 is a good deal.
EDIT: Sorry, I misread and thought you were looking at a TDI yourself. KBB says that car in my area would be $4080, so yeah, $5800 is high.
Trade in at a Dealer here in MD is about $1800. 4 have sold at the mid atlantic auctions in the last month (specifically 99 manual beetles) anywhere from $900- $1600 with miles from 62K to 202K.
mndsm wrote:Smelled like crayons though. Do all new VW's smell of crayons?
Yes
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Run.
Correction: RUN LIKE THE GATES OF HELL HAVE OPENED BEHIND YOU.
