do you realize that when you lease if you decide to buy the car that you have to pay sales tax on it twice; once up front and once when you buy. Granted you can get into more car for less money; but if you can swing it buy! maybe there is a forum on leasing here at edmunds -- carlady????
I agree, dont lease. If you like a residual based financing(RBF) program, try a balloon payment option. If you decide to buy, title is already in your name. Usually no down required with this option. Down payments on RBF programs effectively reduce your monthly payments, but have no effect on the residual value.
A two year option would be good, as the convertibles may be out by then. Although, I like my NB so much, I put it on a coventional finance plan. Good Luck.
Another good reason to buy over leasing a new VW is that the Residuals and Money Factor are REALLY BAD right now.
Until VW starts subsidising the leases, a VW lease is not a good value. Hopefully this will change.
Here is my real-life example: $1100. over invoice Audi A4 Quattro 1.8t. 3/45k lease, $1100. up front, $356.00 per month.
...too much, I will get the Passat instead, it's, like, Five grand cheaper...
$800. over invoice Passat 1.8t, base, NO options. 3/45k lease, $680. up front, $340.00 per month.
Audi is pushing thier cars with aggressive, attractive terms on leases, VW is not.
A lease is TOTALLY dependant on the Residual and the Money factor, which are set by the Manufacturer(I think) and can be subsidized by the manufacturer. VW isn't doing any leasor any favors right now.
Buying is more "apples-to-apples". Price is Price.
Although we're now officially out of topic, leasing NB is one of the best leasing deals you can get. Why? Because it has extremely high residual! For example, 68% for 36 months, 12,000 miles/year. Right now, the money factor from VCI. is 0.00299, which is not bad.
If you're into leasing, there are very few cars of this price range that beat this. You can probably lease a GLS with luxury package and automatic for around $250 with no money down.
In response to post #331 (what significant others think of the car), our NB is my wife's primary transportation. In fact, unless I pull something cheap like asking her to put our son in the child seat, then quickly hop into the driver's seat while she is occupied, I don't get to drive. And if I do that, I get to sleep on the sofa.... Well, driving the NB is WORTH a few nights on the sofa.
OK, I'm kidding, but it's a great car, and we do have a healthy competition to see who gets to drive. My only complaint is that I drive a Ford Explorer, and after driving that, I tend to over-control the NB. Which is my fault, not the car's.
Last week, I tried to get the NB's rear end to slide out as I took a 90 degree corner (which was also covered with sand) at 47 MPH. I couldn't do it! The wheels skidded a bit in the sand, but recovered nicely and off we went.
(BTW, don't try this at home. As a former ambulance driver, I'm a graduate of the NY State Police emergency vehicle handling school. Not that it makes me indestructable, but I've got a better chance of recovering than the average guy. And don't tell my wife I did that to her lovely new car, either).
As far as reliability goes, we've only had two minor problems in 6000 miles: 1) The spring which pulls the passenger's seat forward fell off. That took me 30 seconds with a screwdriver to fix. 2) The plastic handle which allows the passenger's seat to rock forward broke. This was because, right after problem #1 occurred, I tried to use it as a lever to force the seat forward. Since that 's not what it's designed for, it was my fault the lever broke -- like anything else, if it doesn't work as expected, don't force it until you've discovered why it didn't work. Anyway, VW still replaced it under warranty.
Stop dilly-dallying and buy one if you're so inclined. And if you're worried about quality, check Consumer Reports and see which cars are at the top of the recommendations. In fact, I'll save you the trouble: they're VW's.
laturj, our Smart Shopper conference is a good place to discuss the lease v. buy decision. There are many discussions in progress, so it would be best to use the search feature before you start a new topic. ;-)
#363 No mechanical problems at all on my 99 gas GLS. I think it will be like my 97 Audi A6 Quattro Wagon not one problem in close to 60k miles - nothing - not one warranty repair.
Talked to a dealer friend of mine the other day. He was saying that a lot of NB's are coming in from Canada and some dealers are changing the instrument cluster and selling as US NB's. He has seen some with the wrong model cluster or a European cluster. Most were from auction. Word to the wise.
My daughters 99 Yellow GLS Beetle has been 100% trouble-free. The only problem being a broken windshield, which incidentally was replaced flawlesssly by a local glass company. I was a little concerned about leaks, noise, or even window availability but it was repaired the next day. Anyhow all else is fine.
Due to the interior design & special tools required to access the radio take it to a pro. I added a RS Bazooka Tube; 80 Watt Amp w/ 6 1/2" woofer & it fills the car with incredible Bass. I am impressed by it, & I have a Suburban with 18" woofers & 2000 Watts of Orion Amps, while the Suburban will slam, the Tube is perfect for the Beetle, & really an excellent value, I highly recommend it. Hint; mount it right behind the rear seat & point it toward the passenger side, away from the CD changer. Good Luck & God Bless...
Pmohr, I am a member of a New Beetle newsgroup with thousands of members creating daily mailing lists which I read. The problems so far have been minor including occaisional plastic failure at the junction of the rear fenders, hatch rattles, quirks with the remotes, winter [non-permissible content removed]. problems of freezing of the fuel filler hatch, cracked foglamps (not VW's fault but inherent due to their location), dash rattles. The TDI's have had problems with the "engine check" light going on and there is a fix. VW engines are made to last forever and no one complains here. Most of the problems have been fixed in the '99's. I have 4000+ miles on my Cybergreen 99 GLS and have had no problems other than, you guessed it, a cracked foglight lens. By the way, I met a Ford salesman the other day and he confided the VW IS the new benchmark for quality in the automotive industry. Frank
Pmohr, Go to www.newbug.com and click on the "list" button. You will start receiving daily emails from list members. Many are humorous and non-technical but the "gearheads" on the list are extremely helpful for all technical matters. There are a number of VW dealers who contribute as well. Frank
greenm1430 I cant' get your email to work from the profile - i had some questions on the bazooka; would you mind emailing me your address (my system may also be messed up)
The interest in the NB doesn't end with just driving one. See our News area and page down until you reach the item titled: VW's New Beetle Sparks Adventure Racing Video Game! Are you ready to buy yours? :-)
I too have a '99 NB TDI ( dark blue, 5 spoke factory alloys, leather, heated seats ) and like you I do not have the armrest. According to VW the armrest is considered a "running change". In VW speak, that could mean tomorrow, next year, or never. Remember, specifications are subject to change.
I love my TDI and I know that you will love yours too!
For some very informative and friendly TDI discussion you must go to Fred's TDI Forum. http://users.uniserve.ca/~fred_v/ See you there! ( if I made a mistake with the address please let me know )
There simply is no car like this NB. Although the novelty may be wearing off, I still get mobbed in parking lots and people will pull up next to me for miles on the highway and stare. The real joy though, is driving. I have owned MG's, Fiats and three other VW's including the Golf GTI and this car will out-handle all of them put together. The GLX will raise the bar further....coming soon! Frank
So, what's the verdict? How much different are the 1999 NB's than the 1998? I drove the gas powered, 5 speed 1998 probably about a year ago and wasn't very impressed with the handling and power. Is there enough difference to justify giving the 1999 at test drive? Everyone seems so happy with their NB's - including handling and power - that I wonder what was wrong with the one I drove. I had to put the gas pedal to the floor to get any kind of power. Is that still the way it is?
after completing 3 months (4000miles) with my beetle I have several comments that I think are rather important. First the car is cute and I like it very much. The 2.0l engine however should be avoided at all cost it sucks gas like crazy and has very little hp. I don't know about the 1.8t but I wouldn't buy this one again. It is very danegerous (with my driving stlye) not to be able to accelerate in the 2 gear. At the moment i drive in 4-6 000 rpm's to at least have some power. Seats are nice and I have no problems with them (several firneds did complain however). Brakes are great the car stops from 120 to 0 pretty nicely. It does get loud past 100mph. I didn't drive the diesel engine but I hear it is better then this one. As far as techincal problems go I didn't have any.
As far as lease goes I think it is a pretty good deal 150$ a month + some 2k$ down. Sounds good to me.
The 2.0 is not a rocket-ship you are correct, but your main problem may be your "Driving style". If you are driving at 100+ MPH on a regular basis & the car "sucks gas" at these speeds, all I can say is "Well Duh"!! The 2.0 is well suited to this car & is sufficient for daily driving. Yes another 25 HP would be nice, but then there are several car available that have all the power you seek. None of those however are the New Beetle. When the RSI arrives, hopefully with the VR-6 & AWD, all your power needs will be met, until then have fun & enjoy the cutest little vehicle out there. Thanks for your time....
Dan, I think you need the Dodge Viper or perhaps a Ferrari Testarossa. Motor trend's 0-60 test times for the NB 2.0L gas were 9.7 sec. The car has plenty of power for around town and highway driving. The car is light and easy to maneuver. Emergency handling is excellent. For people who want more acceleration - wait for the 1.8T. I get around 30mpg but do mostly highway driving. IMHO, no car is safe at speeds of >100 mph unless you are, Dale Earnhart, on the Autobahn (and have a German driver's license) and/or you are in Montana with no one else on the road. The wheels on practically any stock auto (made for the USA) lift at that speed and the handling is unpredictable and hazardous. Sneeze and you will be chatting with St. Peter. Pam2, Go back and drive a 99. I just have not had your experience with the two NB's I have driven. Frank
In South Carolina, we are polite to everyone - just a southern tradition. I am assuming that Dan is, say 18-20 years old. When I was that age, I took my dad's 1964 GTO and floored it on a straight stretch of coastal highway and reached over 120 MPH. I noticed the car seemed "shaky" and unstable. I was right and never did it again. Hope Dan's comments were a lark - if not, let me know when he is one the highway! Frank
i can't believe you got a '64 goat to 120, they usually topped out at 105-110, if you were lucky.
of course, like all american cars, they also could not stop, or turn - i'll bet it felt real shaky at anything near 120 - hey did you even have radials, or were you on good old american bias ply tires??
i used to street race goats and datsun 240Zs with my xke - mis-spent youth at work...
american v8's would take me off the line, but i would move into a turn, then wait until the v8 had to trod his brakes, then blow by - last done to a metallic blue goat in the summer of '74, going over the lehigh river bridge into south allentown, pa. after leaving staley's bar and some great cheesesteaks.
last time done to a datsun 240Z was going over the 15th street bridge into south williamsport, pa, same summer, after leaving the bridge tavern and some great burgers.
hmmm, a pattern emerges..
240Zs were very quick, but their horsepower was developed through rpm, rather than torque.
a Z could take my xke off the line (less weight) until the Z dropped into third gear, and then lost their power rather quickly.
it was amazing, just like their engine shut down.
i would lurk behind, shifting to match, then blowing by when they dropped into 3rd gear - they usually looked surpriised.
now, 25 years later, i'd probably get shot for trying this stuff.
life was simpler then...
if you blew someone off, they generally just slunk away - now, they'd probably pull an automatc weapon - except in s. carolina, of course.
and after all this social chat - i guess i'm going to buy a dark blue NB.
my 13.5 year-old daughter is strongly in favour, and my wife is surprisingly strongly in favour, also.
Pmorh, I used to drool over the Jag XKE's here at the Charleston dealership (then Southland Mtrs)back in the 70's. The smell of the leather alone was enough to create a testosterone rush. Top end, nothing could beat them. The classic design has never been topped. You will love the NB (another classic design). The car is great fun....a typical VW. I have owned 4 VW's now and they all have something in common - economical, Germanic handling -fun to drive (unlike any other I've driven), durable, with excellent handling. They are not "barnstormers" in terms of speed but those days are gone for both of us. The 0-60 times for the NB are precisely the same as my 1983 GTI - then considered an econo-hotrod. Frank
Does anyone have input on when to change the oil the first time? My NB has 1,700 miles on it now and I usually have my oil changed at around 1,000 miles on a new car. My dealer basically refused to change it at that mileage. They said VW STRONGLY recommends the oil stay in there for 5,000 miles. I never go 5,000 between changes, and usually have had 2 or 3 oil changes by 5k on a new one. Is there any reason to wait to 5k???
The dealer says that "VW STRONGLY recommends" waiting until 5K before changing, I'd say that is a reason to seriously consider it. Todays oils are so stable that as long as all your trips are not less than 10 minutes 5K will be fine! If all your driving is very short trips where insufficient engine heat is generated to evaporate any residual moisture in the crankcase, you need to consider shorter intervals. Otherwise relax & enjoy that New Beetle! Thanks for your time...
My understanding is that the initial oil in the NB is a different formulation than subsequent changes and requires time to "set" - important to seal piston environments etc. The first oil change is 5000 miles and I wouldn't monkey with that. Frank
I've had my NB for a month now. The only problem, my key separated from the fob. I was able to fix that, however. I've put protectors on the fog lamps and pan-style floormats in place of the factories.
We live in downtown Dallas, and this car is great. My 2.0 gets great mileage, there is always a parking space, and the "git-up-an-go" is wonderful for our driving environment.
Two of the members in the local "NB Monthly Lunch Group" have had their windshields cracked in about the same place.
If you think the 5000 mile oil change is something, my dealer tells me subsequent oil changes come at 10,000.
I've read in several places that the initial oil in all VW's really is a special type that should not be changed until 5000 miles in order for everything to "set" properly. If you change earlier I've read that it can cause improper "seating" of engine parts and problems such as excessive oil usage down the road. After that first oil is exchanged at 5000 miles, I suppose it doesn't matter if you change it frequently except if you worry about how much it will cost, how much unneeded oil changes waste oil and contaminate the environment. But that's up to you at that point. Just what I've heard.
Spring's knocking on the door and back to the ol' Michelin four-season tires we go... but I'd also like to fit them on a set of alloy wheels this year. Would anybody out there have any recommendations for some alloys for the New Beetle?
I checked out the factory six-spoke ones made by VW, they look nice and not too "empty", but guess what? They weigh almost the same as the steel rims. I mean, what's the point in buying a softer set of wheels if they aren't any lighter? Just for the looks? I dunno.
Thanks for any recommendation... I'm kind of lost here with all the alloy wheels available on the market.
Yes Testarossa would be nice but imagine the insurance
I think you guys/gals didn't get my comments the way I intended them. I like the beetle. Had I wanted the highest performance I would have bought that modified Cobra. What I do however think is that 2.0l is too weak for this car, if you can not speed up and aviod the danger then you are pretty much toasted. As far as gas goes: my old 323mazda had better acceleration, could reach the same speed and needed only 10$ per fill-up, not 13$ that VW needs. As it happens I do have german licence and I did grow up there. As far as driving at 100MPH+ goes this is here rather standard and nothing to be excited about. As far as my age goes I'm acctually 24. As far as my spelling goes...sorry
Dan, Do you think the Mazda 323 handles as well as your NB? I agree that for the NB, 0-60 times are probably comparable with a host of other small econo cars in its class. Where do you live? 100+MPH is standard? - you need a testarossa - to heck with the insurance. I DID approximately guess you age though! Frank
Seems like long ago, some members of this topic had to purchase a "clear bra" for their NB. What do they look like? Are you getting any chip damage or does it really protect the paint? Opinions?
Anyone with 10,000 miles or more? What are your opinions of the car after this long?
Well as far as NB in europe goes the car is not very popular ($$$$). The last thing I heard is that they will make a beetle with even less HP in order to lower the price. I didn't hear anything about the 150HP.
According to what I've learned over the net, the European NB will be offered in a V5 version - same horsepower (150) as the 1.8T but harder to soup up with chip upgrades etc. - to prevent Europeans from going over 200 KPH. Apparently VW's own tests indicate the NB's design won't allow for these speeds because of instability.
I'm sorry laturj to hear that your trunk rattle is baaaack. I for one didn't take care of mine yet. Hey, it somehow became part of the car's personality and I'm too afraid I'd miss it now. No, just kidding. My dealer still has no clue on a permanent fix for that rattle, so I went to another dealer, but they didn't know any better. Still waiting for VW to figure out something.
In order to diagnose and fix my previous muffler-related rattle, the lower black plastic panels inside the trunk had to be removed. The guys at the dealer didn't replace them properly, so I had to do it myself afterwards. IMHO, the the way these interior plastic panels are attached to the steel frame, they were not meant to be removed and reinstalled. It's kind of a one-time assembly design.<
I'd recommend you to wait untill they come up with a fix for the rattle - it sounds like it's a pretty common on the beetle - and to avoid letting them disassemble the car for nothing.
Hi. I am considering buying a NB and comparing it to several other cars. I don't like the 2 year/24,000 mile warranty, most cars get 3/36,000. I do love the warranty on the drive train though. What is the reccommended service interval? Most Honda's among others go 100,000 miles before the first tune up. My first and second cars were VW's and I had a ball in them. I am looking forward to a test drive. Is there much power difference in the diesel? Does everybody pay dealer list or are they dealing on these little cuties?
Glenn, You sure ask a lot of questions! Keep in mind that the VW's 24,000 mile/2 year warranty covers the costs of tunes, oil etc, no expense to the owner during this period. I purchased a 4-year extended warranty for $995. That takes the car to 100,000 miles - bumper to bumper and is a VW backed warranty, good at any dealer. The maintenance intervals are 5000 miles for the 2.0L gas engine, longer for the diesel. Don't pay over MSRP - the NB's are now present in abundance - unless you are waiting for the 1.8T. Frank
FEHarper, you're WRONG, the 2 yr/24,000 mi. warranty DOES NOT cover oil changes etc.. By the time I got rid of my NB at 17,000 miles I had paid for 4 oil changes. One of the reasons I got rid of my NB was that the dealer recommended a tune-up every 30,000 miles that he estimated would cost me about 200-300 dollars. Since I put on about that many miles each year I figured the cost would average out to about 25-30 dollars a month. It's still a great car, but the warranty isn't so great.
Sounds like you needed to read your owner's manual, which states that the 5,000 mile service, 10,000 mile service, and 20,000 mile service are covered. The new VW's do not require servicing mroe frequently than that.....if you had the oil changes done more frequently, that's your decision, and waste of money.......
Pmohr, Great color choice - I have seen one like this at our local dealer. I have had 5600 trouble free miles. Would order the fog light protectors now. Scotch guard the seats or have the dealer do it. Check your tire pressure on delivery (mine was 20 lbs over recommended), go ahead and order Zaino's Z1, Z5(swirl marks will show easily with this color!) and Z6. There have been but a few posted mechanical fixes on the Newbug list - the car is too new (One was a cheaper, truncated fog light repair.) Spedman, The first three scheduled maintenance intervals - 5,10,20 thousand miles ARE free - just had my 5000 at no cost. What other car makes offer free routine maintenance for the first two years? My Nissan Van costs averages 40-100 bucks for each regularly scheduled maintenance within the first 3 years.
Indeed, all new VWs come with the first 2 years maintenance free. Just had the 1 yr/12,000 mile service on my '98 Golf. If the dealer charged you for these services, they ripped you off.
Comments
A two year option would be good, as the convertibles may be out by then. Although, I like my NB so much, I put it on a coventional finance plan. Good Luck.
Until VW starts subsidising the leases, a VW lease is not a good value. Hopefully this will change.
Here is my real-life example:
$1100. over invoice Audi A4 Quattro 1.8t. 3/45k lease, $1100. up front, $356.00 per month.
...too much, I will get the Passat instead, it's, like, Five grand cheaper...
$800. over invoice Passat 1.8t, base, NO options. 3/45k lease, $680. up front, $340.00 per month.
Audi is pushing thier cars with aggressive, attractive terms on leases, VW is not.
A lease is TOTALLY dependant on the Residual and the Money factor, which are set by the Manufacturer(I think) and can be subsidized by the manufacturer. VW isn't doing any leasor any favors right now.
Buying is more "apples-to-apples". Price is Price.
Just my 2¢
If you're into leasing, there are very few cars of this price range that beat this. You can probably lease a GLS with luxury package and automatic for around $250 with no money down.
Once again, if you're into leasing. I am.
OK, I'm kidding, but it's a great car, and we do have a healthy competition to see who gets to drive. My only complaint is that I drive a Ford Explorer, and after driving that, I tend to over-control the NB. Which is my fault, not the car's.
Last week, I tried to get the NB's rear end to slide out as I took a 90 degree corner (which was also covered with sand) at 47 MPH. I couldn't do it! The wheels skidded a bit in the sand, but recovered nicely and off we went.
(BTW, don't try this at home. As a former ambulance driver, I'm a graduate of the NY State Police emergency vehicle handling school. Not that it makes me indestructable, but I've got a better chance of recovering than the average guy. And don't tell my wife I did that to her lovely new car, either).
As far as reliability goes, we've only had two minor problems in 6000 miles:
1) The spring which pulls the passenger's seat forward fell off. That took me 30 seconds with a screwdriver to fix.
2) The plastic handle which allows the passenger's seat to rock forward broke. This was because, right after problem #1 occurred, I tried to use it as a lever to force the seat forward. Since that 's not what it's designed for, it was my fault the lever broke -- like anything else, if it doesn't work as expected, don't force it until you've discovered why it didn't work. Anyway, VW still replaced it under warranty.
Stop dilly-dallying and buy one if you're so inclined. And if you're worried about quality, check Consumer Reports and see which cars are at the top of the recommendations. In fact, I'll save you the trouble: they're VW's.
Frank, you still alive??
carlady/host
No mechanical problems at all on my 99 gas GLS. I think it will be like my 97 Audi A6 Quattro Wagon not one problem in close to 60k miles - nothing - not one warranty repair.
I am a member of a New Beetle newsgroup with thousands of members creating daily mailing lists which I read. The problems so far have been minor including occaisional plastic failure at the junction of the rear fenders, hatch rattles, quirks with the remotes, winter [non-permissible content removed]. problems of freezing of the fuel filler hatch, cracked foglamps (not VW's fault but inherent due to their location), dash rattles. The TDI's have had problems with the "engine check" light going on and there is a fix. VW engines are made to last forever and no one complains here. Most of the problems have been fixed in the '99's. I have 4000+ miles on my Cybergreen 99 GLS and have had no problems other than, you guessed it, a cracked foglight lens. By the way, I met a Ford salesman the other day and he confided the VW IS the new benchmark for quality in the automotive industry.
Frank
Frank, could you give me the address of NB newsgroups?
Go to www.newbug.com and click on the "list" button. You will start receiving daily emails from list members. Many are humorous and non-technical but the "gearheads" on the list are extremely helpful for all technical matters. There are a number of VW dealers who contribute as well.
Frank
I cant' get your email to work from the profile - i had some questions on the bazooka; would you mind emailing me your address (my system may also be messed up)
thanks
carlady/host
Welcome to the NB family!
I too have a '99 NB TDI ( dark blue, 5 spoke factory alloys, leather, heated seats ) and like you I do not have the armrest. According to VW the armrest is considered a "running change". In VW speak, that could mean tomorrow, next year, or never. Remember, specifications are subject to change.
I love my TDI and I know that you will love yours too!
For some very informative and friendly TDI discussion you must go to Fred's TDI Forum.
http://users.uniserve.ca/~fred_v/ See you there!
( if I made a mistake with the address please let me know )
Olli
Frank
Many thanks for your helpful comments.
after completing 3 months (4000miles) with my beetle I have several comments that I think are rather important. First the car is cute and I like it very much. The 2.0l engine however should be avoided at all cost it sucks gas like crazy and has very little hp. I don't know about the 1.8t but I wouldn't buy this one again. It is very danegerous (with my driving stlye) not to be able to accelerate in the 2 gear. At the moment i drive in 4-6 000 rpm's to at least have some power.
Seats are nice and I have no problems with them (several firneds did complain however).
Brakes are great the car stops from 120 to 0 pretty nicely. It does get loud past 100mph.
I didn't drive the diesel engine but I hear it is better then this one.
As far as techincal problems go I didn't have any.
As far as lease goes I think it is a pretty good deal 150$ a month + some 2k$ down. Sounds good to me.
regards,
dan
I think you need the Dodge Viper or perhaps a Ferrari Testarossa. Motor trend's 0-60 test times for the NB 2.0L gas were 9.7 sec. The car has plenty of power for around town and highway driving. The car is light and easy to maneuver. Emergency handling is excellent. For people who want more acceleration - wait for the 1.8T. I get around 30mpg but do mostly highway driving. IMHO, no car is safe at speeds of >100 mph unless you are, Dale Earnhart, on the Autobahn (and have a German driver's license) and/or you are in Montana with no one else on the road. The wheels on practically any stock auto (made for the USA) lift at that speed and the handling is unpredictable and hazardous. Sneeze and you will be chatting with St. Peter.
Pam2,
Go back and drive a 99. I just have not had your experience with the two NB's I have driven.
Frank
frank, you were quite polite with dan, who was obviously posting as a lark.
why?
Frank
i can't believe you got a '64 goat to 120, they usually topped out at 105-110, if you were lucky.
of course, like all american cars, they also could not stop, or turn - i'll bet it felt real shaky at anything near 120 - hey did you even have radials, or were you on good old american bias ply tires??
i used to street race goats and datsun 240Zs with my xke - mis-spent youth at work...
american v8's would take me off the line, but i would move into a turn, then wait until the v8 had to trod his brakes, then blow by - last done to a metallic blue goat in the summer of '74, going over the lehigh river bridge into south allentown, pa. after leaving staley's bar and some great cheesesteaks.
last time done to a datsun 240Z was going over the 15th street bridge into south williamsport, pa, same summer, after leaving the bridge tavern and some great burgers.
hmmm, a pattern emerges..
240Zs were very quick, but their horsepower was developed through rpm, rather than torque.
a Z could take my xke off the line (less weight) until the Z dropped into third gear, and then lost their power rather quickly.
it was amazing, just like their engine shut down.
i would lurk behind, shifting to match, then blowing by when they dropped into 3rd gear - they usually looked surpriised.
now, 25 years later, i'd probably get shot for trying this stuff.
life was simpler then...
if you blew someone off, they generally just slunk away - now, they'd probably pull an automatc weapon - except in s. carolina, of course.
and after all this social chat - i guess i'm going to buy a dark blue NB.
my 13.5 year-old daughter is strongly in favour, and my wife is surprisingly strongly in favour, also.
will i get to use this car???
pmohr
I used to drool over the Jag XKE's here at the Charleston dealership (then Southland Mtrs)back in the 70's. The smell of the leather alone was enough to create a testosterone rush. Top end, nothing could beat them. The classic design has never been topped. You will love the NB (another classic design). The car is great fun....a typical VW. I have owned 4 VW's now and they all have something in common - economical, Germanic handling -fun to drive (unlike any other I've driven), durable, with excellent handling. They are not "barnstormers" in terms of speed but those days are gone for both of us. The 0-60 times for the NB are precisely the same as my 1983 GTI - then considered an econo-hotrod.
Frank
Frank
We live in downtown Dallas, and this car is great. My 2.0 gets great mileage, there is always a parking space, and the "git-up-an-go" is wonderful for our driving environment.
Two of the members in the local "NB Monthly Lunch Group" have had their windshields cracked in about the same place.
If you think the 5000 mile oil change is something, my dealer tells me subsequent oil changes come at 10,000.
Spring's knocking on the door and back to the ol' Michelin four-season tires we go... but I'd also like to fit them on a set of alloy wheels this year. Would anybody out there have any recommendations for some alloys for the New Beetle?
I checked out the factory six-spoke ones made by VW, they look nice and not too "empty", but guess what? They weigh almost the same as the steel rims. I mean, what's the point in buying a softer set of wheels if they aren't any lighter? Just for the looks? I dunno.
Thanks for any recommendation... I'm kind of lost here with all the alloy wheels available on the market.
sorry for not answering earlier.
To:pmohr
No I was not posting as a lark.
To:FEHarper
Yes Testarossa would be nice but imagine the insurance
I think you guys/gals didn't get my comments the way I intended them. I like the beetle. Had I wanted the highest performance I would have bought that modified Cobra. What I do however think is that 2.0l is too weak for this car, if you can not speed up and aviod the danger then you are pretty much toasted.
As far as gas goes: my old 323mazda had better acceleration, could reach the same speed and needed only 10$ per fill-up, not 13$ that VW needs.
As it happens I do have german licence and I did grow up there.
As far as driving at 100MPH+ goes this is here rather standard and nothing to be excited about.
As far as my age goes I'm acctually 24.
As far as my spelling goes...sorry
regards,
dan
Do you think the Mazda 323 handles as well as your NB? I agree that for the NB, 0-60 times are probably comparable with a host of other small econo cars in its class. Where do you live? 100+MPH is standard? - you need a testarossa - to heck with the insurance. I DID approximately guess you age though!
Frank
if we combine 24 with german driving,that would explain dan's post.
dan: as you can see from an earlier post of mine, i also would like an option for somewhat more than 115hp without a turbo.
any truth that vw will offer the nb in europe with a 150hp v5, rather than the turbo??
pmohr
Anyone with 10,000 miles or more? What are your opinions of the car after this long?
Regards,
dan
Frank
In order to diagnose and fix my previous muffler-related rattle, the lower black plastic panels inside the trunk had to be removed. The guys at the dealer didn't replace them properly, so I had to do it myself afterwards. IMHO, the the way these interior plastic panels are attached to the steel frame, they were not meant to be removed and reinstalled. It's kind of a one-time assembly design.<
I'd recommend you to wait untill they come up with a fix for the rattle - it sounds like it's a pretty common on the beetle - and to avoid letting them disassemble the car for nothing.
TIA, Glenn Lewis
You sure ask a lot of questions! Keep in mind that the VW's 24,000 mile/2 year warranty covers the costs of tunes, oil etc, no expense to the owner during this period. I purchased a 4-year extended warranty for $995. That takes the car to 100,000 miles - bumper to bumper and is a VW backed warranty, good at any dealer. The maintenance intervals are 5000 miles for the 2.0L gas engine, longer for the diesel. Don't pay over MSRP - the NB's are now present in abundance - unless you are waiting for the 1.8T.
Frank
decided on dark blue with cream interior, red with cream as second choice.
looking at a june/july purchase.
can we target 3 months out for a summary of rattles and repairs, and seat covers?
been getting posts from the newbeetle newgroup. but alot of irrelevant chatter hiding the few good bits.
someone would do everyone a great service to start and maintain a running lists of errors/fixes and aftermarket items.
except. of course, for the model cars. my god, i can't believe how many people got caught up in that.
pmohr
Great color choice - I have seen one like this at our local dealer. I have had 5600 trouble free miles. Would order the fog light protectors now. Scotch guard the seats or have the dealer do it. Check your tire pressure on delivery (mine was 20 lbs over recommended), go ahead and order Zaino's Z1, Z5(swirl marks will show easily with this color!) and Z6. There have been but a few posted mechanical fixes on the Newbug list - the car is too new (One was a cheaper, truncated fog light repair.)
Spedman,
The first three scheduled maintenance intervals - 5,10,20 thousand miles ARE free - just had my 5000 at no cost. What other car makes offer free routine maintenance for the first two years? My Nissan Van costs averages 40-100 bucks for each regularly scheduled maintenance within the first 3 years.
Frank