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VW New Beetle (Pricing & Information)
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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