So my son sends me a text about a car.
Turns out it a New Beetle...
Turbo, gas...
Manual trans...
Supposedly everything works...
Mileage unknown.
$1500
I lean towards VW anyway. And I have looked at NBs years ago.
I just didn't think for big money it would be a car I could live with long term...
But for $1500
Hmmmm....
$1500 New Beetle what could go wrong. 
$1500... what's already wrong?
$1500... what isn't wrong?
Sounds like a good donor for a mid-engined Locost build. Otherwise? No. Just No.
Generally not a fan of most things volkswagen made after the 84 GTI, but for that price, on that car, I'd own it anyway.
ScottRA21 wrote: $1500... what isn't wrong?
QFT. The car may be $1500, but it's not going to be easy or cheap to keep it running from an electrical standpoint, it is FULL of stupid overpriced but cost cut engineered crap. It could be a reasonable powertrain donor for, say, an early Golf or GTi.
Paint it flat black, lower it, and install black steelies with poverty caps. Drive it until something major breaks, then sell it to an ironic hipster.
My friend bought a tdi one with 300k miles on it for his wife and it has been fine. Not to say they are all perfect and will never have any problems, but its no worse than any other mk4.
Travis_K wrote: ,...but its no worse than any other mk4.
Other than access to the engine compartment, is more restricted, and changing front struts is a PITA.
I always hated the NB with a passion. That is until I started dating a women that had one. I was surprised how nice they drive
petegossett wrote:Travis_K wrote: ,...but its no worse than any other mk4.Other than access to the engine compartment, is more restricted, and changing front struts is a PITA.
No, there is plenty of room under the hood. Just remove the wiper arms and that whole plastic cowl comes out then you can pretty much get to everything as easy as a golf or jetta. The struts are as easy to change as any other car except for separating them from the knuckles, but all mk4s are like that.
Read the thread title and thought something had gone horribly wrong a Beetle. I'll check back in a week.
Ok, went and saw the car and drove it.. Was hoping for a creampuff, but she is a dirty little scuz. Interior is filthy. Exhaust is bad. The engine has a water leak from "some pipe" per the owner. Aftermarket wheels. Aftermarket stereo. Interior has what are probably the usual crappy plastic issues. Center armrest is broken. Front lower grill is falling off. lower edge of bumper is loose. Accessory belt tensioner makes an interesting sound on starting the engine. CEL is on. 12 pack of Pepsi in the trunk area. The list goes on and on. But she runs and I can hear the turbo spool...
The NB also has a smaller turbo than any other 1.8T, so you can't push them as hard if you decide to chip it.
One snowy night acouple of years ago, right before Valentine's Day, I was coming home from a business trip and ended up flying into an airport about 2 hours from home. Stranded, I went to the rental car counter and asked them what they had left. "A PT Cruiser or a New Beetle". So I held my nose and chose the NB. The first time I'd ever driven one- and near as I can recall, the first time I'd ever been in one, and i had to drive home 2 hours in a snowstorm. There were cars off the road the whole way, but the little Beetle kept on chugging. I put the shifter in manual mode, for more control, and it was actually...fun.
The soon-to-be Mrs and I kept the car all weekend, using it for our Valentine's Day excursion. We were even a little sad to have to return it. It was actually a nice little rental.
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