2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Consumer Reviews

Great and Horrible

Written by: ChasYoshi on 08/21/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought this car and immediately loved the way it drove and the gas mileage. After a year or so, the paint began to chip off of the hood from road debris. Then the whole paint job on the front of the car started to fade from the sun. After that, it just went downhill. I put to water pumps on it and replaced a head gasket. The driver's side window only rolls up when it's wet or when I push it up as I'm pushing the switch. When it rains, water leaks into the back seat and the trunk. The airbag light is on continuously. The volume control on the Monsoon radio will only turn up if you hold it a certain way. The high-beams have stopped working altogether. I just sold it today...

Favorite Features

Wheels, handling, fun to drive.

Suggested Improvements

To many to mention...

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I LOVED this car, just too small...

Written by: Nicolle on 07/29/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I absolutely adored this car. She was gun-metal grey and I named her Judy, after Judy Jettson. Also lovingly called her the bubble-mobile because EVERYTHING inside is round or rounded. Super fun to drive, very reliable, very comfortable. But it did some weird stuff, as do all my vehicles. The overheat light kept coming on, even when I'd first start it up. Then it would go off. Then come back on. Eventually I was driving on the highway and it severely overheated, melted the head gasket and there was anti-freeze in the oil. Ridiculous. I had thought the light was malfunctioning, not the cooling system. Only complaint about it is that any time something went wrong, it was EXPENSIVE to fix!

Favorite Features

Comfortable, heated seats, everything was automatic, fully loaded car w/sunroof, awesome! Cute and fun, easy to drive, VW has some really cool features in their cars, highly recommended if you can afford it when they break.

Suggested Improvements

Really, VW engineering is amazing. I would say make the warranty longer and cover more. Like 100,000 instead of 50,000. Fuel door actuator broke, as well as driver's side indicator telling the car that the door was open, so it would lock after 1 minute if you didn't start it. Annoying!

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timing belt

Written by: Pete Poindextrer on 07/18/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

We purchased our bug about 11 months ago. We immediately had to replace the AC condenser but later found out that it was the electrical box to the AC. The mechanic said that this was common for this car. We had the timing belt break and it destroyed most of the engine. VW states that the timing belt should last 1005,00 miles. Ours broke at 86,000. This cost us $2600.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

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Piece of Junk!!

Written by: Karen Cole on 07/13/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Lemon!Threw a rod yesterday Always kept up with oilchanges. From the day we bought this car NEW we have had trouble with it ranging from front axles,water pump,seat belt sensors, transmission sensors, etc. Have been towed 4 times. Thousands spent on repairs.Now we have o replace the motor. Call customer care all they ever give is a canned answer Sorry you feel that way. They don't care about their consumers. Their no corrosion warranty means nothing unless it actually rust through. That makes no sense!!!

Favorite Features

NONE!!!!

Suggested Improvements

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Paid too much

Written by: ABD on 07/01/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

2002 Beetle GLS 2.0 Bought in July 08 trying to sell in July 09. My son paid $7,900.00 he put 10M miles (96M miles) on it and is trying to sell it for $4995.00. Had to fix driver side power window. Cat went bad VW has 10yr extended warr. Replace brake cables. New tires. 6 disc change went out replaced it. Replace seat buckle to get the air bag light off. Orig key and remote didn't come with car son bought one $200.00. Quick lube shop stripped drain plug. They paid $400.00 to replace oil pan. Now they mechanic says it should have timing belt and water pump replaced. What a money pit. I own 2 toyotas and you change oil and tires when needed and they just keep running. Wouldn't buy VW or Audi

Favorite Features

Fun to drive easy to park.

Suggested Improvements

Upgrade all the components and make the car easier to work on. Most mechanics would rather not work on VWs and Audi

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I want more TDI's!!!!!

Written by: Kyle on 06/26/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI 2dr Hatchback (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 5M)

Review

We bough this car with 92K on it. It had some minor damage to exterior but love that Gecko Green!!! I have 180K currently on it and have had the following problems: 1. Alternator - $900.00 2. Undercarraige Protector fell off. Did not replace. 3. Serpentim Belt Pulley - $500.00 Not bad for the abuse I put this car through.

Favorite Features

Color, Style, Handling, Torque Power!

Suggested Improvements

Get rid of the cloth seats altogether!!! I have cream and they will not come clean. More leg room for backseats!

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Mostly Good

Written by: Heatherdear on 04/18/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

For the most part, my Beetle was a good car. It was small, easy to park, fun to drive, and got fairly good gas mileage. However, it seemed like every 4-5 months it had to go to the shop to get worke on because something went wrong. I went to the Post Office once and when I went to leave, the brake sensor went out so the car wouldn't recognize that I had my foot on the brake so I couldn't take the car out of park. It had to get the coils on several cylinders replaced multiple times. There were other issues as well but I still enjoyed the car. I can honestly say that in a bad accident, the has great safety features, providing miniscule injuries.

Favorite Features

I really liked the flower vase because it was a neat thing to have. I liked that they brought the Beetle back, that it was small, and that it handled very well. I liked that it was automatic and it seemed to have a lot of character.

Suggested Improvements

I believe that Volkswagen could have worked a little harder to make the car a little more reliable and have fewer problems. Also, making the interior a different color would be beneficial as children and tan seats and carpet are not a good combination.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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obvious VW cheaped out on lots of things

Written by: indy photog on 04/07/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI 2dr Hatchback (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 5M)

Review

When it works, it's great. Problem is, there are always small things going wrong. Car is well cared for with regular Mx as per the service manual. Electrical issues have been the worst...no history of flood damage or anything similar. Have been through three brake lights and two crunched driver side windows (all pre recall of course, good luck getting $ back from VW). Wheel bearing replaced, airbag light permanently on, trunk latch issues, and now...the car won't reverse. All sorts of other little annoying things too numerous to mention.

Favorite Features

handles well, automatic trans in the diesel knocks mileage down to mid 30's with mixed city/hwy driving, but still not bad.

Suggested Improvements

charge another 1K for the car and put quality parts and workmanship into it instead of ruining your rep for quality for a few extra percent profit.

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not for short trips

Written by: Marla on 03/27/2009

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI 2dr Hatchback (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 5M)

Review

I purchased a diesel specifically so I could run it on biodiesel made from used cooking oil. I was in touch with a good source for an unlimited supply of bio and not sending money overseas to people who don't like America so I was happy until...I had a $2,000 bill to clean the engine due to it being "carboned up". It basically stopped running because it was clogged up with carbon. My driving needs and style are mainly to blame since I take short trips, many not on the highway so the engine doesn't get to warm up and clean out. If I were still commuting 100 miles per day this would be a perfect vehicle but not for the driving I'm doing now. It got 40 MPG and smelled great running bio.

Favorite Features

It is comfortable and fun to drive. The backseat folds down to make a good sized cargo area.

Suggested Improvements

The roof comes so far forward or down that at traffic lights I sometimes have to bend down to see the light if I'm first in line.

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I will not own another volkswagen

Written by: bhill on 12/19/2008

Vehicle

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

I have had nothing but problems with my car since I have had it. Since 05 I have had to have the transmission replaced and some kind of sensor replace because it wouldn't come out of park. (that was the only two things that was under warranty) then the timing belt broke which bent the valves in the head so I had to replace them the turbo went out water pump sensor the timing belt again oh and the sun roof leaked when i first got it. And I have had to replace the headlights several times. And my current problems are the brake lights, blinkers and it doesn't want to come out of park again and an oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. And by the way, it is hard to find anyone to work on them.

Favorite Features

I like my yellow rims and my seat warmers and my yellow and black interior that is about all I like about the lemon.

Suggested Improvements

Many many improvements need to be made. I thought maybe I just got a bad one but everyone I talk to says they have problems with theirs.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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