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Ah, the joys of owning a VW New Beetle Convertible

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1965_MGB

1965_MGB

Jedi Warrior
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It seems that all newish cars need to see the dealer for just about anything that goes wrong. Recently, our VW beetle convertible had some top issues, so it went to the dealer who let us know that a module went south. Only $800 to fix that. Two days ago, one of the power windows goes wonky. It needed some sort of cable kit to fix the problem. That was only $460 to fix.

Now they tell me that it needs a new battery, since the one in the car is original (2005) and they will cut me a deal and put in a new one for $280. Well, I think we have spent enough for this month, so I looked up the battery, found out an Optima red top will fit in there, ordered it from Summit racing for $160 shipped. I figure the savings of $100 will make me feel at least a little better.
 
My brother is an asst. mgr./service writer for a Pep Boys garage. He told me that since about 2000 VWs have so many specific systems with special tools and procedures that they no longer will service <span style="text-decoration: underline">any</span> modern VW (except to put tires on it). If you so much as need a headlight bulb, which apparently requires a special tool to reach as well on some models, they'll send you to the dealer.

He honestly doesn't know of any other garage in town (Cincinnati) that doesn't do the same.
 
Ron, expect to pay $200-$400 every few months to replace the rubber vacuum hoses in the engine compartment - especially if you have a Turbo. Apparently, the heat builds up in the engine bay and there is no way for it cool off.

Did you get the extended warranty? Very worth it in the case of VW's....our's payed for itself several times over when the turbo blew up - twice within 6 months. Yes, we had done regularly scheduled oil changes and had the receipts to prove it. The warranty company was very good about fixing things.
 
See, here's the reason I love my Miata.

Bought mine (a 2000 model ) new and have never done anything to it other than oil, filters and tires.
<span style="text-decoration: underline">Original</span> battery still cranks away like new.
Lots of shops are familiar with them too.
And a huge aftermarket supply base.

If you want a convertible and you can live with only two seats, they're the bee's knees.
 
Same here Nial. I just replaced my 2003 battery in December. It probably could have gone a couple more years but when the temps were down in the 20s this year it got pretty sluggish. The rest of it is relatively easy to work on, and relatively simple. This year I'll probably replace the top myself, not looking forward to it but it's got to get done (I'm seriously thinking about getting the hard-top for it too though).
 
I don't normally purchase warranties on stuff, but I did for my MINI S. If that supercharger goes, well, BMW parts are never cheap.

The extended warranty (7 years/70K miles) cost about $1600 when the car was new. Seems a pretty good deal to me.

These new vehicles are sooooo loaded up with gadgetry, little of which I'm willing to tackle.

Maybe all the more reason to drive an LBC as your daily driver???? :yesnod:
 
Ron, the advice of acquiring an extended warranty for any new or slightly older VW is good advice, in my mind.

The window regulators, which include more than just the cables are part of the inner panel(guess DOT crash safety decision by VW). The fuse box for the a/c and fans that mounts on top of the battery and the alternator harness "expire" with alarming frequency. THe compressor quits compressing. As others have mentioned the vacuum hoses and coolant sealing gaskets are a weak link. The cam shaft adjuster seals are wont to die long before they should(in my mind). That trait is shared by Audi also.

And you need to find a capable VW/Audi repair shop. There are those out there. But getting fewer and fewer between. As it takes a "scan tool" at a 10K purchase cost and annual subscription cost of over a thousand just to access the check engine light code(or darn near any other computer controlled code, which includes a/c operation, trans operation now.
 
The extended warranties we've gotten on our Honda and VW have been worth every penny. These days any given SINGLE repair can cost +/- $1000. The turbo repair was around $3000 EACH time. Honda replaced the DVD unit when it died - $1200 or so. Things are expensive now, warranties are cheap by comparison.....
 
DaveatMoon said:
My brother is an asst. mgr./service writer for a Pep Boys garage. He told me that since about 2000 VWs have so many specific systems with special tools and procedures that they no longer will service <span style="text-decoration: underline">any</span> modern VW (except to put tires on it). If you so much as need a headlight bulb, which apparently requires a special tool to reach as well on some models, they'll send you to the dealer.

He honestly doesn't know of any other garage in town (Cincinnati) that doesn't do the same.
Click to expand...

Thats no joke at all for sure. My mother in law has always brought her cars to me for any problems at all... till she got a New Beetle Turbo Diesel. 1st thing that went wrong was the headlights... and I couldn't even change the bulbs. Shes had so many little problems with that car and ONLY the VW dealer would touch it.
 
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